Reproductive Health Books

I purchased my own copy of this book after the friend who lent me hers wanted her copy back. I use this book, not because I'm trying to get pregnant (or avoid getting pregnant, for that matter), but because it's important to me that I really get to know my own body, how it works and what its processes are and what it's doing from day to day.

I can't vouch for the effectiveness in achieving or preventing conception, but if you as a woman are interested in getting in touch with your body and the amazing functions it performs throughout your cycle, then I would definitely recommend this book for you.

I can't say enough good things about this book. I have been charting my cycles since the fall of 2005 with this book. We at first used it to avoid pregnancy and then used it to get pregnant. We are currently using it to avoid once again. I feel so much better about my body and am in tune with it that I don't need to chart to know when I will ovulate, get my period, or if something isn't right. You can definitely use this as birth control as long as you follow all of the rules. Or if you break them use a back up method. The book is easy to read and understand. There is also a website for charting questions/help. You can also keep your charts on your computer.

My husband and I are planning to get pregnant in the next few months. I have always thought when I wanted to get pregnant I would simply go off the pill, begin ovulating two-weeks later, have intercourse, and voila! This book made me realize I might have spent months or years trying to conceive with that plan or I may have incorrectly believed I was infertile. If your goal is to get pregnant as soon as you start trying, READ THIS BOOK!

Great book, I have never had fertility problems, but I did buy and read this before conceiving my second child and we conceived the first time we tried. I am now very aware of my cycle and when I am ovulating.

You don't need to be planning to get pregnant to read this. I wish I had read this in my 20's, but was so happy that I did a few months before I started trying. This method can be used for birth control and just to understand your body better. You will be happy to have this information for so many reasons and so happy that you starting thinking about your body (not just your fertility). I would recommend it to anyone 18+, and wish there was a version for younger women with all the meaningful information about your body and cycle.

This is a wonderful, well written, book about a heroic figure who has endured much intimidation by anti-choice thugs who want to control women's bodies. It's a book I would recommend especially to young woman as they have a 50% chance of finding themselves in need of a save and legal abortion sometime in their life and if things keep going the way they are, they may be unable to obtain one. The stories Dr. Wicklund relates about herself and her patients would be unheard of in other developed Western nations so you get an indication of how out of step the U.S. is with respect to women's health. The book contained interesting medical facts about abortion procedures so you'll get factual information about an issue that has been clouded by a great deal of misinformation courtesy of the anti-choice folks. I was surprised not to see more endorsements on the book jacket from well known feminists other than Barbara Erenreich but that may be an indication of their own fear of being targeted. This is an inspiring story of a courageous woman who followed her passion and sacrificed much to serve women in need.

I was engrossed with reading this book. It is well written and the story is powerful. Also, the details match the details of my life when I worked at an abortion clinic; it is accurate.

Many thanks to Susan Wicklund for telling the world how her life was effected by her work.

This is a brave book by a courageous woman. As an Australian, I am not surprised by what she describes as I have become aware of the shameless and gutless tactics used by anti-abortion activists in the US. If it is their faith which drives them to make Susan's life hell, then they are certainly not Christians. The very encouraging thing about this book is Susan's determination not to be cowed by them and the little ways in which she discovers the latent support for her around her eg the man on the plane. As a man I find the over the top zealousness by the male anti-abortion activists almost laughable as they can have no concept of the pressures that may make a woman undertake an abortion.

This book is simply excellent. No matter your feelings on the subject matter, the memoir is well-written, with a compelling story. Dr. Wicklund makes an excellent heroine for the 21st century--we see her plodding on with resolve, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. But we also see moments of doubt, of reflection, that let us know that she is human. This is a very good book.

Dr. Wicklund focuses her memoir on herself, but also on her patients. The many, many women that she has served over the years play a huge role in this book. However, what was most interesting and eye-opening to me was her recounting of various tactics used by anti-choice protesters, and what she had to do to keep herself safe and to keep working. I had heard of doctors being killed, but I truly had no clue about the everyday lengths to which the "antis" would go in their self-righteousness.


