CCRM Fertility

08/22/2025

Proud supporter of our military men and women!

08/05/2025

We see you 👀 …taking that home pregnancy test even though your clinic said “wait for the blood test.” Honestly? We totally get it. The wait is brutal, and the urge to know is real!

But here’s why your care team encourages you to hold off:
- Trigger shots contain HCG — the same hormone pregnancy tests detect. If you test too soon, that lingering HCG could give you a false positive.
- On the flip side, if your body hasn't produced enough of its own HCG yet, you could get a false negative.
- Both scenarios could mean unnecessary stress during an already emotional time .

We know it’s hard, but try to rest, distract yourself, and let time do its thing. Your clinic will give you the most accurate result with that two-week blood test (and if you do cave and test early... we’re not mad, just here with the facts).

Drop a comment for anyone who needs this 👇

08/04/2025

We’re excited to welcome to the CCRM Fertility team, who is now serving patients in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois!

Dr. Balmir is a double board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist (REI). She believes in shared decision-making with her patients and works closely with them to develop a personalized protocol that aligns with their family-building goals. She specializes in areas such as fertility care for women with a BMI of 40 or greater, reproductive surgery, oncofertility, PCOS, diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, and LGBTQIA+ family building.

Dr. Balmir is also an accomplished researcher and speaker and is committed to educating the next generation of fertility doctors. We feel so lucky to have her on the CCRM Fertility clinical team!

Join us as we welcome Dr. Balmir to the CCRM network and click the link in our bio to learn more or book an appointment.

08/04/2025

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Fabiola Balmir to the CCRM Fertility team, who is now serving patients in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois!

Dr. Balmir is a double board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist (REI). She believes in shared decision-making with her patients and works closely with them to develop a personalized protocol that aligns with their family-building goals. She specializes in areas such as fertility care for women with a BMI of 40 or greater, reproductive surgery, oncofertility, PCOS, diminished ovarian reserve, recurrent pregnancy loss, and LGBTQIA+ family building.

Dr. Balmir is also an accomplished researcher and speaker and is committed to educating the next generation of fertility doctors. We feel so lucky to have her on the CCRM Fertility clinical team!

Join us as we welcome Dr. Balmir to the CCRM network and learn more about her here: http://bit.ly/451ZAkD

08/01/2025

What a fertility specialist would tell you… if they weren’t afraid to hurt your feelings. 👇

Dr. Lucy Chen from CCRM Virginia Beach is telling it like it is — because sometimes, the truth is exactly what you need to hear.

1. Your body and journey is unique- Stop comparing timelines.
2. That celeb pregnancy at 45? It’s the exception not the norm
3. ChatGPT can’t diagnose infertility. We can.
4. 30-40% of infertility is male factor so yes, he does need a semen analysis
5. Hope is great. So is Science. Use both.
6. You didn’t wait too long. You just didn’t know.
7. Just relax' is not a medical strategy.
8. Your eggs don’t care about your 5-year plan.
9. If you have regular periods, you don’t need a fancy home hormone monitor
10. That $upplement? Maybe helpful. Not magic.

No filters. Just fertility facts.

07/29/2025

💥 Fertility Myth: Busted. 💥⁣

Dr. Jessica Ryniec from CCRM Boston is here to set the record straight on some of the most common myths about fertility treatments and IVF. Let’s just say... not everything you’ve heard is true!
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From “IVF is the only fertility treatment option to “you’ll definitely have twins,” she’s breaking it down with real facts.
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If you’re navigating infertility, you’ve probably heard it all. You deserve honest info from someone who gets it.⁣
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07/25/2025

🧫 Happy World Embryologist Day! 🧫

Fertility success begins in the lab. At CCRM, we're so proud to have an incredible team of embryologists and other scientists that help make parenthood possible.

Our amazing embryologists across our 20+ CCRM locations work to take care of your eggs, s***m, and embryos, research new medical breakthroughs, teach the next generation of embryologists, and help advance fertility treatments.

The best part of their job is seeing the babies they helped bring into this world. Tag us @ CCRM Fertility with a photo of your baby + your CCRM location. We can’t wait to see your little ones! 🥰

Tap the link in bio to learn more about the amazing work they do every day in our latest blog!

07/22/2025

POV: You’re about to see one of the most intricate and essential procedures in the IVF lab — s***m fertilizing an egg — right in front of your eyes! 🤩

ICSI (intracytoplasmic s***m injection) isn’t just a common IVF procedure, it’s a core technique in the hands of our expert embryologists. By carefully injecting a single healthy s***m directly into a mature egg, our team gives it the best chance to fertilize and develop into an embryo.

ICSI demands intense focus, advanced training, and next-level precision. It is one of the most technically challenging procedures in reproductive science. 🥼💡

Watch our amazing CCRM team show you how ICSI is done, then click the link in bio to learn more about the embryology team and how they helpful fulfill our patients family building goals!

07/21/2025

It’s time to give credit where credit is due: to CCRM's amazing embryologists, the scientists who handle the earliest, most delicate stages of development and who help our patients realize their dreams of parenthood.

All week long leading up to 🧫 World Embryologist Day 🧫 on July 25, the birthday of the world’s first-ever IVF baby, Louise Joy Brown, we’ll be sharing some behind-the-scenes looks at the CCRM IVF labs and all the magic 🪄 that happens there.

We’ll also introduce you to some amazing members of our embryology team, starting with Laura Reed, IVF Laboratory Supervisor at CCRM’s flagship location in Colorado.

Stay tuned for a peek into the CCRM IVF labs!

Want to give a shoutout to our amazing embryologists? Drop it in the comments below.

