North Shore Fertility's Old Orchard Road location is situated at 5225 Old Orchard Rd, Suite 17, Skokie, IL 60077, near the Old Orchard Shopping Center and the Edens Expressway (I-94). This north suburban Chicago location serves patients from Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, Northbrook, Glenview, and the greater North Shore corridor. The practice carries a 4.5-star rating from 18 reviewers. Note that North Shore Fertility also operates a second Skokie location on Dempster Street (see the separate guide for that address). Full practice information is available at northshorefertility.com. Patients comparing clinics across the Chicago metro can browse the Illinois fertility clinic directory.
Physicians and Clinical Team
North Shore Fertility is led by reproductive endocrinologists who are board-certified through ABOG with subspecialty expertise in infertility and assisted reproductive technology. The clinical team at the Old Orchard Road office includes fertility nurses, ultrasonographers, and care coordinators who manage the monitoring-intensive phases of IVF and IUI cycles. The practice maintains affiliations with major hospital systems in the Chicago area, which facilitates co-management of complex cases involving uterine anomalies, thyroid disorders, or autoimmune conditions. Physician availability at each office may vary; prospective patients should confirm which attending physicians see patients at the Old Orchard Rd location.
Services and Treatments
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) with fresh and frozen embryo transfers
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI) with partner or donor sperm
- Elective egg freezing and oncofertility preservation
- Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) and monogenic conditions (PGT-M)
- Ovulation induction with oral agents and injectable gonadotropins
- Donor egg IVF with fresh and frozen cycles
- Sperm cryopreservation and donor sperm coordination
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation
- Endometriosis and uterine factor assessment (hysteroscopy, HSG, sonohysterography)
- Fertility preservation for patients undergoing cancer treatment
Laboratory and Success Rates
North Shore Fertility's embryology services support multiple office locations. The lab employs vitrification for embryo and egg cryopreservation, ICSI for fertilization in cases involving male factor infertility, and extended blastocyst culture to select the highest-quality embryos for transfer. Patients considering PGT should ask about lab turnaround times and biopsy protocols at their consultation.
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
The Old Orchard Road office benefits from a location within a familiar north suburban commercial corridor that many patients find easy to navigate. Reviewers highlight friendly and organized nursing staff, consistent communication between monitoring visits, and an office culture that is attentive without feeling clinical or rushed. The proximity to the expressway and surface parking makes early-morning monitoring appointments manageable for patients driving from the North Shore suburbs. Some patients have noted that this location's focus on monitoring means procedure-level care such as retrievals may take place at a different facility — confirm your full care pathway at consultation.
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 fertility insurance mandate, which is among the more comprehensive in the country. Illinois law requires that fully insured group health plans cover infertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF, for employers with 25 or more employees. State employees' group insurance also includes fertility coverage. However, self-insured (ERISA) plans — which cover many large employers — are not subject to the state mandate.
Patients with Illinois-mandated coverage should verify their specific plan's terms, including any lifetime dollar limits, required prior authorizations, or step-therapy requirements (e.g., IUI before IVF). North Shore Fertility's financial team can assist with insurance verification and prior authorization filing. For patients without coverage, multi-cycle packages and medical financing are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Old Orchard Rd and Dempster St North Shore Fertility locations? Both are North Shore Fertility offices in Skokie but at different addresses. The Old Orchard Rd location is closer to the Edens Expressway corridor, while the Dempster St office is further east. Both locations may offer overlapping services; call the practice to determine which office is the better fit for your specific treatment needs.
Does Illinois mandate coverage apply to all health insurance plans in the state? No. The Illinois mandate applies to fully insured group plans. Self-insured plans (common at large corporations) are governed by federal ERISA law and are not required to follow the state mandate. Ask your HR department whether your plan is fully insured or self-insured.
Can I start care at one North Shore Fertility location and transfer to another? Yes. Since both Skokie locations are part of the same practice, records and care plans can be shared across offices. Patients who move or change their commute patterns mid-cycle should speak with their care coordinator about transitioning.
How early are monitoring appointments scheduled? Fertility monitoring appointments — including bloodwork and ultrasound — are typically scheduled in the early morning to accommodate work schedules. Exact hours vary; confirm current scheduling windows when you book.