Infertility Books

There wasn't a whole lot of new information in this book, but it's a great handbook or reference guide, especially if you want to have friends or family read it!

Very little helpful, detailed information. Its a tiny book, and most of what is covered is covered by any IVF center's literature.
Don't waste your money.

IVF: The Wayward Stork
Authors: Sarah A Tursi M.S.W. and Lea McCarthy
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 0-595-35784-9
When this IVF book came across my desk, I wasn't expecting it to be my favorite. After all, it was from a vanity publishing house and there were two other books that were 2-3 times its size that I had previously reviewed. However, what it lacks in size and lacks in distribution, it makes up for in simple terminology and helpful information. Now those other two books are sitting on the shelf while IVF:The Wayward Stork is in my tote to take with me to my IVF appointments.
Where most IVF books tend to talk to you in a "patient" standoffish way, IVF:The Wayward Stork talks to you as if the authors are sitting across from you at a local coffeehouse.
At each stage of my cycle of IVF I will reread the chapter for that section and refresh myself on what to expect. This is the guide out of all the ones I've read that I will personally be taking with me, and be recommending to my friends who are in need of a bit of help in the fertility department.
Along with 6 simply constructed chapters on the before, during, and after of the IVF cycle procedure, IVF: The Wayward Stork has a glossary and a reference list. The book is written by two women who have gone through this mind wracking ordeal themselves, and they talk to you as a friend who knows that your experience may vary but wants you to be fully aware of what to expect. It is a huge hit with me, as it will be for you.

I love this book. As a mom who's gone through IVF and FET, I read everything I could get my hands on relating to the process of IVF. This book, by far, outshines any other book for its witty well-rounded easy-to-understand approach.

Written in layman's terms, it speaks from the heart and not from the scientific/clinical mind. You WILL enjoy this read.

Packed with tips and loaded with support and understanding, this book is a great gift for yourself or someone you love who's going to be traveling the road to IVF. Thanks, Authors!

Unfortunately, after months of other fertility treatments, I will be beginning the IVF journey soon, and I purchased this book to educate myself about the whole process. I read all of the reviews and was looking forward to this book, but then I received it.... The first thing that grabbed my attention was the length of the book--IT IS VERY SHORT! Too short for the price. Then I read the summary on the back of the book and was surprised to find a spelling error. Now, this might not be a big deal to a lot of people, but if I spend money to educate myself and an author misspells words, that kind of makes me wonder how accurate the rest of the book is! Sadly, there were several other spelling errors in the book, and of course, that's what I focused on! Overall, I do think the info contained in this book is accurate, but it is VERY basic--probably too basic for anyone who has previously undergone ANY type of fertility treatment. But, if someone wants a quick look at the basics (and can overlook spelling errors;) ), this may be the book for them.

This book is fabulous. If you are reading this book, then obviously you must have some questions in this area. You've come to the right place (or book rather!). Being a patient of Dr. Silber's I can say that reading this book is like having the doctor talk to you live. It is like having him talk to you face to face. Answers to all your questions are inside his book, and if you are reading it for reasons of infertility, you will relate to this book 100%. I highly recommend this book to anyone being faced with fertility issues.

My husband and I are going to this doctor and after reading his book I am more sure now than ever that he will be able to help us get pregnant!!! If you have any fertility issues and you aren't seeing this doctor, read the book anyway, you will learn things you never knew!!!!

This is a very interesting book which is suitable for the general reader, however, as a medical specialist I also enjoyed reading it.

I found this book to be very detailed and informative. It really answered a lot of questions, so I wasn't calling my doctor every 10 minutes.

Dr. Silber perfectly matches science and empathy in this book. For someone who tried unsuccessfully for years to get pregnant this book was a lifesaver. It answered questions and provided information in a format that was easy to read. It's great!

I have been going through infertility treatment for two years. I have read a lot of information and talked to several doctors. This book, however, was the most informative literature that I have read yet. I learned things in this book about my infertility that I had not even heard mentioned from my doctors. Dr. Jansen did a wonderful job of explaining a wide range of infertility challenges and answered any question that I had. His book was easy to understand and filled with excellent information. I was able to use some of the information that I learned in this book to have intelligent conversations with my doctors and recommend treatments not suggested.

It is unfortunate that in this day of managed health care we, as consumers, often have to be researchers and take control of our own health care. However, it is to our advantage that we have wonderfully informative references such as this!

I bought this book in search of answer to my problems, and I found it. Along with my physician I have a beautiful three months old daughter after three years of wait. I think it ease my spirit.
The only problem is that it haslanguage that sometimes get too scientific to be understood.

