Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (Gurnee, IL): Patient Guide

Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago (AFCC) is one of the Chicago metropolitan area's most established fertility practices, operating since 1997 and reporting more than 8,300 babies born through treatment since its founding. The Gurnee clinic — located at 30 Tower Court, Suite F, in Lake County, Illinois — serves patients throughout the northern Chicago suburbs and across the Wisconsin border, drawing from communities including Waukegan, Lake Forest, Vernon Hills, and the Kenosha and Racine corridors just north of the state line. For patients in this corridor, AFCC's Gurnee location offers access to fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologists without the 45-to-60-minute drive into the city that many suburban fertility patients would otherwise face.

AFCC operates as a member of the Prelude Network, the largest network of fertility clinics in North America, sharing laboratory standards and clinical protocols while maintaining a local physician team. The Gurnee location works in coordination with AFCC's River North Chicago clinic, allowing patients flexibility in scheduling monitoring appointments and procedures across both campuses. The clinic has been recognized by Newsweek as one of America's Best Fertility Clinics (2025) and carries CAP-accredited embryology laboratories — accreditation from the College of American Pathologists, one of the most rigorous quality standards available in reproductive medicine. If you are evaluating providers across the state, our guide to fertility clinics in Illinois provides a broader overview of current options.

Physicians and Clinical Team

AFCC employs four board-certified reproductive endocrinologists, all of whom hold dual certification from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Each physician completed an ACGME-accredited REI fellowship after residency training, and the group collectively spans more than 35 years of combined experience in assisted reproductive technology.

Michelle Catenacci, MD serves as Medical Director and a founding partner of the practice's current leadership structure. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and completed her OB/GYN residency at MetroHealth Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio. She then returned to Cleveland Clinic for her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, one of the most rigorous and research-intensive REI programs in the country. Dr. Catenacci joined AFCC in 2018 and has built a clinical reputation around complex infertility cases, operative hysteroscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and the management of uterine structural abnormalities including fibroids, septums, and adhesions. She has received Castle Connolly Top Doctor recognition every year since 2019—including the 2026 designation—and has been named a Castle Connolly Exceptional Woman in Medicine annually since 2020, as well as a Chicago Magazine Top Doctor. She sees patients primarily at the Gurnee and Arlington Heights locations.

Debra Schell, MD is one of the longest-tenured fertility specialists in the Chicagoland area. She graduated summa cum laude from Andrews University and earned her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California, where she was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Her OB/GYN residency was completed at Wayne State University and Hutzel Hospital in Detroit, followed by a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Illinois and Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago—giving her deep ties to the Illinois medical community from the earliest stages of her training. Dr. Schell is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and holds sub-specialty board certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has developed particular expertise in endometriosis, PCOS, thyroid and hormone dysfunction, complex pituitary and adrenal conditions, and pelvic pain, and has added robotic surgical training to her laparoscopic skill set. She has been recognized as a Wisconsin US News Health Top Reproductive Endocrinologist and a Milwaukee Top Doctor and sees patients at the Gurnee and Downers Grove offices.

Eli Reshef, MD trained at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston before completing his OB/GYN residency at the University of Alabama Hospitals in Birmingham and his REI fellowship at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. He is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and he holds an academic appointment as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Dr. Reshef brings multilingual capabilities—English and Hebrew—to his patient interactions and is widely regarded for his skill in reproductive surgery, including correction of congenital uterine anomalies, treatment of endometriosis, fibroid removal, and fallopian tube repair. His contributions to the field extend well beyond the clinic: he has received the RESOLVE National Fertility Association Hope Award for Advocacy, the ASRM Suheil Muasher Distinguished Service Award, and the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood. Patient reviews frequently cite his thoroughness with questions and his efficiency with appointment times. He sees patients at the Gurnee, River North, and Downers Grove locations.

Olutunmike "Tumi" Kuyoro, MD is the most recently joined partner and also serves as CEO of the practice. She earned her BSc with the ARCS distinction from Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine in London before completing her medical degree magna cum laude from St. George's University School of Medicine. Her OB/GYN residency was at Maimonides Medical Center in New York, and she completed her REI fellowship at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health, one of the major academic medical centers in the New York metropolitan area. Dr. Kuyoro has been recognized for excellence in both clinical care and research, and she has been featured on the Rescripted platform as a trusted voice on reproductive health.

Services and Treatments

AFCC offers a comprehensive menu of fertility diagnostics and treatments across all four of its locations, including the Gurnee office:

• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), including conventional stimulated cycles and frozen embryo transfer (FET)
• Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)
• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (PGT-A) and Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR)
• Egg freezing and elective fertility preservation
• Ovarian stimulation and ovulation induction
• Male factor infertility evaluation and treatment
• Donor egg cycles through the clinic's donor program
• Donor sperm insemination
• Gestational surrogacy coordination
• Embryo donation and adoption
• LGBTQ+ family building, including reciprocal IVF for same-sex female couples and sperm-donor IUI/IVF for gay male couples using gestational carriers
• Oncofertility and fertility preservation for patients facing cancer treatment
• Operative hysteroscopy and laparoscopy for uterine and pelvic factor infertility
• Robotic surgery for endometriosis and reproductive structural conditions
• Comprehensive infertility testing: ovarian reserve panels (AMH, antral follicle count), semen analysis, hysterosalpingography (HSG), saline infusion sonohysterography (SIS)

Laboratory and Success Rates

AFCC operates CAP-accredited embryology laboratories at multiple locations, including the Gurnee facility. CAP (College of American Pathologists) accreditation is the most rigorous laboratory quality standard in the United States and requires regular on-site inspections by practicing laboratory directors from peer institutions. The Gurnee lab is equipped with modern cryostorage systems and continuous environmental monitoring to ensure embryo and gamete safety throughout the culture and storage process.