07/15/2025

What is IVF, anyway? 🤔

In vitro fertilization (in vitro is Latin for “in glass”) involves mixing s***m and egg in a lab to make an embryo, which is then placed into the uterus to attempt a pregnancy. IVF is an effective way for people to have babies who can’t conceive. More than 12 million babies were born via IVF!

Swipe through to learn the basics of IVF so you’re prepared if a friend or relative is going through it or you’re beginning your own fertility journey. The more you know...

07/14/2025

Not every journey starts in the right place. After navigating setbacks at their previous clinic, Kelsey and Celine arrived at CCRM Northern Virginia feeling uncertain and left feeling hopeful and supported.

"We firmly believe the kindness and compassion shown by the front desk staff, nurses, lab technicians, and doctors helped us achieve our goal in a faster and less stressful environment.” Kelsey and Celine are forever grateful to Drs. Annie Martini & Carter Owen for treating them as a couple who was eager to start a family, not just a number.

Now they’re the proud parents of a baby girl, Magnolia.

We’re honored to be part of stories like this one and always grateful when patients choose to share them. ❤️

Want to share your CCRM success story with us? Shoot us a DM!

07/11/2025

🍟 Happy Fry Day from CCRM Fertility! 🍟

For those new to infertility, there is some lore—maybe with a grain of truth?— that eating fries after an embryo transfer increases your chances of success. Some say it’s because the high salt content can help the embryo implant, or maybe it’s because a high-sodium diet is said to potentially prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

There’s no scientific evidence one way or the other, but still, we think eating fries after a transfer is a fun ritual, a great photo op, and a perfect excuse to hit up the drive-through.

PS: The nursing team at CCRM Chicago gives out $5 McDonald’s gift cards to each patient after a transfer. Clearly, CCRM is Team French Fry.

Did you/will you get fries after your transfer?

07/05/2025

🥳 Happy first birthday to CCRM Fertility Austin! 🥳

We're celebrating our first anniversary and the pregnancy of CCRM Austin's first le***an couple with a stint on local news station, KXAN News, featuring CCRM Fertility of Austin founding partner and medical director, Dr. Sydney Chang.

In the clip, moms-to-be Elise and Emma provide a glimpse into their fertility journey with Dr. Chang. They share how they chose CCRM Austin as their fertility clinic because of our gender-inclusive care model, as well as our innovative technology TMRW Life Sciences, an on-site storage repository which safely tracks frozen eggs and embryos.

Elise and Emma are expecting their baby boy in October. Patients like these are the reason we do what we do at CCRM Fertility. Congrats all around!

Watch the full segment on KXAN news ➡️ https://ow.ly/RfKp50Wky37

📞 Call CCRM Austin at (737) 497-9944 or visit our website to book your consultation: ccrmivf.com/austin

09/15/2024

Congratulations to Drs. Hickman, Kudesia, and McKnight who were voted Top Doctors in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by Houstonia magazine.

08/30/2024

https://www.asrm.org/news-and-events/asrm-news/press-releasesbulletins/trump-calls-for-ivf-ca-leg-send-ivf-bill-to-gov/

Trump supports IVF coverage, and California's new bill mandates IVF insurance. Explore these key developments in reproductive healthcare access.

07/15/2024

https://www.newsweek.com/lets-set-record-straight-about-ivf-misinformation-opinion-1923506

The falsehood I hear most often is the idea that genetic testing is being used to make "designer" babies—that parents are trying to get the best, brightest, tallest, most athletic child. That's just not true.

02/15/2024

We have such kind and thoughtful patients here at CCRM Houston!

12/25/2023

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

12/12/2023

Congratulations to Dr. Timothy Hickman for being named a Texas Super Doctor for 20 years in a row! The selection process for Super Doctors is a rigorous multi-step process designed to identify healthcare providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties. While approximately 5 percent of the doctors within the respective state or region are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.

12/12/2023

Congratulations to Drs. Hickman, McKnight, Nodler, and Kudesia for being named 2023 Texas Super Doctors! Congratulations to Dr. Zhou for being named a 2023 Texas Rising Star! The selection process for Super Doctors is a rigorous multi-step process designed to identify healthcare providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Super Doctors is a selective yet diverse listing of outstanding doctors, representing consumer-oriented medical specialties. While approximately 5 percent of the doctors within the respective state or region are named to Super Doctors, no more than 2.5 percent are named to the Rising Stars list.

11/02/2023

Today, on World Fertility Day, we at CCRM Fertility stand united with the countless individuals and couples on their profound journey towards creating a family. 🌍👶 is a heartfelt recognition of the resilience, courage, and hope that characterizes the fertility journey.

At CCRM Fertility, we are more than a collective of specialists; we are pioneers, advocates, and, above all, a community dedicated to empowering aspiring parents. Our dedication is steadfast: to advance the frontier of fertility healthcare with cutting-edge science and personalized patient care. 🧬💕

The journey can be tough, but here's what propels us forward: ✅ Our enduring commitment to research and high success rates that offer reassurance and optimism. ✅ Observing the courage and optimism in our patients as they embark on their treatment paths. ✅ Our tailored approach that addresses the wide spectrum of individual fertility needs. ✅ And, fundamentally, the trust placed in us to turn dreams of parenthood into reality.

To the healthcare providers who entrust their patients to us, your referrals help build families, and for that trust, we are profoundly thankful. 🤝
To our past, present, and future patients — your remarkable stories are the core of our mission. Each unique journey and every shared success fills us with immense pride and joy.

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween from CCRM Houston!

09/08/2023

Our Dr. Timothy Hickman spoke at the scientific conference of CureHD, an organization geared to prevent the genetic transmission of Huntington Disease. HelpCureHD.org

08/09/2023

Happy Birthday to the fabulous Dr. Beth Zhou!