I have been going through infertility treatment for two years. I have read a lot of information and talked to several doctors. This book, however, was the most informative literature that I have read yet. I learned things in this book about my infertility that I had not even heard mentioned from my doctors. Dr. Jansen did a wonderful job of explaining a wide range of infertility challenges and answered any question that I had. His book was easy to understand and filled with excellent information. I was able to use some of the information that I learned in this book to have intelligent conversations with my doctors and recommend treatments not suggested.

It is unfortunate that in this day of managed health care we, as consumers, often have to be researchers and take control of our own health care. However, it is to our advantage that we have wonderfully informative references such as this!

I have read and searched for answers from many sources. I found this book to be a wealth of information! The book is well set up. It goes into depth on specific problems as well going over the basics. The chapters and headings are labelled and organized well. And the index is very extensive and it is easy to find what you are looking for. The author is not only an expert in this field but also is able to get the information across so that readers without a medical degree can understand. I have been able to use this book in conjunction with receiving treatment from a fertility specialist. It confirms and helps me better understand what my doctor is doing. I highly recommend this book!

This is a comprehensive guide to the medical or technical aspects of infertility. It contains lots of helpful information about the mechanics of getting pregnant and explains in some detail what can prevent pregnancy from happening. It also discusses various forms of treatment, including IVF, GIFT and ZIFT. What prevents this book from being a top-notch fertility resource: (1) some of the information is already out-of-date due to advances in the field (for example, there's no discussion of Antagon, commonly used with injectable fertility meds and IVF, because Antagon was still being developed at the time the book went to print); (2) the author runs an Australian infertility clinic, and his take on the fertility process is somewhat different from his American counterparts (although he does occasionally mention what is commonly done in the US and Britain); (3) a somewhat cumbersome style - e.g. valuable information is taken out of the main text and put into boxes; extremely technical information is mixed in with the practical stuff a patient needs to know. There is lots of valuable information in the book, but you'll need to supplement it with your own research and other reading.

The information in this book is completely outdated and large portions of the book are dedicated to proceedures that are no longer performed! Buy "What to Do When You Can't Get Pregnant" instead.

A friend who struggled with fertility recommended "The Couple's Guide to Fertility" to be extremely helpful and informative-- especially at the very start of infertility treatment. The information is very well explained, and I love that the authors provide charts of what your levels should be and teach you how to understand what your results mean. It isn't too clinical, as many infertility books are, but still provides a wealth of information. It also gives good advice about selecting a doctor and provides hope for the future.

On the negative, the last edition was published in 2001, so some of the information (especially the listing of doctors in the back) is outdated, but overall, this is a very good starting point for couples facicng infertility.

Now in its third edition, The Couple's Guide To Fertility has been completely revised and updated to represent the latest scientific findings to help infertile couples become parents. Research on genetics, fertility drugs, and the latest minimally invasive surgeries to correct infertility problems are all discussed in great depth, but with attention to lay audiences. A comprehensive, valuable, "reader friendly" guide.

A person who is just getting his feet wet in the frightening and confusing world of infertility, obviously finds himself overwhelmed. The medical jargon today, all those acronym -- GIFT, ZIFT, IUI, PCT, BBT, LH, FSH, HCG, HSG, IVF, not to mention PROST, TOAST, SUZI, FREDI, etc. can just make your mind spin. There are many difficult moral decisions to make as well. Dr. Goldstien's book is a perfect "beginners' bible" to infertility. It explains every facet of the experience in great detail, and patients become better medical consumers as a result. In addition, Dr. Goldstien is the #1 recommended urologist in New York City, and is widely used by the Jewish community in N.Y. He is very knowledgeable and sensitive to the needs of the Jewish community and the restrictions they have concerning male infertility. Recommended reading for everyone -- whether you want to seek help, you are in the thick of being helped, or are almost beyond help..... Lots of luck to all who are struggling with this excruciatingly difficult life's experience!

This book saved my sanity. It gave me the education I needed to take charge of my own fertility. It explained things that the doctors didn't. It was a source of reference to back up what they did say. Most of all it gave me the confidence to walk away from Doctors that didn't specialize in my needs and to find someone that did. AND every room in my Doctors office had a copy of this book! - Get it - It's worth every cent.

Family Bound: One Couple's Journey Through Infertility And Adoption by Carrie Ostrea is a revealing memoir offering personal insight into the difficulties of grieving due to infertility, of working with the adoption system, of adjusting to a new baby, and so much more. Offering very practical advice accompanied with real-life insights, and presented in a day-by-day journal-style format, Family Bound is recommended as revealing and insightful supplementary reading for anyone considering adoption.

