Laurel Fertility Care

04/29/2026

There is something about this photo that says everything.
Dr. Smikle at our Oakland clinic, walking the same halls he has walked for over twenty years. Showing up for his patients with the same dedication, the same care, and the same belief that every person who comes through these doors deserves to be truly seen.
If you have been looking for a physician who will walk this journey with you, not just treat you through it, we would love to introduce you to Dr. Smikle.

04/29/2026

Grief in the fertility journey is not always talked about. And for Black fathers, it can be especially invisible.
We wanted to share this resource because every person navigating loss deserves a space that truly sees them.
You are not alone.

Grief doesn't look the same for everyone, and for Black dads who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss, finding a space that truly sees and understands your experience is crucial.

We welcome you to join our Black Dads in Loss support group 🖤

This group was created specifically for Black fathers navigating the pain of miscarriage, infant loss, or infertility, a safe space to share, heal, and find hope alongside other dads who understand.

📅 Meets the 4th Sunday of each month at 9 PM ET
💻 Virtual | 🔒 Confidential | 💙 Always free
🔗 Learn more and register here: https://loom.ly/hl3Vhvg
💬 Comment "Support Group" below and we'll send you the link to our support groups in a private message.

You are not alone. 💙

04/27/2026

The best is yet to come.
Wherever you are in your journey right now, we hope you find moments of hope in the little things this week. We are rooting for you. 🤍

04/24/2026

As National Infertility Awareness Week comes to a close, we want to share these words from one of our patients.
"Thank you for being part of my journey and helping me achieve the greatest gift of my life. You are all truly doing God's work. I am so grateful for Dr. Smikle, Crystal, Melissa, Marisa, and everyone else who has been part of this amazing, life changing process. I am forever indebted to Dr. Smikle and your team."
This is why we do what we do. Every appointment. Every phone call. Every step of the journey.
To every patient who trusted us this year -- thank you. And to everyone still waiting -- we are here, and we believe in your dream. 💙
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/23/2026

This week is National Le***an Visibility Week and National Infertility Awareness Week. And we want to talk about something that sits at the intersection of both and does not get talked about enough.
For le***an couples, the fertility journey is often left out of the broader conversation. The resources, the support groups, the clinical spaces -- they are not always built with LGBTQ+ families in mind. That gap leaves some families feeling like they do not fully belong, even in spaces that are supposed to support them.
That is not good enough. And it is not how we practice medicine at Laurel Fertility Care.
Gabby and Jess came to us for IUI treatment. Today they have their daughter Aurora, who is clearly the absolute joy of their world. When we reached out to them this week, they shared something that meant everything to us.
"We have always felt seen and heard at Laurel."
To every LGBTQ+ family navigating fertility treatment: you belong here. You deserve care that sees you fully, celebrates your family, and never makes you feel like an afterthought.
We are so proud to have walked this journey with Gabby and Jess.
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/22/2026

1 in 6 people will experience infertility. That is not a distant statistic. It is your colleague who quietly left early for another monitoring appointment. Your friend who smiled through another baby shower while carrying something no one knew about. Your sister who has been trying for years and does not know how to say it out loud.
This week is National Infertility Awareness Week. At Laurel Fertility Care, we believe every one of those people deserves more than awareness. They deserve access, support, and care that sees them fully.
If that is you or someone you love, we are here. And we are ready when you are.
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/20/2026

This is National Infertility Awareness Week. And we want to share two stories that remind us exactly why this work matters.
Kimberly and her family came to Laurel Fertility Care after almost ten years of trying. Years of sadness, of uncertainty, of wondering if it would ever happen. Today they have their son Junior, who is nine years old.
Stevie and Mark joined us in 2021. Today they have two beautiful children, Quinn who is two and Drew who is five months old.
Two families. Two journeys. One belief that never wavered -- that with the right care, the right team, and the right support, it can happen.
If you are still in the waiting, we see you. And we believe in your dream. 💙
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/19/2026

National Infertility Awareness Week is almost here. And this year, California families have something important to know.
1 in 6 people will experience infertility. Many will wait years before seeking care. Many more will never access treatment at all. Awareness matters. But so does access.
As of January 1, 2026, SB 729 requires many California employer health plans to cover fertility diagnosis and treatment, including IVF. For Bay Area families who have been putting off fertility care because of cost, this is significant.
Here is what to do right now. Contact your HR department or insurance provider and ask specifically about fertility diagnosis, IUI, and IVF coverage. Request a summary of your benefits in writing.
At Laurel Fertility Care, we work with most major insurance providers and can help you understand your coverage before your first appointment. Cost should not be the reason you do not get answers.
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/16/2026

Not every fertility physician speaks about Black maternal health like this.
Dr. Smikle does. Because for him, it is personal.
As a Black physician and a father, Dr. Smikle brings a perspective to this work that is both deeply personal and profoundly informed. His commitment to building a practice rooted in equity, empathy, and clinical excellence is not a mission statement. It is how he practices medicine every single day.
If you have been looking for a fertility practice that truly sees you, we would love to introduce you to Dr. Smikle.
415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/15/2026

This week is Black Maternal Health Week.
Black women are 1.8 times more likely to experience infertility than women of other races, yet far less likely to access or receive fertility treatment. Many experience longer delays before seeing a specialist, often due to mistrust of medical systems, cultural stigma, or a desire for privacy.
Every Black woman deserves to be listened to, believed, and cared for fully. Not as an exception. As a standard.
At Laurel Fertility Care, that is our commitment. Every day.

04/14/2026

This week is Black Maternal Health Week, and we want to speak directly to something that matters deeply to us.
Black women are 1.8 times more likely to experience infertility than women of other races, yet far less likely to access or receive fertility treatment. They are underrepresented in the medical research that shapes their care. Their pain is more likely to be dismissed. Their symptoms more likely to go underinvestigated. Their concerns more likely to be overlooked. Many experience longer delays before seeing a specialist, often due to mistrust of medical systems, cultural stigma, or a desire for privacy.
This is not a collection of isolated experiences. It is a pattern with real consequences.
Every Black woman who walks through our doors at Laurel Fertility Care will be listened to, believed, and cared for fully. In San Francisco, Oakland, and Modesto. That is not a goal we are working toward. It is how we practice medicine today.
If you have been looking for a practice that sees you, we would love to be that place.
Learn more at laurelfertility.com/black-families

415-673-9199 · laurelfertility.com

04/13/2026

Black Maternal Health Week is in full effect and we are proud to stand with in this work.
Black women are three times more likely to die from pregnancy related causes than white women. That is not a statistic we can look away from.
Visit blkmaternalhealthweek.com/events to find events near you this week. Show up where you are. 🤍