Illume Fertility Advances Access to LGBTQ+ Family Building at Men Having Babies New York Annual Conference

Illume physicians helped prospective fathers navigate the medical, financial and practical considerations of building a family through surrogacy

Norwalk, Connecticut, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- llume Fertility, a leading fertility practice in the tri-state area known for its award-winning physicians, patient-centered care, and expertise in LGBTQ+ family building, continued its longstanding support of the community at the annual Men Having Babies New York Conference, held September 25-27 in New York City. 

Men Having Babies (MHB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping gay men and other prospective fathers navigate the path to parenthood through surrogacy. Its New York conference brings together experts across fertility care, surrogacy, reproductive law, financial planning and other areas critical to third-party family building, giving attendees the opportunity to learn about each stage of the process and connect directly with experienced providers.

Dr. Mark Leondires, founder and medical director at Illume Fertility, and Dr. Laura Meyer, one of Illume’s reproductive endocrinologists, provided complimentary onsite consultations, helping prospective fathers explore their fertility treatment options and better understand the medical aspects of building a family through gestational surrogacy.

"Building a family through surrogacy involves so many important decisions, from choosing an egg donor to creating embryos and preparing for transfer," said Dr. Meyer. "Every intended parent brings their own priorities and circumstances to these conversations. Our goal is to help them understand their options, make informed choices, and develop a treatment plan that gives them the strongest possible foundation for a healthy pregnancy."

Dr. Leondires participated in the Medical Aspects of Surrogacy Panel, sharing his expertise on fertility treatment options and the medical considerations involved in building a family through gestational surrogacy.

"For many intended fathers, the path to parenthood comes with questions about the medical process, finding a gestational surrogate, and understanding the financial commitment involved," said Dr. Leondires. "Men Having Babies gives us the opportunity to meet prospective parents where they are, answer their questions, and help them feel more prepared for the journey ahead.

At Illume, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to build the family they dream of, and we're proud to continue supporting this community through education, personalized care, and programs that make treatment more accessible."

Illume Fertility offered exclusive treatment discounts and educational materials to help attendees better understand the medical, emotional, and financial aspects of fertility care.

Illume's relationship with Men Having Babies extends beyond the annual conference. Through the organization's Gay Parenting Assistance Program, Illume helps expand access to fertility care by offering eligible intended fathers discounted and pro bono clinical services as they pursue parenthood through surrogacy.

Illume is proud of its recognition as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign for eight consecutive years, reflecting its longstanding commitment to inclusive fertility and family-building care.

The Men Having Babies New York Conference remains one of the largest surrogacy-focused events in the country, providing prospective fathers with education, resources, and connections to support their family-building journeys.

About Illume Fertility

Illume Fertility is a leading fertility practice in the tri-state area providing a best-in-class patient experience and cutting-edge treatments by award-winning physicians to help patients achieve their fertility and family-building goals.

Led by an expert team of nine highly credentialed, double board-certified reproductive endocrinologists, many of whom have received Castle Connolly's prestigious Top Doctors award, Illume Fertility specializes in a complete range of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and egg, embryo and sperm cryopreservation.

Recognized as a Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign for eight consecutive years, and the only free-standing fertility center in the Northeast recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader, Illume Fertility's commitment to inclusive care includes a world-renowned egg donation and gestational surrogacy program, a dedicated team of third-party reproduction experts, and Gay Parents To Be®, an award-winning resource hub offering tailored support for LGBTQ+ family building.

Illume Fertility is the only regional fertility clinic with offices in Connecticut and New York offering comprehensive holistic support services, including in-house nutrition counseling, onsite genetic counselors, fertility acupuncture, yoga for fertility, community events, as well as a network of mental health providers focused on fertility and family-building.

Illume Fertility is proud of its exceptional success rates, including more than 2,000 surrogacy journeys and 18,000 babies welcomed, and continues to be a leader in patient-centered care, providing compassionate, expert guidance to each prospective parent served.

Media Contact

Stacy Callahan, Astonish Media Group, 917-972-1101, stacy@astonishmediagroup.com, astonishmediagroup.com

Victoria Andretta, Illume Fertility, 845-494-7229, vandretta@illumefertility.com, illumefertility.com

Attachment

• Dr. Mark Leondires at Men Having Babies New York Conference

Stacy Callahan 
Illume Fertility 
917-972-1101
stacy@astonishmediagroup.com