This book truly opened my eyes to the life of infertility and adoption. For the author (Carrie) to let others inside her personal experiences is extremely admirable. It was inspirational to read about a couple's journey to become parents from her own perspective.

This book was interesting and sucked me in quickly. It's Ostrea's diary that she kept starting from when she and her husband attempted to get pregnant. They went through fertility drugs, IUI, IVF and still could not get pregnant. They then investigated domestic adoption and ended up eventually adopting a boy from Russia. The story was touching, but I really resented her thoughts on Russia - treating it like a big dangerous, third-world country. She did concede that Moscow has some benefits that the outer regions of the country don't have, but I got tired of her attitude. Plus her insistence that they must have a white baby was pretty annoying as well. Also, the book was really poorly edited (if at all), which got annoying to notice all the errors. I'm guessing it was self-published due to the low quality of the editing.

This book reminds us of the powerful drive of all living things: To reproduce itself. Carrie Ostrea's experience will speak to many couples who experience infertility. They will find their own feelings and frustrations acknowledged in this poignant portrayal of the emotional, physical and sociological effects infertility has on a couple's relationship. Like Beverly Barna's book says, Infertility Sucks and we can see throughout Ostrea's book what miseries she went through. The grieving over something so fundamental as giving birth is painful to read about. But there is a bright light at the end of this tunnel: Adoption. Ostrea's story has a happy ending with good advice on adoption to boot.

Gisela Gasper Fitzgerald, author of ADOPTION: An Open, Semi-Open or Closed Practice?

This amazing journey opened my eyes and mind to all the couples who are dealing with infertility. I've been following their story for a couple of years. Now that I've read the book, I can't wait to share it with all my friends!

This book helps bridge the gap of ignorance about testosterone and its benifits. Especially natrual testosterone. The notes about the side effects of man made and the benifits of natural are extremely interesting. More men are having simptoms of low testosterone in the early thirties and this book is a must read for them. Most family doctors do not understand the importance of the difference between bound and free testosterone. This is a good book to have your doctor review. If they won't, change doctors.

I found this to be an interesting book on a subject all too frequently overlooked or bypassed as unimportant. The book gives anexcellent overview of concepts, but falls short in recommending any sort of program to improve testosterone levels. Excercise, programs to minimize the effect of SBH, blocking testerone to estrogene conversion etc were touched on but no specifics given.

Rarely does a book on a health topic report the full range of evidence so thoroughly and carefully as this one. Yet with all its technical depth, the text is eminently readable. Most anyone, from physician to ordinary literate person, can understand it and benefit.

And how great is the benefit! A simple substance, a testosterone cream, rubbed on the skin, is likely to improve a broad range of conditions, including sexual performance, cardiovascular health, energy, and strength.

Unfortunately, prevailing medical dogma sees testosterone supplementation as a villain, which will cause prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. The open-minded doctor who reads this book will surely think otherwise. The possibilitly, nonetheless, of promoting an EXISTING prostate cancer is candidly discussed and precautions are advised. One must know his prostate before proceeding.

To this end there are two chapters on the prostate, the most definitive and complete discussion that I have seen (and I have read hundreds of pages on the subject).

Most authorities will contine to withhold this information from the public on the pretext of its being scientifically unproven. What a shame. The reader should trust his own judgement as to the strength of the evidence and should find an unbiased, informed physician with whom to work.

I've read this book. It was an easy and straight-forward read. I liked the information it gave regarding testosterone injections. It would be most helpful if doctors started updating their knowledge on Male Hormone Therapy. Since reading this book and taking the natural supplement "THOR-Plex," I have been so much better off... I plan to buy a few other books on the subject here at Amazon and read up some more on this fascinating subject.

With conventional medicine so bent on testosterone as the "bad guy", bringing declining hormone levels back to healthy levels makes sense. Women have hormone imbalance from estrogen dominance and lack of progesterone production - are we guys exempt? I especially enjoy Dr. Wright's emphasis on natural testosterone supplementation at normal psysiological levels instead of synthetic testosterone at much higher doses with all the side effects. And he has the studies to back him up. Once one understands that pharmaceutical companies cannot patent natural products, then it makes sense why many doctors are not educated in using natural products when appropiate. Dr. Wright's work is timely, relavent, and a fun read. I highly recommend it to any man over 40.

GREAT guide for residents. I used this book and dog-earred many pages. Well worth the money.

Great book..wonderful quick guide to everything you need to know fast!

I also used this as a quick review for CREOG's, it has all the high yield stuff they'll test you on!

Cons: a slightly larger type version should be considered.

best little book I had as a resident, comes in handy at least once a week as a community-hospital-based FP.

