MTV True Life "I'm Desperate to Have a Baby" Recap

Recently, MTV has showcased what women and men endure when faced with the perils of infertility in and episode of the documentary show True Life titled "I'm Desperate to Have a Baby."

Have you seen it yet?

If you're new to the fertility treatment scene, much of what was covered in this episode is new to you: the heartache of being told you can't conceive naturally, the seemingly endless wait for answers, the possibility of never having children, hanging onto your hopes and dream so tightly...

Or if you're a veteran to this world - you've been here, or know someone who has and your heart goes out to these two profiled.

In this episode, True Life follows two women going through fertility treatments in order to have children, and one of those couples comes to our fertility center in Chicago to meet with our own Dr. Beltsos. Chicagoland couple Jenna & Kurt's road to pregnancy is documented below and we are so happy we were able to share in this experience with them.

WATCH the full episode here & let us know what you think:

Get More: True Life, Full Episodes

See the recap of Jenna & Kurt's experience and where they are now from the Chicago Sun Times!

Fertility Centers of Illinois Doctor Spotlight: Dr. Jane M. Nani

We love our doctors & want you to get to know them as well as we do, too! In our Doctor Spotlights, we interview each of the doctors here at the Fertility Centers of Illinois so you can learn about their backgrounds, a bit of their personal lives and to get to know them as a friend. Stay tuned for more Doctor Spotlights to come!

Here's your chance to meet Dr. Jane M. Nani!

Why did you choose to become a doctor? 

I was inspired by my father, who was an internal medicine doctor, to become a physician myself.  I remember him always as someone who absolutely loved his job and was dedicated to the care of patients.  In my career, I try to emulate the wonderful bedside manner that he had with patients and to always listen to the cares and concerns of patients as well as treat any medical issues that they had.  

Why did you choose fertility treatment as your career?

I particularly chose Reproductive Endocrinology, because it is the best field in all of medicine, in my opinion.  I particularly like the dramatic increase in IVF pregnancy success that has escalated over the course of my career in infertility. 

What do you find is the most enjoyable part about working for Fertility Centers of Illinois?

FCI is a wonderful practice because of the commitment we have to make all of our work, patient-centered.  We care most about the experience of the patient throughout all facets of treatment .

What do you like to do for fun outside of the office? Do you have any hobbies, favorite activities, etc?  I am an avid reader, jig-saw puzzle and crossword puzzle addict during the winter months and I enjoy motorcycle riding with  my family during the summer months.

We hope you've enjoyed getting to know one of our FCI doctors! Keep checking back for our next edition. See Dr. Jane Nani's FCI page here!

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What is a Fertility Awareness Check Up? (We'll help explain!)

A Fertility Awareness Check Up is a great starting point on the fertility path for many individuals or couples. This program provides basic fertility testing for both males and females - the first step in discovering fertility issues.

Our Fertility Centers of Illinois Fertility Awareness Check Up will help individuals or couples in their quest to plan a family by providing an initial overview of reproductive potential. This will help alleviate stress, save valuable time and financial resources in your journey to become a parent.

Why should I be tested? 
40% of Infertility involves men, 40% involves women, and the other 20% is a combination of the two. Our Fertility Awareness Check Up offers a Semen Analysis for men, two blood tests and a specific Ultrasound, called an Antral Follicle Count, for women, to get basic information about your potential for getting pregnant.

What does FCI find out?
The fertility specialists at FCI will read and interpret your test results, which to date, are the most predictive in determining fertility potential. These results do not give a definitive answer, but give an estimate of your fertility potential. You should also be aware that these tests are not necessarily an insurance policy guaranteeing future fertility, but will help answer questions about when to start planning your family.

How do I arrange an appointment? 
Call our call center at 877-324-4483 to schedule your appointment. We're here for you!


Find the The Fertility Centers of Illinois on Facebook & Twitter!

Fertility Centers of Illinois Doctor Spotlight: Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron

We love our doctors & want you to get to know them as well as we do, too! In our Doctor Spotlights, we interview each of the doctors here at the Fertility Centers of Illinois so you can learn about their backgrounds, a bit of their personal lives and to get to know them as a friend. Stay tuned for more Doctor Spotlights to come!

Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron

Here's your chance to meet our newest addition to the Fertility Centers of Illinois team, Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron!

