Fertility Blog

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby...right? Well, not always! Most people expect that when they're ready to have their first child, they will be able to conceive relatively easily. But what happens when a diagnosis like PCOS complicates the journey?

According to newly released data from the World Health Organization (WHO), 1 in 6 people globally now experience infertility, meaning millions of individuals and couples all over the world are struggling to grow their families. In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, seven Illume Fertility patients opened up to share their own stories. 

As a fertility specialist, I never expected to encounter my own roadblocks when my wife and I decided to grow our family. While it wasn't an easy journey, it allowed me to gain a new perspective on infertility that has given me even more compassion for my patients.

According to a study published in Contraceptive and Reproductive Medicine, 15% of White women between ages 25 and 44 seek treatment for infertility, but only 8% of Black women in the same age range seek the help they need to grow their families.  In the following story, Shiraine shares her journey to parenthood and opens up about why infertility is so difficult for many in the Black community to talk about. 

Trying to conceive brings with it a whole host of emotions and challenges, particularly when you need the help of fertility treatment. New parents Andrea and Ralph share how infertility changed them - and whether they wish they'd done anything differently on their journey.

Like many people, Alana and Jason didn't know much about the world of infertility or fertility treatment - until they discovered they needed a little help to have their first child. This is the story of how their family of two became a family of four!

When Sarah and her husband began trying to conceive six years ago, they never imagined they'd end up needing the help of fertility treatment. After a long, winding road through multiple pregnancy losses, egg retrievals, embryo transfers, and countless tests and appointments, Sarah shares how this journey has shifted her perspective and turned her into a courageous fertility advocate - as well as what's next for their family.

When high school sweethearts Nicole and Steven decided they were ready to grow their family, they never anticipated needing the help of fertility treatment. But once they began trying to conceive, they discovered some roadblocks - including an endometriosis diagnosis. Read on to hear how they navigated big hurdles to finally meet their baby boy, Alexander.