You can tell the medical students at your local teaching hospital. They're the ones with the short lab coats and the pockets bulging with small paper-back books.

For those who are in training to become a Doctor a premium is placed on easily-accessible, highly accurate and important information. I remember going through my clinical rotations and thinking that I needed a "pocket" book for every medical rotation to supplement my massive 20-pound, $100 texts while I was on the wards and in the clinic.

Early into my OB/GYN Residency I got the hot scoop - THIS is the book to keep in your lab-coat if you're practicing OB/GYN. By the time I was a chief resident this book had saved me time and heartache and saved my patients from my blunders over and over. Like all "pocket" texts, this one doesn't contain lengthy discussions. But it DOES contain what you need to get through that night on OB/GYN call. And the next one.... and the next.

The treatment for Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (and hundreds of other common clinical situations)- before it's burned into your brain it's right here at your fingertips. It even gives you concise "go-by's" for how to dictate your operative reports for the most common OB/GYN surgeries.

Since I got my first one a decade ago I've never NOT had a copy of this in my lab coat. I use it infrequently now, but when young trainees seem to need a push towards a clue - I push them towards this little gem.

For this book, you need a magnifying glass to read it! The print is way too small. It's okay to use when accompanied with a textbook but not great on its own. Additionally, I think it's out of date and not up to ACOG standards. Of the entire 5 week rotation, I picked up this book once!

I wish I read this book years ago... this is an essential read for anyone who is going through treatment for infertility. The author "gets" it and I felt so much better after reading this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Cara Birrittieri has written an important book for both patients concerned about their fertilty and for health professionals. Knowledge can only enhance the ability of a woman to make the decisions which are appropriate for them. This author has clearly and concisely given us the tools needed to understand the process of conception and the potential problems which could prevent this. As an obstetrician/gynecologist with 25 years of experience treating women with a myriad of problems, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to my patients.

This book is a must read for all women. Many of us find out too late the significance of that three letter word... FSH. Something so simple as a bloodtest should be offered by OB/GYNs with annual exams. The media fools us to believe that IVF is the answer to our infertility problems. If you are a low responder with diminished ovarian reserve you are first of all going to have to look high and low for a Doctor and Clinic who will even come within ten feet of you. Clinics care about their stats and don't let them tell you otherwise. It is not an easy road and women should be informed about this early on. An elevated FSH does not just impact a woman 35 or above. There are many young women that are faced with this challenge also. I came across Cara's book after that dreaded first FSH test. I learned about what was actually going on with my body, what I could do, and what my options were. I have had a long journey on this path, but am thankful to the author for having taken the time to write her book and educate women of all ages.

I was 32 after trying to conceive for 1 year when I and my husband sought the help of a Reproductive Endocrinologist. After simple blood work tests were completed we sat across the desk from a top fertility specialist and were told my FSH was elevated and would possible never conceive my own child. I was a 32 year-old healthy, educated, professional women suddenly finding myself lost, and drowning in an ocean of results, terminology, statistical outcomes, and treatments that has forever changed my life and my hoped for family. Had Cara's book been available at that time in my life I would have founds answers and a plan of action that I was so desperately in need of. Thankfully this book has been written, and written well, by an award-winning journalist who has specialized in health and medicine. The depth of research and the manner in which it was written allows women to learn about their fertility and their choices in a comprehensible way that is needed for the majority of us who are not medically trained.

Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples of child-bearing age in the U.S. ([...]). This number is up from 1 in 10 in 1995. In a recent Newsweek article (March 13, 2006 issue) it was written "Infertility among young women has risen almost 20 percent since 1995, according to the latest numbers from the Centers for Disease Control".

Knowledge IS power. Without a doubt every woman should have the information that is available to her within this book.

I am a healthy, well educated woman who was diagnosed with significantly elevated FSH in my early 30's. I didn't even know what FSH was until it was too late. I wish I had read this book when I was 29. I want to give it to every woman I know who wants to have a baby, but is "waiting" for whatever reason.

The book like it's previous avatar(edition) is an extremely well written book;useful to the lay people and to the practising physician.Dr. Silber in his usual candid and forthright style has called 'a spade a spade' and denounced wasting time on nonexistent conditions,and unproven therapies.
The book would be a valuable source of information to the lay public and the practising physician.

Dr. Silber's book is an invaluable tool for all couples trying to get pregnant. Using clear and easily understandable language, Dr. Silber provides couples with a practical guide to understanding numerous topics including normal reproductive variation, effects of age, and potential treatments or medical procedures.