Why did you choose to become a doctor? 

I became a doctor for the unique opportunity to help people. I also enjoy science and working closely with people. I find being a doctor a true honor. I feel so lucky to have a job in which, I absolutely love going to work everyday!

Why did you choose fertility treatment as your career?

Being a fertility doctor provides a wonderful opportunity to work closely with a couple on a common goal.  As a mother I can appreciate how truly special having children is to a person’s quality of life.  Infertility patients have been through a lot already. The field of infertility has improved so greatly in the past 20 years that sharing all of the technological advancements with patients is very exciting.  

What do you find is the most enjoyable part about working for Fertility Centers of Illinois?

I have recently joined FCI and am so excited about being a part of such a special institution.  FCI balances state of the art technology with personalized patient care.

What do you like to do for fun outside of the office? Do you have any hobbies, favorite activities, etc?

I love to travel, run, watch movies and spend time with family and friends.  Sadly, I am a sucker for anything on the BRAVO network!

We hope you've enjoyed getting to know one of our FCI doctors! Keep checking back for our next edition. See Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron's FCI page here!

Fertility Centers of Illinois: In the Press!

Everyone here at the Fertility Centers of Illinois has been very busy over the last few weeks lending our expertise to local news organizations and blogs to help bring light to an issue we hold most dear - fertility.

We've put all of our most recent coverage here on our blog for easy access for all of you! Enjoy!

"Making Peace with Infertility: When you don’t have as many children as you want"- SheKnows - Drs.  Eve Feinberg and Jane Nani interviewed

"What Women Can Learn From Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy" [audio] - Dr. Angie Beltsos interviewed

"Infertility out in the Open" - Living Healthy Chicago [video] - Dr. Feinberg interviewed

"Men’s Health Month: 11 Male Infertility Myths Debunked" - Chicago Tribune - Dr. Christopher Sipe interviewed

"Gene mutation affects group of sisters" - NWI Times - Dr. Angie Beltsos interviewed

"Freezing eggs gives women more motherhood options" - The Northbrook Star - Dr. Eve Feinberg interviewed

Enjoy these articles!

The FCI Ladies Night Out: A Very Fun Evening!

On May 16th, we held a very fun, ladies-only event to unveil our newest location in Warrenville & to have a fun way to learn about what we have to offer at the Fertility Centers of Illinois! 

First off - we have a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor of Warrenville, David Brummel. We had such a fun time with him and introducing ourselves to Warrenville. 

We're very proud to say we had a full house - almost all guests brought a friend - and everyone seemed to not only learn something during our event, but had fun, too! Dr. Meike Uhler and two other speakers gave seminars about fertility-related topics, we had delicious food catered from Gourmet 45 and vendors from lia sophia, Mary Kay and The Pampered Chef. For a handful of lucky winners we even had raffles for door prizes!

See our photo album to experience the entire event via Facebook!

Fertility Centers of Illinois Doctor Spotlight: Dr. Laurence Jacobs

We love our doctors & want you to get to know them as well as we do, too! In our Doctor Spotlights, we interview each of the doctors here at FCI so you can learn about their backgrounds, a bit of their personal lives and to get to know them as a friend. Stay tuned for more Doctor Spotlights to come!

Read on & get to know more about Dr. Laurence Jacobs!

Why did you choose to become a doctor?

I was influenced by an old family doctor when I was only 8! He would come over to my folks’ house and make house calls every night to see my dying grandparents… he was revered by my parents and made a lasting impression.

Why did you choose fertility treatment as your career?
I was an OB/Gyn for 7 yrs, but had fertility problems which got me very interested in the field back in the mid 80s when IVF was first becoming a reality.

What do you find is the most enjoyable part about working for Fertility Centers of Illinois?
I think that the challenge of solving complicated fertility issues and seeing the end results is the best feeling about working for Fertility Centers of Illinois!

What do you like to do for fun outside of the office? Do you have any hobbies, favorite activities, etc?
I love to travel with my kids and girlfriend - I also enjoy red wine and I love to garden.


We hope you've enjoyed getting to know one of our FCI doctors! 

Keep checking back for our next edition. See Dr. Jacobs' FCI page to learn even more about him & take some time to visit his fertility practice website.