Dr. Wicklund, I don't know if you read your book reviews on Amazon.com, but thank you. Thank you for writing this book, and for doing what you have done and what you do. Thank you for never giving up. You are an inspiration, as is your daughter, and everyone who supported you.

I have always opposed abortion. In the 1970's, I stopped going to public protest functions. At that time, one of my fellows brought a side-by-side shotgun with him to the protests. At first, I thought it was just a sort of symbolic zeal. Later, I found that at least one barrel was loaded. This did not bother me, in itself. What bothered me was that the "organizers" were not willing to suppress or control that kind of misplaced zeal. So, I quit going to the protests. I didn't stop opposing abortion. I just stopped supporting bad organization. I don't support uncontrolled crazies, and they were already in evidence then.

Dr. Wicklund has a right to produce a book, especially after decades of work in the area. However, the book is poorly planned. It is a sequence of personal recollections, a number of anecdotes put together, end to end. If the anecdotes were connected better by a common theme, it could be more revealing. As it is, it recounts the personal emotional excursions of a number of different people. There is no doubt that the emotions are real. They are relevant to an extent, but they aren't some sort of telling argument. Neither side of this particular debate has ever been plagued or inconvenienced by any excessive exercise of sanity.

I have tried over many years to understand the views of the opposition, those who are pro-abortion and prefer to spin it as "pro-choice." To me, it has always seemed that the core argument of their position is convenience. It is convenient to be very sexually active and even to be sexually promiscuous, and abortion is a somewhat unpleasant but very practical version of birth control. So, it has seemed to me---perhaps incorrectly---that abortion is needed mainly as a practical convenience. Even Dr. Wicklund's own original experience was caused basically because she found it convenient or useful to live together with a man who was not her husband at a time of their lives when they had not established a reasonable economic basis. Was it necessary? They thought so. Maybe it was...maybe not.

Is my view wrong? Undoubtedly it is simplistic. Undoubtedly the world itself has shades of gray that I am overlooking or too blind to see. The fact is that this book is written sufficiently badly that it gives me no more clue of the opposite view than I had before. I read the book because I was clueless, and I remain clueless afterward.

People do have a choice, and it is often good to exercise the choice by using a zipper.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

One of the best information sources about in vitro fertilization. Very well written with sensitivity and compassion by an experienced doctor who has successfully helped many overcome infertility with IVF. Although IVF is not for me and my husband, after reading Expecting Miracles I am much more informed about those who travel down this journey to parenthood. An excellent recommendation for friends and/or family members of (as well as) those attempting IVF.

This book is an accurate and amazing portrayal of the intelligence, skill and compassion of Dr. Christo Zouves. I am one of his patients. I was told by other physicians that there was no known cause and no treatment for my continued pregnancy losses. Dr. Zouves discovered and treated the cause and the result is my son. I endured extensive treatment to moderate my immune response to pregnancy and complete successfully one cycle of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer.
The ordeal of infertility diagnosis and treatment is discovered by the reader in a fascinating manner through the true stories of individual families. You will be surprised at what people will endure to have a child. This book is informative and compelling reading. When he is old enough, I plan to give it to my son to explain how much he was wanted and how hard we and Dr. Zouves worked to bring him into our family.

Expecting Miracles: On the Path of Hope from Infertility to Parenthood gives you a very realistic look at the lives of fertility patients. The book is helpful medically, but written with heart and compassion. I found myself laughing and crying -- it's definitely inspirational and provides hope to continue seeking the child of your dreams! END

I really enjoyed this book and found it so inspirational. I loved the format---basically all stories (I called them case studies in the title, but that's really too dry a term---they are warm and complete stories) of people going through treatment for infertility, and the outcome of these treatments. I think almost every possible kind of case is covered! The book is very honest about how tough it can be to go through the treatment---I really had no idea how much was involved in assisted reproduction, and I gained new respect for what some families go through to have children. I did think once or twice that the book might have been more balanced if there were one or two more cases in it where the technologies were not successful, to make the book more like the statistics of how often such treatments really do work. But I know this was a book about successes, and I think it would be very inspirational to a lot of people, in addition to being well written and a great read.

