Happy World Embryologist Day! We’re celebrating the fascinating, important work that our embryologists must do every single day in order to make things like IVF and cryopreservation possible. Keep reading to learn more about IVF and embryology! Skip to a section: LGBTQ+ Parents-to-Be & Fertility Treatment What do embryologists do? My embryo was abnormal…why did you still freeze it? How do you grade embryos and what does the grade mean? How long does it take to transfer in samples from another facility? How long do cryopreserved embryos last? If you used frozen sperm for my IUI/IVF procedure, why am I still receiving a storage bill? Honoring Our Embryologists More Family-Building Resources

If you’ve started researching biological family building options, chances are you’ve probably already realized that the process can be rather overwhelming - and potentially costly! Many LGBTQ+ parents-to-be consider using a known donor to help grow their family, like a close friend or even a relative not linked to the genetically-intended parent (more on that below).

What is it like to shift from hoping to be a mother to going through fertility treatment to finally, being a mother? And what is it like being one of two mothers in a family unit? This Mother’s Day, we want to recognize the experience of LGBTQ+ moms by sharing a story from one of our families. We are so thrilled to be able to share Kix's story. She is a former Illume Fertility patient who is now happily enjoying life with her three children and her wife. Below, Kix shares her personal journey toward celebrating Mother’s Day with her wife and children.

Choosing to pursue surrogacy as your path to parenthood is a beautiful, yet complex decision. Dads Adeel and Anthony share the steps they took to match with the perfect surrogate, how they chose their fertility clinic, their advice to other LGBTQ+ parents-to-be, and what it's like to become first-time fathers to not just one, but two babies!

When hopeful LGBTQ+ moms-to-be decide they are ready to grow their family, the first step is often finding a fertility clinic that can help them make their dreams come true. For moms Taylor and Mary Kate, the journey to bringing home their first daughter was challenging, eventually leading them from IUI to IVF. This is their story.

It's easy for hopeful gay dads-to-be to feel overwhelmed or confused about where to look for resources to support their unique journey to parenthood. This comprehensive guide serves as a great starting place for men having babies via surrogacy! Keep on reading to explore financial assistance, organizations, books, peer support groups and more. Skip to a specific section: How Does Surrogacy Work? Financial Assistance for Men Having Babies Grants for LGBTQ+ Parents-to-Be Organizations That Support Gay Dads-to-Be The Importance of Community 4 Ways to Connect with Other Dads-to-Be Surrogacy FAQs More Resources for Men Having Babies Read Surrogacy Stories Learn More About Surrogacy

Although the COVID-19 pandemic altered LGBTQ+ moms Yessenia and Millie's wedding and family-building plans, they still found a way to make their dreams of having a baby come true. Read all about their IVF journey and the advice they offer to other LGBTQ+ parents-to-be in this heartwarming story.

Through multiple disappointing failed IUI and IVF cycles and the emotional roller coaster of fertility treatment, Malorie and Holli learned a lot about what it's really like to go through this process as an LGBTQ+ couple. In this blog, they share what they learned, how they navigated their journey and where they turned for support.

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage...right? Well, not always! In this blog, parents-to-be Rosa and Jackie share their unique story, including their fertility journey and path to parenthood, as they await the arrival of their first baby together.

When any parent-to-be embarks on a family-building journey, the last thing they expect is the worst-case scenario. While most families understand there will be bumps in the road, the majority of them emerge from the process relatively unscathed. This is the story of one LGBTQ+ couple's experience growing their family and grieving the loss of the future they imagined.

Surrogacy allows those in a same-sex relationship to do something that wasn’t possible 40 years ago – have their own children. You've likely already explored the surrogacy process, and now you’ve ended up here, trying to determine why the surrogacy process costs so much.

There are many moving parts to any surrogacy journey, but one that begins at the start of a global pandemic adds a whole new layer of challenges. Dads-to-be Doug and Sanjay found that out quickly after embarking on their first surrogacy experience in March of 2020. Based in the United Kingdom, with a fertility clinic and surrogacy agency located in the United States, they had to get creative and be flexible, especially during the ban on international travel.