The Institute for Human Reproduction (IHR) operates a prominent location at 680 N Lake Shore Dr Ste 117 in Chicago, Illinois — situated in Streeterville, one of the city's most desirable and accessible neighborhoods, steps from the lakefront and within walking distance of Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The practice earns a 4.4-star rating from 187 patient reviews and is recognized as an LGBTQ+-inclusive fertility center with a long clinical history in the Chicago metro area. IHR's Lake Shore Drive address positions it as a natural choice for patients living or working in the Streeterville, Gold Coast, River North, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. The Illinois fertility clinic directory lists additional providers throughout the state.
Physicians and Clinical Team
IHR's physicians are board-certified reproductive endocrinologists who bring decades of combined experience in managing complex fertility cases. The practice is known for a continuity-of-care approach in which patients work closely with a single attending physician, a model that is particularly valued by patients navigating emotionally demanding diagnoses such as recurrent pregnancy loss, premature ovarian insufficiency, or severe male-factor infertility. The clinical team also includes experienced reproductive nurses and embryologists who have worked together for extended periods, contributing to the practice's consistent patient satisfaction scores.
Services and Treatments
- IVF with ICSI and extended blastocyst culture
- IUI with ovulatory stimulation
- Elective oocyte cryopreservation
- Frozen embryo transfer
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A, PGT-M)
- Donor egg, donor sperm, and embryo donation
- Reciprocal IVF for same-sex couples
- Gestational carrier coordination
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation and immune protocol management
- Surgical consultation for uterine and tubal pathology
Laboratory and Success Rates
IHR's in-house embryology laboratory supports the complete IVF cycle from egg retrieval through blastocyst culture, genetic biopsy coordination, and cryopreservation by vitrification. The lab maintains CLIA certification and operates under quality management protocols consistent with SART reporting standards. Embryologists at IHR have experience with extended culture and PGT biopsy in coordination with reference genetic testing laboratories.
Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Patient Experience
IHR's 4.4-star rating at the Lake Shore Drive location is a reflection of consistently high marks for physician expertise, staff responsiveness, and the personal quality of the clinical relationship. Patients frequently note that their physician remembered details of their history without needing to be reminded and that they felt genuinely supported through difficult news, including failed cycles or poor embryo quality results.
The Lake Shore Drive setting is one of the most scenic and well-connected clinic locations in Chicago, with easy access via the Red Line, bus routes along Michigan and Illinois avenues, and lakefront bike paths. Parking is available in the building garage. The clinic occupies suite 117, a ground-level or low-floor location that minimizes elevator wait times — a detail patients with mobility considerations may appreciate.
LGBTQ+ patients report that IHR provides an affirming experience from initial intake through all stages of treatment, with staff who do not require education on the basics of same-sex family building and who handle donor coordination efficiently.
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 most comprehensive state fertility insurance mandates in the country, requiring group health plans covering more than 25 employees to cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF. IHR's billing team is experienced in navigating Illinois mandate compliance and can assist patients in understanding what their specific plan covers. Self-funded employer plans governed by ERISA are not subject to the Illinois mandate. Financial counselors can discuss self-pay options and third-party financing for patients whose plans do not include fertility coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does IHR specialize in recurrent pregnancy loss? Yes. IHR has experience evaluating and managing recurrent pregnancy loss, including immune testing, thrombophilia workup, and chromosomal analysis of prior pregnancy tissue. Patients with two or more pregnancy losses are encouraged to schedule a consultation dedicated to this issue.
Can I access IHR via public transit? Yes. The Lake Shore Drive location is accessible by the CTA Red Line (Grand stop) and several bus routes serving the Streeterville area. The location is also bikeable from many Chicago neighborhoods via the lakefront path.
Does the clinic offer after-hours contact for urgent cycle questions? Fertility clinics typically provide on-call nursing coverage for urgent questions during stimulation cycles. Confirm IHR's specific after-hours protocols at the time of cycle initiation.
How does IHR handle patients with prior failed IVF cycles? The physician will conduct a detailed review of prior cycle records — including stimulation parameters, egg numbers, fertilization rates, and embryo quality — before proposing any modifications to a new protocol.