Infertility and fertilization Books

Book SynopsisAuthor Heather Huhman guides readers through every stage of the process-from knowing when to seek medical advice to parenting after infertility, and everything in between. There's the medical nitty gritty: getting a diagnosis (or not); selecting a fertility clinic that's right for you; understanding IUI and IVF and genetic testing; a comprehensive list of medications and their side effects, and much more. There are emotional high and lows: staying hopeful while managing grief and depression, maintaining and strengthening your relationship, and navigating religious and ethical concerns. And then there is the practical and often complicated questions around affording treatments, dealing with your workplace (including the military), and everything you need to know about insurance and fertility treatments.Stronger Than Infertility breaks down complicated clinical information and expert medical advice from top specialists in the field. The book includes first-person stories and hard-won advice from women who have been down this long and often painful road (Huhman included) and offers a clear-eyed look at the emotional and psychological landmines that come with the journey. The result is a book that inspires as much as it educates and is a much-needed source of support and inspiration for readers hungry for understanding and hope.Table of ContentsIntroduction THE MEDICAL/PHYSICAL NITTY GRITTY 0 How to Be a Self-Advocate 1 Infertility 101 2 Finding a Fertility Clinic 3 Getting a Diagnosis 4 Understanding Genetics 5 Introduction to Fertility Medications PATHS TO PARENTHOOD 6 Timed Intercourse and IUI 7 IVF 8 Preparing for Treatment 9 Let's Talk Multiples 10 Donor Eggs, Sperm and Embryos 11 Surrogacy 12 Adoption 13 Child-Free FEELINGS 14 Emotions 15 Stronger than Infertility 16 Maintaining and Strengthening Relationships 17 Miscarriage and Recurrent Loss 14 Grief and Depression During Infertility 18 Religion and Ethics THE PRACTICAL STUFF 19 Insurance 20 Affording Family-Building 21 Infertility at Work 22 Navigating in the Military LIFE AFTER INFERTILITY 23 Pregnancy After Infertility 24 NICU 25 Depression and Anxiety After Infertility 26 Parenting 27 Advocating for Benefits and Others

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Book Synopsis'Essential reading' Professor Kypros Nicolaides'Fills an important gap in understanding' Professor Robert WinstonHow well do you really know your body? How easy do you think it will be for you to get pregnant - or NOT to get pregnant? You've probably never really been educated about your reproductive years - perhaps you learnt everything you know from friends, or from the media, or online. You might be ready for a baby now; or, like so many other women, you might want to delay the birth of your first child while you establish your career. Perhaps you're thinking about freezing your eggs. Professor Joyce Harper is an internationally recognized expert on female fertility and fertility education, and in 12 chapters she covers the full scope of your reproductive years, from your first period to menopausal symptoms. Her straightforward, scientifically based advice will give you all the information you need to make informed decisions about your reproductive choices. Only when you really understand your menstrual cycle works can you optimise your lifestyle to get pregnant successfully - while being properly aware of how and when your fertility will decline. Your Fertile Years answers all your questions about things like egg freezing and IVF, and debunks not only the myths surrounding fertility treatment, but also the misinformation and scare stories that surround conception and pregnancy, including the bottom line on supplements, diet and holistic therapies. A shining beacon in the murky fertility landscape, this book will accompany you through your fertile years, giving you the guidance you need to make decisions that work for you, your family, your career and your body.Trade ReviewEssential reading. * Professor Kypros Nicolaides *Joyce Harper's book fills an important gap to help understanding. * Professor Robert Winston *"If you want to know anything about female fertility and women's health, just ask Joyce Harper! A force of nature, role model to women everywhere and a complete inspiration to me." * Jessica Hepburn, Founder of Fertility Fest, author of '21 Miles' and 'The Pursuit of Motherhood', first woman to complete the Pond to Peak challenge *"Professor Harper is a shining light in a murky fertility landscape. Her [scientific] knowledge makes her best placed to offer clarity for any woman struggling with the hormonal balance that we all endure. Had this book been available to me in my 30s I would have lapped it up." * Hannah Vaughan-Jones, CNN newsreader *A superbly crafted and up-to-date 'must read' * Catherine Racowsky, PhD, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School *A woman with an authentic voice, never afraid to tell people how it is, Joyce has all the ingredients to make this a much needed read in 2021 and beyond... There have been plenty of books written about women and reproduction, but none will be as informative as this one. * Shelley Silas, Playwright *This work is so important, and I can think of no-one better suited to ensure that we are all equipped to make more informed choices about our fertility than Joyce. I only wish that I had met her years ago! * Sarah Esdaile, Theatre and TV Director ('Eastenders') *