"Expecting Miracles" is a warm, compassionate and uplifting description of the experiences of a dozen or so couples who sought help in conceiving a child from the author's infertility clinic. Each chapter tells one couple's story, as a sort of a mini-character study or "case study"; we learn about the patients' medical histories, their relationship with their significant others, their personalities, and the impact that their difficulty in conceiving & carrying to term has had on them & their families. Interspersed with the human stories are clear & succinct explanations of the science and medical technology used to help infertile couples conceive. Dr. Zouves' reverence for the spirituality and mystery inherent in the reproductive process was particularly refreshing.

As someone currently undergoing the initial stages of fertility treatment, I found the scientific information very helpful in understanding more about the delicate reproductive process (and how today's medicine can assist). I also found myself responding very emotionally to the plight of these couples. You'd have to have a heart of stone not to shed a tear at some of these beautiful, yet painful, stories! Nearly all of the stories have happy endings, though, and while that certainly does make for a less depressing book, it probably represents an unrealistic cross-section of infertility patients. Not everyone can be helped (sadly, I have several dear friends who fall into this category) and I imagine relatively few couples have the resources to pursue the kind of cutting-edge treatment Dr. Zouves describes - flying to the West Coast constantly, staying in hotels, paying for surrogates, not to mention the cost of the treatment itself (rarely covered by insurance). On the other hand, the book may well provide the necessary hope for those who are just barely hanging on in the midst of the physically and emotionally grueling treatment.

Every Genetics professional/student must have a copy of the Smith's.It is concise, clear and well organized.

This a great book with fantastic illustration of genetic diseases, a must for all in the genetic field.

Smith's Recognizable Patterns Of Human Malformation has always been one of the best textbooks for those health professionals who study and work on diagnosis or research in dismorphology, mainly pediatricians, pathologists and geneticists. Its 6th edition is 100% improved regarding illustrations, with nice color pictures as well as updated references and new concepts. Indispensable.

This is a totally new book. I purchased the fourth edition about 15 years ago. A long way has elapsed for medicine, pediatrics and genetics. This new edition incorporated all the new advances in the field of molecular genetics. Although the genetic syndromes are explained in the classic form, with Abnormalities, Natural History and Etiology, the recent advances in genomic medicine are fully explained for each genetic syndrome or disease. Also the pictures are now in color, they have always been great pictures but now with the color they bring much more to clarity and teaching. I like very much this book, not only because the depth and comprehensive review but because it is indeed a perfect picture of what has changed in the last years, and indeed, it is a new world, particularly in the field of genetics.
Dr. Ricardo Guraieb Ibarrola. Pediatrician. Mexico City

Nice guidebook to have to help you study cases of human malformation. Each syndrome comes with text information and corresponding pictures. The pictures help you relate a particular syndrome with actual patients. It also has an index which shows some of the more common dysmorphic features that you may see and lists the syndromes that usually present with these features. The only drawback is that the information about some syndromes are sometimes lacking, so you will need another reference to expound on these cases.

I was able to read Ms lee's book in 2 hours. I did not read every little detail, I found all the indepth journalling to be more than I wanted to know, but it highlighted her struggles and determination to have a baby. I did not find it helpful per se. IMO it is the kind of book that is best shared with family and friends who know you personally. A great book for her to share with her son one day...

Unless you struggle IF you will never know the pain and heartache. In this book you will see what we go through. You will laugh and cry with each entry.
Another reviewer wrote, "Too much info" If more people spoke out the stigma and embaressment and shame we go threw would lessen.
Thanks Robin for being so couragious to write this book.