The clinic reports IVF success rates that have surpassed the national average for over 20 consecutive years. Prospective patients can review AFCC's verified outcomes data through the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) registry and the federal reporting database maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. SART clinic summaries break down live birth rates by age group and cycle type, providing the clearest available comparison between clinics. You can access the federal ART outcomes data directly at the CDC ART national reporting page.

AFCC's SART-reported outcomes are available at the SART Clinic Summary Report for Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago.

Patient Experience

Patients at the Gurnee location frequently highlight the convenience of early morning appointment windows—the office opens at 6:30 AM on weekdays, accommodating monitoring visits before the standard workday begins, which is a significant practical advantage for working adults managing fertility treatment around professional schedules. Weekend and holiday appointments are available by arrangement, giving the practice more scheduling flexibility than many standalone fertility offices.

Reviewers across multiple platforms consistently note short wait times at Gurnee, with many patients reporting they are seen within ten minutes of their appointment time. The staff is described as organized, compassionate, and communicative, with strong coordination between nurses, medical assistants, and physicians. Patients traveling from southern Wisconsin—a drive of one to two hours for those coming from Racine or Milwaukee—report that the proximity of Gurnee relative to Chicago proper makes AFCC a practical choice when in-state Wisconsin fertility options are limited or covered out-of-network. The clinic's multi-location footprint also allows patients to begin monitoring at Gurnee and, if needed, access additional services at the River North or suburban offices.

AFCC's membership in the Prelude Network provides patients with access to cryostorage redundancy, inter-network consultations, and, for eligible patients, Prelude's multi-cycle financial programs. The practice maintains active educational resources through its website and blog, including condition-specific guides on PCOS, endometriosis, male factor infertility, and genetic testing options.

Considering At-Home Insemination?

Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.

At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.

If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.

Insurance and Financing

Illinois has one of the strongest fertility insurance mandates in the United States. Under state law, any health plan that includes pregnancy coverage must also cover infertility treatments—including IVF, IUI, and related services—for up to six egg retrievals over a patient's lifetime, provided a live birth does not occur after each retrieval cycle. Specifically, the mandate covers up to four initial egg retrievals, and if a live birth results from a cycle, coverage for two additional retrievals is triggered, up to the six-retrieval lifetime maximum. This mandate makes Illinois one of the most favorable states in the country for patients seeking fertility coverage.

The mandate does carry carve-outs: employers with fewer than 25 employees, self-insured companies operating under ERISA, and religious organizations are not required to comply. Patients should verify their specific plan terms directly with their insurer or through AFCC's insurance coordinators.

AFCC works with a broad range of carriers, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Choice, Cigna, Humana, Optum Health, United Healthcare, Progyny, and Maven Fertility. Most PPO plans are accepted, even when AFCC is technically out of network. For patients without qualifying coverage, a single IVF cycle typically ranges from $13,000 to $20,000 before medications, anesthesia, and optional genetic testing. AFCC offers financing options, and as a Prelude Network member, the clinic can connect eligible patients to multi-cycle programs designed to reduce per-cycle cost for those who may need more than one retrieval.

For a broader look at how coverage varies across the state, see our guide to fertility clinics in Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far in advance should I schedule my first appointment at the Gurnee location? New patient consultations at the Gurnee office can typically be scheduled within a few weeks. The clinic's early-morning weekday hours and by-appointment weekend availability help accommodate patients with demanding work schedules. Calling (847) 662-1818 or using the online booking portal at book.advancedfertility.com is the fastest way to confirm availability.

Does AFCC offer fertility care for single parents and LGBTQ+ patients? Yes. AFCC has a well-established program for LGBTQ+ family building, including reciprocal IVF (where one partner provides the eggs and the other carries the pregnancy), IUI with donor sperm, and gestational carrier coordination for gay male couples. Single patients—both female and male—are also welcomed and receive individualized treatment planning that accounts for their specific reproductive goals.

What does the Illinois fertility insurance mandate actually cover? The Illinois mandate requires most private employer health plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF, up to six lifetime egg retrievals (with conditions based on whether a live birth occurs). Diagnostic testing such as bloodwork, ultrasounds, and semen analysis is broadly covered. Elective egg freezing, PGT, donor egg cycles, and surrogacy costs are generally not mandated, though some plans may offer partial coverage. AFCC's insurance team can review a patient's specific benefits before treatment begins. For more on IVF treatment options and what to expect from a full cycle, see our in-depth guide.

What is the significance of CAP accreditation for an IVF lab? CAP (College of American Pathologists) accreditation means the embryology laboratory undergoes rigorous, unannounced peer inspections conducted by laboratory directors from other institutions. The accreditation covers equipment calibration, quality control protocols, staff qualifications, documentation practices, and environmental monitoring—all factors that directly affect embryo culture conditions and ultimately IVF success rates. Not all fertility clinic labs carry CAP accreditation, making it a meaningful benchmark when evaluating a program.