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Book Synopsis' Charlotte Grand gives sensible practical advice' Dr Clare Bailey'Full of insightful information, valuable health hacks and delicious recipes' Dr Mark SurreyThe Fertility Kitchen is the go-to nutrition and lifestyle cookbook for anyone who wants to become pregnant - whether they are just starting to think about having a baby, have been trying for a while, are navigating infertility or exploring assisted conception. In today's fast-paced society, we are so used to getting what we want, when we want it. For women suffering with infertility it can be the first time they find themselves in a situation they have little control over: they can feel powerless. The Fertility Kitchen will help to reclaim some of that lost power.Part one of The Fertility Kitchen is based around the three 'pillars' of 'Fertility', 'Food', and 'Life', that sit at the heart of everything Charlotte is passionate about, giving a framework for an achievable life-style change. Charlotte shares her expertly tailored, nutrient-rich fertility nutrition and lifestyle plan, covering stress, movement, sleep, and social connection.Part two will help readers put this plan into practice with over 60 original flavour-packed yet simple recipes that embrace everything that's good for fertility. Charlotte explains the food philosophy that she teaches her clients, the foundations of good nutrition and its importance for optimal fertility. She addresses the key areas of health that can affect fertility, enabling readers to personalise their diet to suit their unique needs, as well as outlining the impact lifestyle can have on fertility, giving readers the strategies to achieve balance across all aspects of their life.Trade ReviewA beautiful book, with fabulously diverse recipes that feel doable to us normal folk and taste delicious! * Holly Matthews, author of 'The Happy Me Project' *Enticing recipes that are nutrient-rich and created with fertility in mind * Daily Mail *I came across The Fertility Kitchen when I noticed the incredibly delicious recipes and appreciate the commendable work of putting this nutrition and lifestyle cookbook together. It is full of insightful information, valuable health hacks and delicious recipes. . . Knowledge is empowering and this book can definitely help inspire women on their journey of starting a family * Dr Mark Surrey *Enticing recipes that are nutrient-rich and created with fertility in mind * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisA meditation on in vitro fertilization that expands and complicates the stories we tell about pregnancy. Medical interventions become an exercise in patience, desire, and delirium in this intimate account of bodily transformation and disruption. In candid, graceful prose, Isabel Zapata gives voice to the strangeness and complexities of conception and motherhood that are rarely discussed publicly. Zapata frankly addresses the misogyny she experienced during fertility treatments, explores the force of grief in imagining possible futures, and confronts the societal expectations around maternity. In the tradition of Rivka Galchen’s Little Labors and Sarah Manguso’s Ongoingness, In Vitro draws from diary and essay forms to create a new kind of literary companion and open up space for nuanced conversations about pregnancy.Trade ReviewTODAY, “Books We Can’t Wait to Read in 2023”Vulture, "Best Memoirs of 2023""An insightful personal history but also a brilliant philosophical text about the very nature of sacrifice and autonomy." —Arianna Rebolini, Vulture“In this essay-like collection, Zapata examines in vitro fertilization and the narratives that drive societal expectations and pressures in conception and pregnancy. Unveiling a nuanced view of motherhood and fertility treatment, In Vitro will illuminate aspects of pregnancy not often discussed.” —Lupita Aquino, TODAY“This lyrical meditation by Mexican poet Zapata reflects on the life-changing power of pregnancy and motherhood. . . . With poetic prose, sensitively translated by Myers, Zapata’s sometimes surprising perspective offers a fresh take on the pregnancy memoir. Elegant and sharp, this is worth seeking out.” —Publishers Weekly“Zapata probes the enduring mysteries of pregnancy and birth in In Vitro, a memoir in fragmentsthat travels from fertility treatment through to the early weeks of pandemic-time motherhood. . . . A resolute account of a personal metamorphosis, In Vitro alchemizes tender experiences into enchanting vignettes.” —Rebecca Foster, Foreword Reviews, starred review“From its first sentences, I was riveted to In Vitro. Isabel Zapata has an effortlessly engaging style, at once casual and thrillingly deep. Her skill at playing with language, chronology, and genre will leave her readers feeling spellbound, affirmed, and, most of all, free. This is a profoundly liberatory book.” —Emily Gould “Isabel Zapata has created an elegant and brave poetics of the body. This is transformative literature that gives birth to a new language capable of expanding what it means to mother a child, or an idea, or a society.” —Terry Tempest Williams Praise for Isabel Zapata “Isabel Zapata writes with a fluidity that can only come from wisdom. Sometimes it feels like we’re listening to her speak more than reading her on the page; it even feels like we can speak back.” —Alejandro Zambra