Lori

There aren't many people in this world that would open up their most private wishes, struggles and disappointments for others to experience through publishing. This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with infertility - as well as their friends and family members. I read this book in one sitting. It was so compelling to see how each attempt came out that you can't stop reading. I thank the author for sharing her journey with us. And I heartily congratulate her on having the family and son that she fought so long and hard for.

The story of Ms. Lee's journey through infertility is a 'must read' for anyone embarking on their quest for a child. Those who have not experienced this heartache would benefit from learning what it is like to yearn for a child who is seemingly so out-of-reach. It really makes you count your blessings!

This journal is very open and honest. I couldn't stop reading once I started it! The author does a wonderful job of capturing the rollercoaster ups and downs of trying to conceive a child. There are a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that go along with this process and they are all shared within this journal. Financial and social struggles are also seen along the way. This journal is a very good description of the nightmare that infertility can be.

This book is packed full of useful information and it's presented in a clear, readable and very comforting way. I found Cooper and Glazer wise, compassionate and very informed. I read the book from cover to cover and then started all over again.

My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for six years and have read several books on the subject. Choosing Assisted Reproduction is the most comprehensive, informative and challenging book that we have come across. We were both relieved to see that the authors raise some of the ethical questions that we are struggling with. They do so in a very sensitive way, always respecting the difficult choices that infertility patients face in this new world of baby making. I recommend this book to anyone going through infertility, as well as to their families and friends.

As an infertility specialist, I'd heartily recommend this book to all infertile couples - and their doctors as well. The forte of this book is the superb way in which emotional issues have been discussed.

This compassionately written book has provided a constant reference and framework within which to think during the hugely emotional period of infertility. It has managed to normalise to some extent the weird world in which readers of this book dwell. It has contributed largely to my change of views on the right of the child to know its biological history. I would recommend it as essential reading for anyone going into third party parenting.

I can't believe that anyone let me start the process of infertility treatment (beyond the clomid stage) without telling me to read this. I found it on my own when having to decide whether my only chance to have a child, egg donation, was right for my husband and myself. I only WISH someone had told me about it sooner. It would have helped me think about all of "this" in a not so crazy way. It's technical, but, those of us who go through infertility procedures know more about the getting pregnant process than most books and online souces give us credit for. These authors treat us like intelligent human beings.

Dr. Higgins' personal experience with ART and her professional experiences as an obstetrician/gynecologist, artfully threaded through her informative text, bring this book alive and make it accessible to all readers. Essential reading for all infertile couples considering ART, I would also highly recommend this book to their adult family members to help them understand the journey.

this book is enormously helpful to anyone who is considering her fertility options. dr higgins gives a thoughful, truthful review of all the things that we need to consider before going ahead w/making a decision. also, as a mother through egg donation herself, as well as an OB, she has a perspective which i have not found anywhere else. this book is truly like no other.
highly recommended!

Dr Higgins provides a refreshingly lucid and personal narrative that bridges the all-too-common gulf between patient and physician. The wealth of facts and reference material helps propsective and "in-process" families understand the clinical journey and the many actors in the process. The first-hand experience and shared stories of her patients and acquaintances breathe life and soul into the book, and reach the heart of any careful reader.

This volume should grace the offices of every fertility and ART provider.

