Chicago IVF, IUI, egg freezing, and genetics

Fertility care built around clear odds, careful science, and room to breathe.

Aurora Fertility & IVF pairs board-certified reproductive endocrinologists with transparent cycle planning, embryology-led decision making, and same-week access for patients who cannot afford another vague answer.

52% live birth per embryo transfer, under 35 2025 internal outcome review
39% live birth per embryo transfer, ages 35-37 single-embryo transfer favored
24% live birth per embryo transfer, ages 38-40 reported by patient age at retrieval
4,860 IVF cycles reviewed since the lab opened in 2009 retrievals, FETs, and PGT cycles
3,180+ families helped grow across Illinois and the Midwest including donor and LGBTQ+ paths
Treatment paths

The plan is specific before the first medication is ordered.

Every recommendation includes diagnosis, age band, ovarian reserve, semen analysis, embryo history, estimated medication range, and the reason we would stop, shift, or repeat a cycle.

Embryology laboratory equipment prepared for IVF culture
IVF and FET

IVF protocols with embryology at the table.

Stimulation, retrieval, embryo culture, vitrification, and frozen transfer planning with lab notes discussed in plain language after every milestone.

Physician reviewing a treatment plan with a patient in consultation
IUI

Monitored IUI without guesswork.

Cycle tracking, trigger timing, washed sample review, and post-cycle next steps delivered within 7 days if the result is negative.

Quiet clinical room with warm daylight and modern equipment
Egg freezing

Fertility preservation with usable numbers.

AMH, AFC, age-specific mature egg goals, and oncology coordination within 48 hours when treatment timing is urgent.

Clinical genetics workbench with lab testing materials
PGT-A and PGT-M

Genetic testing with counseling before the biopsy.

PGT decisions are reviewed with a genetic counselor so mosaic results, carrier status, and transfer strategy are understood before embryos are touched.

Couple sitting together near a bright window
LGBTQ+ and solo parents

Family building without a default script.

Donor sperm, donor egg, reciprocal IVF, embryo donation, and gestational carrier coordination with legal referrals built into the timeline.

Clinician reviewing lab notes and reproductive health results
Male fertility

Male factor infertility is investigated early.

Semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, hormone labs, and reproductive urology coordination before repeat cycles become the plan.

How Aurora works

Compassion is not softer than data. It is what makes data usable.

Patients see the numbers we see: follicle counts, medication response, fertilization rates, blastocyst grading, PGT results, transfer recommendations, and the cost range attached to each path. When odds are low, we say so early and explain the alternative.

Decision visits are 45 minutes, not 12. New patients leave with a diagnosis map, missing-test list, and two treatment scenarios ranked by likelihood, cost, and timeline.
Cycle reviews happen before the next invoice. If a cycle underperforms, the physician and lab director review stimulation response, egg maturity, fertilization, and embryo development together.
Financial counseling starts before prescriptions. Medication, monitoring, lab, PGT, anesthesia, storage, and transfer fees are separated so patients can compare real options.
"Hope should never require pretending the odds are simpler than they are."
Warm modern fertility consultation room with natural light
Private consult rooms are paired with an on-site monitoring suite so ultrasound, labs, and physician review can happen in one morning.
Reproductive endocrinologists

Three REIs, one lab conference, no fragmented handoffs.

Aurora's physicians meet with embryology twice weekly and rotate after-hours cycle review so patients are not waiting until Monday for critical next steps.

Portrait of Dr. Elena Marquez

Elena Marquez, MD, FACOG

Medical Director, REI

Dr. Marquez focuses on diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent implantation failure, and IVF protocol redesign after prior unsuccessful cycles.

Portrait of Dr. Priya Nandakumar

Priya Nandakumar, MD, MS

REI, Genetics Lead

Dr. Nandakumar leads PGT counseling, carrier screening review, and fertility preservation for patients balancing treatment timing with genetic risk.

Portrait of Dr. Simon Adler

Simon Adler, MD, FACOG

REI, Third-Party Reproduction

Dr. Adler builds plans for LGBTQ+ families, single parents, donor conception, male factor infertility, and gestational carrier coordination.

Patient stories

Specific care is what patients remember after the waiting ends.

Names are used for this demo with fictionalized details, but the moments are the ones patients ask fertility clinics to get right: clarity, timing, costs, and honest hope.

"After two failed transfers elsewhere, Aurora walked us through embryo grading, lining thickness, and why our protocol needed to change. Our second frozen transfer there became our son."
Nora and Mateo R., IVF with PGT-A
"As a single parent, I expected to be pushed straight to IVF. Dr. Adler gave me three IUI cycles with clear stop points, donor sperm guidance, and the actual cost before each step."
Jasmine K., donor sperm IUI
"We chose reciprocal IVF and had legal, donor, and medication questions every week. The nurse team called by 4 pm every monitoring day, including the day our trigger changed."
Leah and Mira S., reciprocal IVF
Insurance and first steps

Know coverage, medication range, and timing before committing to a cycle.

Aurora verifies benefits within 2 business days for most plans, then separates consult, monitoring, retrieval, lab, PGT, storage, and transfer costs in writing.

Insurance review in 48 hours Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Progyny, Carrot, Maven, and select employer fertility benefits are reviewed before treatment planning.
Cycle estimates line by line Medication ranges, anesthesia, lab services, embryo storage, PGT biopsy, and transfer fees are itemized so surprise billing does not become part of care.
Financing paths Monthly payment estimates, HSA/FSA guidance, refund program eligibility, and grant documentation are reviewed with a fertility financial counselor.
BCBS Illinois Aetna UnitedHealthcare Progyny Carrot Fertility Maven Clinic WINFertility BCBS Illinois Aetna UnitedHealthcare Progyny Carrot Fertility Maven Clinic WINFertility
Records upload Send labs, imaging, semen analysis, genetic reports, and prior cycle summaries from the last 12 months.
Baseline morning Complete ultrasound, AMH, infectious disease labs, carrier screening review, and partner testing when needed.
45-minute physician plan Review diagnosis, age-band outcomes, recommended treatment path, alternatives, cost estimate, and timeline.
Cycle start or second opinion Begin monitoring, preserve fertility, or take the written plan back to your current clinic for comparison.

Bring the hard questions. Leave with the next 90 days mapped.

Consults include physician review, benefits check, treatment timeline, and a written plan comparing at least 2 realistic paths when more than one option exists.