I don't pretend to have read *all* the infertility books in existence, but I have read a fair cross-section of them. I like this book the best because it has information I haven't seen elsewhere, and answered a lot of my questions. He quotes a lot of studies and statistics, which I like better than people who just make pronouncements and expect you to believe it just because it's in print. He has actionable suggestions that I hadn't come across before, like doing a count of your follicles (using ultrasound) to give you a gauge of how many years of fertility you have left, so you can make more informed decisions about pursuing treatment. Overall, I would recommend this book for people who want to be very well-informed and full participants in their treatment. If you don't really want to know the nitty-gritty (certainly not everyone does), this book is not for you.

Dr. Sherman was the very first infertilitly doctor we saw and we couldn't believe he lived right here in St. Louis!!! We went to him in September and I was pregnant with twins in December, need I say more. The man is a genius, his books are too!!!!

Warning!
This bazillion-page hardcover book does NOT tell you how to get pregnant, if what you are picturing is you, dh, some candlelight and a little nookie. The author is a doctor specializing in IVF with ICSI, and if you don't know what those are, this book is a great place to start!

What I disliked intensely:
- Paranoid MALE approach to female reproductive system - "your fertility can run out at any time"
- Hyper-western-medical gung-ho boosterism - "why not go high-tech?!"
- At times reads like an ad for his clinic in St Louis.
- At times reads like sci-fi with his enthusiasm for future applications of reproductive technology.
- Too detailed at times - many sections read like they're meant for doctors or scientists
- Strongly advocates egg donation even for very old parents who may be too old to deal with a newborn (in their late 40s), child (in their 50s) and teenager (in their 60s). (I consider this a bit irresponsible, but I guess that's just my opinion)
- Places too much emphasis (in my opinion) on the value of biological children as opposed, say, to adoptive children; does not present adoption EVER as an alternative to ART...
- Advocates IVF/ICSI (which is what he specializes in) as the one-size-fits-all solution to most couples' fertility problems.

Why it's worth reading anyway:
- Extremely thorough overview of the normal workings of the female body
- Not everyone can conceive easily; here's where to go if you can't
- Proactive approach to knowing where you're at with your biological clock
- Comprehensive guide to ALL reproductive technologies
- Smart, common-sense approach may save you money while you navigate the world of infertility medicine

A few key points stolen from this book:
- Humans (and some apes) are astonishingly infertile compared to other animals - even our sperm are slower
- Most tests for ovarian reserve are worthless! But one quick, easy and non-invasive ultrasound test can tell you conclusively & save years of heartache.
- Most "infertility surgeries" are worthless, including endometriosis (in women) and varicocele (in men)
- Not only are many surgeries worthless, they can diminish or destroy your fertility completely
- Most IUI is worthless - so why waste precious cycles on a technique that is little more effective than basic intercourse (and with less predictable results than IVF/ICSI)?
- Most male factor infertility is NOT A PROBLEM - find out why!
- How to get the best results when reversing vasectomy or tubal ligation
- He advocates not wasting time with tests to find out why you're not conceiving...and skipping straight to IVF with ICSI
- How prenatal genetic diagnosis can prevent miscarriage along with certain genetic diseases

I enjoyed this book despite my many reservations, and would recommend it for anyone who's entangled in their own infertility journey and wants to think about finding hope in ART.

This book was life changing for me. At a time where I felt hopeless and could not find anyone who understood the depth of my grief, Debra Bridwell's words and experiences hit home and brought hope and healing. This book has had the single-most long term impact on my life, other than the Bible. While no longer in print, this one is worth picking up where ever you can find it!

This was a great book - there are discussion questions at the end of each chapter. The only thing we didn't like was that it was written for women, from a woman's point of view. We read the book together, and my husband felt men were stereotyped as being distant and unfeeling (which he is not). On the whole, the book was a good tool for us to get on the same page and have discussion.

This is a great book for Christians facing infertility. My only problem with it is the sections dealing with one's relationship with God. The author apparently never doubted God's existence (I have), never doubted the efficacy of prayer (I have) and always managed to maintain a solid faith (I haven't). I felt really spiritually inferior after reading that part of the book. Other than that, its a good book and I strongly recommend it.

This book will re-energize the faith any christain woman who has been on her knees for long praying, and at some point asked "why God seems so far...?" The book explained that at this point, God is truly near and faithful no matter the pain of infertility.

More than any other publication regarding infertility - Bridwell speaks from her heart and at times I felt as if she were speaking from mine. Bridwell not only describes her challenges and triumphs, but also focuses on how family and friends may offer support to a couple going through infertility. My husband and I have given copies of this book to our family members and closest friends - so that they may truly have a glimpse of what we are going through.