Laurel Fertility Care

12/22/2025

"After our first consultation, we knew we wanted to continue with Laurel Fertility."🌈💛
Gabryelle and Nicole R. came to us exploring their options for building their family, and from day one, they felt the difference.
"They were so very informative of all the options we had and the team was supportive with all of our decisions."
This is exactly what we strive for. Every LGBTQ+ family deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and supported without having to explain, justify, or compromise.
At Laurel Fertility Care, we proudly offer inclusive, comprehensive care for all paths to parenthood:
✨ IUI with donor s***m
✨ Reciprocal IVF (one partner's eggs, the other carries)
✨ Gestational surrogacy
✨ Egg or s***m donation
✨ Fertility preservation
Whether you're a same-sex couple, a transgender individual, or anywhere on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, Dr. Smikle and our team provide expert, personalized guidance tailored to YOUR unique journey.
Your family-building dreams are valid. Your questions matter. Your path is yours to choose. And we're here to support you every single step of the way.
Ready to start your journey?
📍 San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com/lgbtq

12/21/2025

Happy Hanukkah from Laurel Fertility Care! As the eighth candle is lit tonight, we're reflecting on the themes that make this season so meaningful: light in darkness, hope renewed, and miracles that happen when we keep believing.

For those on a fertility journey, these messages resonate deeply. Your perseverance, your hope, and your courage shine brightly, even through the challenging moments.

To our patients celebrating Hanukkah: we see your strength, we honor your faith, and we're here supporting you every step of the way.

May this final night bring warmth, peace, and the light of possibility into the new year ahead.

📍 San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com

12/20/2025

This season can bring joy, but it can also bring family questions you're not ready to answer, surprise pregnancy announcements, and the weight of feeling like you should just "be grateful" when your heart is complicated.

We see you. Your feelings are valid. All of them.
You can feel happy for others AND sad for yourself. You can feel hopeful AND exhausted. You can want to celebrate AND need space.

Here are some ways to care for yourself this season:
✨ Set boundaries around baby-related questions. Your mental health matters more than anyone's curiosity.
✨ Give yourself permission to skip events that feel too hard. Protecting your peace isn't selfish, it's necessary.
✨ Connect with support. Talk to your partner, lean on a trusted friend, or join a support group. You don't have to carry this alone.

The holidays don't pause your fertility journey, and your journey doesn't pause your right to boundaries and self-compassion.

📍 San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com

12/18/2025

Remember when we said miracles happen here? Meet these precious twin boys who started their journey with us through IUI right here in Modesto!
Their parents graduated from our care in January 2025, and this week they stopped by to introduce us to their beautiful baby boys. Seeing these little faces and watching this family's joy never gets old.
But here's what really touched our hearts: they're already planning to come back in about a year and a half to grow their family even more. Once you experience the Laurel difference, you know where to turn when you're ready for the next chapter.
From that first consultation to holding not one but TWO babies, to already dreaming about baby number three, this is what it's all about. Dr. Smikle and our Modesto team are so grateful to be part of this family's story. Congratulations to this amazing family. We can't wait to see you again! 💙

12/17/2025

Thinking about starting GLP-1s before trying to conceive? Here's what fertility specialists want you to know first.
Our comprehensive guide covers:
✓ How weight loss affects fertility
✓ Timing considerations
✓ PCOS connections
✓ When to talk to your doctor

The rise in unexpected pregnancies is likely due to a combination of two distinct factors: metabolic restoration and medication interference.

12/16/2025

Shoutout to Leslie Barahona, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC!
We have to take a moment to celebrate one of the incredible providers making magic happen at our Modesto clinic every single day.
Leslie brings her whole heart to fertility care. With her background from UC Davis, West Coast University, and Touro College, she's got the expertise. But what really sets her apart? The way she makes every patient feel seen, heard, and supported.
From baseline sonograms to IUIs to those exciting early pregnancy ultrasounds, Leslie is there guiding patients through each step with skill and genuine compassion. She believes in individualized care, shared decision-making, and being present for her patients through every high and low.
The Leslie difference: She doesn't just treat patients, she builds relationships. She empowers people with knowledge. She creates a safe space where concerns are welcomed and questions are encouraged.
And when she's not caring for patients at the clinic? She's teaching Zumba classes, hiking Central Valley trails with her husband and two sons, or bringing her Hawaiian roots to life through cooking and aloha spirit.
Leslie, our Modesto patients are so lucky to have you. Thank you for the heart, dedication, and warmth you bring to Laurel Fertility Care every single day. 💙

📍 Modesto | San Francisco | Oakland
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com

12/15/2025

Understanding your cycle and knowing when you're most fertile is an important first step, but you don't have to navigate your fertility journey alone.

