Fertility Endocrine & Andrology Consultants is a reproductive medicine practice located at 1725 West Harrison Street in Chicago, Illinois — in the Near West Side neighborhood and Illinois Medical District, one of the most concentrated medical service corridors in the Chicago area. The Illinois Medical District encompasses major hospital campuses including the University of Illinois Hospital, Rush University Medical Center, and Stroger Hospital of Cook County, creating a rich clinical ecosystem for specialty medical care. The practice's name highlights its andrology focus — a subspecialty addressing male reproductive health — distinguishing it from fertility practices that treat primarily female patients. Illinois has a state fertility insurance mandate, making coverage access a meaningful advantage for Chicago-area patients. For a wider view of Illinois fertility options, visit the Illinois state directory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
Fertility Endocrine & Andrology Consultants is led by physicians with training in reproductive endocrinology and expertise in andrology — the medical subspecialty focused on the male reproductive system, including sperm function, testicular disorders, ejaculatory dysfunction, and male hormonal health. The explicit inclusion of andrology in the practice name signals a clinical emphasis on the evaluation and treatment of male factor infertility, which accounts for approximately 40–50% of infertility cases when male contributions are fully factored in. The practice's endocrinology expertise also addresses hormonal fertility disorders in female patients, including conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, PCOS, and premature ovarian insufficiency.
The clinical team in the Illinois Medical District setting benefits from proximity to major hospital resources, enabling consultation and referral for more complex cases including surgical andrology, reproductive urology, and endocrine disorders requiring specialist input. Nursing coordinators and support staff manage the logistics of fertility treatment cycles, ensuring patients receive timely monitoring results and guidance.
Services and Treatments
Fertility Endocrine & Andrology Consultants offers services spanning reproductive medicine and andrology:
- New patient fertility consultations and comprehensive evaluation
- Female fertility evaluation including ovarian reserve and hormonal assessment
- Male fertility evaluation including semen analysis, hormonal testing, and advanced diagnostics
- Sperm DNA fragmentation testing
- Ovulation induction with monitoring
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) with ICSI (particularly relevant for male factor)
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A, PGT-M)
- Egg freezing for elective fertility preservation
- Embryo cryopreservation and banking
- Donor sperm coordination
- Donor egg coordination
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation
- Endocrine disorders affecting fertility (thyroid, prolactin, androgen disorders)
- Surgical sperm retrieval coordination (TESA, TESE, micro-TESE) in collaboration with urology
Laboratory and Success Rates
An andrology-focused fertility practice maintains specialized laboratory capabilities for comprehensive sperm evaluation beyond standard semen analysis — including morphology assessment, sperm function testing, and DNA fragmentation analysis. For IVF cycles requiring ICSI, an experienced embryology and andrology laboratory team is essential. Patients should review the most current cycle-level data published by the CDC's ART Surveillance program and the SART Clinic Summary Report.
Male factor infertility can be one of the most underdiagnosed contributors to a couple's fertility challenges — many couples attribute infertility to the female partner without a thorough male evaluation. A practice with an explicit andrology focus is particularly well-suited to ensure that male factor contributions are properly identified and addressed.
Patient Experience
The 1725 West Harrison Street address is in Chicago's Illinois Medical District — a dense concentration of hospital and medical office buildings just west of downtown, accessible by the CTA Blue Line (UIC-Halsted and Illinois Medical District stations) and by the I-290 expressway. For Chicago patients without cars, the Blue Line access is a meaningful accessibility advantage; fertility treatment requires frequent monitoring appointments, and CTA access reduces commute stress for patients who rely on public transportation.
The Near West Side / Illinois Medical District location also places the practice in proximity to multiple hospital systems, enabling coordinated care for patients with concurrent medical conditions managed within the hospital network. The neighborhood has a long history as a medical services hub, and the clinical environment is familiar to healthcare workers and patients accustomed to the medical district setting.
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 a comprehensive fertility insurance mandate. Under Illinois law, group health insurance plans covering 25 or more employees are required to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including IVF. The mandate covers up to four egg retrievals with unlimited embryo transfers for IVF, making Illinois one of the most generous mandate states in the country. Illinois's mandate also covers fertility preservation services for patients whose fertility is threatened by medical treatment such as chemotherapy.
Patients should verify whether their specific plan is subject to the Illinois mandate — self-funded ERISA plans, government plans, and certain other plan types may be exempt. The billing team at Fertility Endocrine & Andrology Consultants can help verify coverage, assist with prior authorization, and explain what documentation insurers require. For patients whose plans are not mandate-compliant, standard financing options apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is andrology, and why does it matter for fertility treatment? Andrology is the medical subspecialty focused on male reproductive health — including the evaluation of sperm quality, testicular function, male hormonal balance, and the management of conditions that affect male fertility. Male factor infertility is a contributing cause in approximately 40–50% of infertile couples, yet male evaluation is sometimes insufficiently thorough in clinical practice. A practice with a dedicated andrology focus ensures that male fertility factors receive proper diagnostic attention alongside female evaluation.
What does the Illinois fertility insurance mandate cover for Chicago patients? Illinois group health plans covering 25 or more employees must cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF. Coverage extends to up to four egg retrieval cycles, with no limit on embryo transfers. Some plans also cover fertility medications; patients should verify specific medication coverage with their insurer. The mandate has been in place since 1991 and has provided meaningful coverage for Illinois fertility patients for decades.
How does sperm DNA fragmentation testing affect treatment decisions? Sperm DNA fragmentation measures the degree to which sperm DNA is broken or damaged. High fragmentation can impair fertilization, embryo development, and implantation even when standard semen analysis parameters (count, motility, morphology) appear normal. For couples with unexplained infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, sperm DNA fragmentation testing can identify a previously overlooked male factor. Treatment may include lifestyle modifications, antioxidant supplementation, or ICSI with surgically retrieved testicular sperm (which tends to have lower fragmentation than ejaculated sperm).
Can the clinic help couples where the male partner has been told he has very low or absent sperm? Yes. Severe male factor infertility — including very low sperm counts (severe oligospermia) or absence of sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia) — can often be addressed through surgical sperm retrieval techniques such as TESA, TESE, or micro-TESE, performed in coordination with a reproductive urologist. Retrieved sperm can be used for ICSI during an IVF cycle. The practice's andrology expertise makes it well-suited to evaluate and coordinate care for patients with severe male factor conditions.