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Book SynopsisMultidisciplinary collection of essays on the relationship of infertility and the "historic" STIs--gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis--producing surprising new insights in studies from across the globe and spanning millennia. A multidisciplinary group of prominent scholars investigates the historical relationship between sexually transmitted infections and infertility. Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia cause infertility in a proportion of women and men. Unlike the much-feared venereal disease of syphilis--"the pox"--gonorrhea and chlamydia are often symptomless, leaving victims unaware of the threat to their fertility. Science did not unmask the causal microorganisms until thelate nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their effects on fertility in human history remain mysterious. This is the first volume to address the subject across more than two thousand years of human history. Following asynoptic editorial introduction, part 1 explores the enigmas of evidence from ancient and early modern medical sources. Part 2 addresses fundamental questions about when exactly these diseases first became human afflictions, withnew contributions from bioarcheology, genomics, and the history of medicine, producing surprising new insights. Part 3 presents studies of infertility and its sociocultural consequences in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Africa, Oceania, and Australia. Part 4 examines the quite different ways the infertility threat from STIs was perceived--by scientists, the public, and government--in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Germany, France, and Britain, concluding with a pioneering empirical estimate of the infertility impact in Britain. Simon Szreter is Professor of History and Public Policy, University of Cambridge, and Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.Table of ContentsIntroduction: The Hidden Affliction: Sexually-Transmitted Infections and Infertility in History - Simon Szreter PART 1. THE HIDDEN PITFALLS IN THE EARLY DOCUMENTARY RECORD (The Wrong Kind of) Gonorrhea in Antiquity - Rebecca Flemming "Poxt and Clapt Together": Sexual Misbehavior in Early Modern Cases of Venereal Disease - Olivia Weisser PART 2. THE BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES AND THE HISTORY OF THE STI MICRO-ORGANISMS Bioarcheological Contributions to Understanding the History of Treponemal Disease - Charlotte Roberts Bioarcheological Contributions to Understanding the History of Treponemal Disease - Rebecca Redfern A Long-Standing Evolutionary History between Chlamydia trachomatis and Humans: Visible, Ocular and Invisible, Genital Variants - Ian N. Clarke A Long-Standing Evolutionary History between Chlamydia trachomatis and Humans: Visible, Ocular and Invisible, Genital Variants - Hugh R. Taylor Chlamydia: A Disease Without A History - Michael Worboys PART 3. POPULATION DECLINE IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH Population Decline in Island Melanesia: Aphrodisian Cultural Practices, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Low Fertility - Tim Bayliss-Smith Community Infertility in Papua New Guinea: Uncovering the Role of Gonorrhea - Roy F. Scragg Fertility, STIs and Sexual Behaviour in Early and Mid-Twentieth Century East Africa - Shane Doyle "A Wise Provision of Nature for the Prevention of Too Many Children": Evidence from the Australian Colonies - Janet McCalman "A Wise Provision of Nature for the Prevention of Too Many Children": Evidence from the Australian Colonies - Rebecca Kippen PART 4. INFERTILITY AND THE SPECTRE OF VENEREAL DISEASES IN MODERN EUROPE "The Archenemy of Fertility": Gonorrhea and Infertility, Germany 1870-1935 - Christina Benninghaus Fecundity in a World of Scourges: Venereal Diseases, Criminal Abortion and Acquired Infertility in France c.1880-1950 - Fabrice Cahen Fecundity in a World of Scourges: Venereal Diseases, Criminal Abortion and Acquired Infertility in France c.1880-1950 - Adrien Minard Revealing the Hidden Affliction: How Much Infertility Was Due to Venereal Disease in England and Wales on the Eve of the Great War? - Simon Szreter Revealing the Hidden Affliction: How Much Infertility Was Due to Venereal Disease in England and Wales on the Eve of the Great War? - Kevin Schürer List of Contributors