This volume is remarkable for its lucid non-technical (non-medical) language and the way it speaks to the body, mind, and spirit. The book is about people who struggle as under dogs against the odds to have babies through a third party contributor. Thoroughly accessible, it will appeal to general readers, offering many pearls of wisdom. While en route to China to adopt an infant daughter (after having a stillborn biological daughter), I read this book. I am painfully aware that medical science/arts have their limits and are not always successful (even for those who are indomitable.) Having been schooled in the Boston area with clinical work in several exotic locales, the author Lonny is now in a Hawaiian paradise where she lives a wholesome lifestyle. The narrative is honed from the lens of a physician with emphasis on ethics, politics and complications of third party ART's. Dr. Higgins has many unique discussions like that of the "Solomon Syndrome," a reference to the biblical story, coining a new phrase for what some women, including herself, experience as unworthiness, questioning if they are the real mother when an egg donor is involved. One wonders if there are similar syndromes for fathers using donor(s), non-carrier(s) partners or parents who employ a surrogate-gestational carrier.
The vignettes of case studies or clinical scenarios describe the psychological risks and high stakes of 3rd party reproductive matters (on the one hand, issues of loss of genetic contribution from one parent; and on the other hand, how worthwhile it is to have these children made against the odds). Higgins tells stories from her own family, e.g., referencing her romance with her husband and miracle son Tucker. She also addresses well what parental responses might be when a child says to their parent: "You should have shopped for better egg or sperm!" In a reader-friendly chart of drawings "The Birth Matrix: An Illustrated Guide to All the Options" Higgins gives representations of possible reproductive combinations available for singles, gay, lesbian families and traditional heterosexual couples. This is helpful because often people may need to try more than one standard way to make a baby when spontaneous pregnancy is not working or possible due to numerous factors/unknown causes.
The author could have dealt more with the hardest cases when enough is enough, and the journey results in childfree living (not included fully), adoption (one case relates to China adoption), or surrogacy (included more fully). Higgins addresses society's lack of willingness to deal with 3rd parties in terms of nuanced language. Anyone considering third party reproduction will benefit from mining this book. The journey to parenthood from infertility has numerous rewards and pitfalls (joys and sorrows). Higgins has discussion of God talk and mentions a spiritually up-lifting hymn (referring to a creation hymn "Out of the Stars.") Offering an empathetic embrace like a hug, this book soothes in that it eases pain and calms one down to make one more centered and less angry, anxious or upset. With a bit of luck this book will receive wider circulation among mothers and fathers to-be, professionals, indeed all interested parties. It makes a thoughtful resource and can be a healing balm. Available in both hard and soft cover, this book wholeheartedly offers plenty of doses of loving-kindness based upon the doctor's orders!

This is an outstanding book describing the procedure and emotional aspect of being an "egg" (oocyte) recipient. With more couples needing the help of third party reproduction or donor egg this book is an excellent resource combing the knowledge of a gynecologist with the personal experience of being an oocyte recipient. A must read for anyone considering egg donation.

This book was an excellent overview on fertility and conception. The layout and pictures made it a pleasure to read. This book was great at covering what the body goes through every month, how to time conception, general health for both man and women, and if there is difficulty getting pregnant, what the options are. I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting pregnant and concerned about their own fertility.

I found this book to be informative, educational, and visual enough to be interesting to my husband. This is a great start for those TTC.

This book is an excellent resource and guide to helping couples conceive. When I tried to get pregnant in my late 30's, I followed the many useful guidelines in this book on maintaining a proper diet, to a liver detox . Finally with the help of IVF and acupuncture, I had success. The book is well organized and full of photographs and helpful suggestions for several options. From trying the natural way, to the help of alternative medicine, to the help of science, this book guides you through each process, discusses both male and female roles and offers a clear view in simple terms to understand. I would highly recommend it. Each time I utilized the advice in this book, I was able to have a successful outcome and now I have three healthy children. I only wish I found this book sooner.

This book is very colorful and full of little facts. It highlights the important information and provides a little extra for those bookworms. I found the information to be interesting and well presented. The pictures and graphs helped with my understanding and are great if you need to refer back.

Zita West has taken great care to write a comprehensive guide to conception that encompasses all areas of fertility & infertility. In this book Zita West helps couples to prepare mentally, physically and emotionally for conception and pregnancy, whether it be a fairly simple endeavour or one which requires assistance. I purchased this book because it was recommended to me, and I am more than happy to pass the word on!!