Whether you're tracking your ovulation window, have questions about timing, or have been trying to conceive for several months without success, Laurel Fertility Care is here to provide the personalized guidance and expert care you deserve.

What We Offer:
Under the leadership of Medical Director Dr. Smikle, our experienced team provides comprehensive fertility services tailored to your unique needs:
✓ Comprehensive fertility evaluations and testing
✓ IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and IUI (Intrauterine Insemination)
✓ Egg freezing and fertility preservation
✓ LGBTQ+ family building and third-party reproduction
✓ Male fertility evaluation and treatment
✓ Recurrent pregnancy loss support and care
✓ Personalized treatment planning at every step

Ready to take the next step?
📞 Call us: 415-673-9199
🌐 Book online: laurelfertility.com
📍 Locations: San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto




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12/12/2025

Here's what many people don't realize: male factor infertility contributes to about 40-50% of all infertility cases. Yet it often goes unaddressed for months or even years while women undergo test after test.

No one should have to carry the entire fertility journey alone. Male factor infertility includes issues with s***m count, motility (movement), morphology (shape), or delivery. The encouraging news? Many of these issues are treatable.

Common causes include:
- Varicoceles (enlarged veins in the sc***um)
- Hormonal imbalances
- Lifestyle factors like stress, smoking, or certain medications
- Genetic factors
- Structural issues

Here's how we help: Dr. Smikle conducts comprehensive semen analysis as a standard part of every fertility evaluation because we believe in addressing all factors from day one. When male factor is identified, we collaborate with top urologists and offer solutions ranging from lifestyle modifications to IUI, IVF with ICSI (where a single s***m is injected directly into an egg), or donor s***m when needed.

You deserve answers that look at the complete picture. Building a family involves understanding all contributing factors, and at Laurel Fertility Care, we support both partners every step of the way.

📍 San Francisco, Oakland & Modesto
📞 415-673-9199 | laurelfertility.com

12/12/2025

❄️ Why egg quality AND quantity both matter in egg freezing
When it comes to egg freezing, timing is everything. You're born with all the eggs you'll ever have, but both the quantity (ovarian reserve) and quality decline with age, especially after 35. Younger eggs have better chromosomal integrity, which means higher success rates when you're ready to use them in the future.
"When it comes to egg freezing, most people focus on quantity, how many eggs we can retrieve. But quality is equally important. The best outcomes come from freezing eggs when both factors are at their peak," explains Dr. Smikle.
At Laurel Fertility Care, Dr. Smikle assesses your unique hormone levels and ovarian reserve through bloodwork and ultrasound, then creates a personalized protocol designed specifically for you. No cookie-cutter approach, just care tailored to maximize your future options.

The sweet spot for egg freezing is typically your late 20s to mid-30s, but the real answer depends on YOUR individual situation. The best time to explore your options? Before you think you need to. That's when you have the most choice and the best opportunity to preserve your fertility at its peak.

Your future family, your timeline. We're here when you're ready.

📍 San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com

12/10/2025

Some families who have completed their fertility journey choose to donate their remaining embryos, offering another family an extraordinary gift: the chance to experience pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.
How embryo donation works:
Embryos created during IVF but no longer needed by the original family can be donated to intended parents. Recipients experience the full journey of pregnancy and childbirth while honoring the profound generosity of the donating family.

Who benefits from embryo donation?
- Couples or individuals facing infertility challenges
- Same-sex couples building their families
- Those who cannot produce viable eggs or s***m
- Anyone seeking a more affordable path to parenthood

Dr. Smikle and our compassionate team guide both donating and receiving families through every step, ensuring thorough medical screening, legal coordination, and emotional support throughout the process.

One family's miracle can become another's dream come true.

📍 San Francisco | Oakland | Modesto
📞 415-673-9199
🌐 laurelfertility.com

12/10/2025

💛 Meet Baby Jubilee
Some names say it all. Jubilee means celebration, and that's exactly what this moment is.
After their fertility journey, this beautiful family is now home with their precious baby. The joy in this room, the love in these smiles, it's what we work for every single day.

To Baby Jubilee's parents: thank you for letting us be part of your story. Watching you become a family has been an honor.

To everyone still on their journey: this is possible. Your baby is worth every step, every appointment, every moment of hope. We believe in your dream.

📍 Personalized, compassionate care in San Francisco, Oakland & Modesto
📞 415-673-9199 | laurelfertility.com