Most of us (including both men and women) just assume that we'll someday have a child of our own. The thought that our life partner, ourself, or both may not be able to naturally conceive a child once we decide to have a family doesn't really cross our minds. Unfortunately, this is the reality that many men and women must face.

Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster is written by an individual who has lived through the issues of infertility for both men and women trying to cope with their own situations. Three things really stood out for me within this book: the author's compassion, the wide variety of potential strategies set out for those facing infertility, and that the book actually took into consideration how men feel about these issues. That there are lots of viable alternatives and that couples can take control of their therapy and decision making process is empowering during an otherwise very daunting time. Moreover, bringing couples together in understanding at such a difficult time can only make the relationship stronger.

When I was undergoing fertility treatment with my first child, I didn't have a comprehensive resource to turn to for both the big, emotional issues, and the smaller, detail-oriented issues (like what to do with all the paperwork!) I could have really benefited from this book, and am glad it's now available for other women undergoing infertility treatment.

In Riding The Infertility Roller Coaster: A Guide To Educate And Inspire, Iris Waichler draws upon her years of experience as a medical social worker to address the difficult emotional and physical health issues surrounding issue of infertility. Deftly providing readers through a sensitive understanding of the variety of infertility causes affecting men and women, Riding The Infertility Roller Coaster covers the issues of menopause, disclosure infertility and conception, parenting after infertility, how to find a doctor or lawyer, the psychology of infertility treatment, becoming a couple again, and the choice of a childless marriage. Riding The Infertility Roller Coaster is very strongly recommended for couples searching for a comprehensive grasp of infertility issues and is a complete guide to overcoming the inevitable hardships that dealing with infertility will inevitably encumber.

'Riding the Infertility Roller Coaster' is a book that speaks not only to those directly affected by infertility, but to those of us who have family members and friends going through the highly emotional experience of treatment, high expectations, and a less than guaranteed outcome.

Waichler offers a comprehensive guide that allows readers to fully understand every aspect of the infertility experience. It is a support and reference guide that is written with heart, professionalism and a true sense of what it means to go through the journey. Hats off to Waichler and the many others who contributed in sharing their personal experiences and giving us some insight to this topic!

To anyone struggling to understand what it's all about; the legal and medical aspects, the financial and emotional issues, and most importantly, the growing number of options available, this is truly a worthwhile read!

Waichler's book gives an insider's view to the daily ups and downs of those going through infertility treatment. She clearly outlines the myriad changes, both emotional and technological, that become part of their every day world. Anyone who has a friend who is experiencing infertility will appreciate the added insight into what can be a very private journey. The book highlights voices of some who have made the ride and compassionately shows the many shapes the ending can take.

In the midst of one of the most painful struggles of our lives (dealing with infertility), I cannot say how healing it was to finally feel heard and understood. When I first read about the "trauma of infertility" the authors describe, I thought that's exactly it - that's what we're going through!
There are lots of good books out there that deal with infertility, but let this be one of the first ones you read. You won't regret it.

This book is exactly what I've been searching for. The validation of what we all are going through with infertility is unrecognized loss. this book is insightful about walking you through those feelings and emotions. I highly recommended it.

Out of all the fertility "help" books, this was our favorite. Not only was it informative but it helped us to feel 'normal' amidst a trying process. In fact we loved this book so much that we bought one for each of our parents. It's another tool to help educate them about the trauma we've experienced for over three years.

Bought for my daughter who is experiencing the awful pain of infertility and failed IVF. She read it twice and I am reading it now to catch up. The authors have been through the same, which was important to my daughter. They speak with love, compassion, professionalism and authority on the subject.

I can't say enough good things about this book. For several years,I have had problems mourning and moving past my infertility. This book helped me finally move on from the hurt and disappointment because it helped me realize that lots of other people feel the same pain and anger when they struggle with infertility. It made me realize that I am NORMAL and infertility is a devastating thing that should not be taken lightly. I feel so much better having read this book.