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Book SynopsisFertility is the natural capability of giving life. As a measure, the "Fertility Rate" is the number of children born per couple, person or population. This is different to fecundity, which is defined as the potential for reproduction (influenced by gamete production, fertilisation and carrying a pregnancy to term). Human fertility depends on factors of nutrition, sexual behaviour, culture, instinct, endocrinology, timing, economics, way of life, and emotions. Animal fertility has no fewer complexities, and may display many interesting mechanisms. This book presents the latest research from around the world in this field.

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Book SynopsisWhen you want to have a baby but are struggling with fertility challenges, it’s normal to experience a range and mixture of ever-changing feelings. These feelings are a natural and necessary form of grief. Whether you continue to hope to give birth or you’ve stopped pursuing pregnancy, this compassionate guide will help you affirm and express your feelings about infertility. Tips for both women and men are included.

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Book SynopsisPlanning to have a baby is an exciting time for any family, but difficulties with conception can quickly turn excitement into anxiety and worry. For 14 percent of couples in the United States, creating a life is not the miraculous experience they expected, but rather one filled with stress, trips to the doctor, and invasive procedures. But infertility treatment doesn’t have to be invasive and distant. In Curing Infertility with Ancient Chinese Medicine, fertility expert Dr. Yaron Seidman teaches couples how to live healthier, more balanced lives and create an environment where a baby can grow without resorting to surgery. Curing Infertility with Ancient Chinese Medicine shows you how it is possible to conceive even when Western medicine has deemed it impossible. Dr. Seidman explains in a clear, concise, and easy-to-follow way how patients can use the Hunyuan Method to dramatically increase their ability to conceive in a healthy, natural way and improve overall health using ancient Chinese herbal medicine. Primarily intended for infertility patients, Curing Infertility with Ancient Chinese Medicine is also aimed at modern Chinese medical practitioners, most of whom lack any training in the classical ways. Inside, Dr. Seidman shows time and time again that it is, in fact, possible to conceive.

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Book SynopsisInfertility affects about 15% of couples in western societies. In addition to isolation, infertility challenges women''s sense of identity, expectations of their life trajectory and their perceived value in society. This book presents current research on the genetic factors, treatment risk and benefits, and social and psychological consequences of infertility. Topics include the traditional Chinese medicine approach to fertility management; adverse outcomes of assisted reproduction techniques; the impact of follicular fluid components and embryo-endometrial cross-talk on the oocyte quality or embryo viability; iatrogenic damage incurred during fertility treatment upon gamete competence and embryonic viability; genetic factors of male infertility; animal models for studying female infertility; and treatment of endometriosis associated with infertility.

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Book SynopsisInfertility Saved My Life: Healing PCOS From The Inside Out exposes the raw teaching moments of Sarah Willoughby’s journey to self-love through Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and secondary infertility.Within Infertility Saved My Life, Sarah Willoughby addresses the challenges and heartbreak she experienced while becoming a mum to three amazing children. She writes about her multiple miscarriages, as well as the trauma she endured, so that anyone still on their journey to parenthood can feel less alone in their loss and grief. Sarah’s story peaks in 2009, when she ended up in intensive care after a disastrous IVF cycle. Lying in her hospital bed, she promised herself that if she survived, she would embrace her fears and empower others to do the same. Seven months later, Sarah Willoughby left the corporate world, emigrated to Australia and fell pregnant naturally twice with her daughters. Infertility Saved My Life shares the wisdom and insight that enabled Sarah to complete her family and begin a heart-centered life and business. She includes practical exercises and tools to help balance the reader’s mind, body and spirit and improve their chances of having a baby.

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Book SynopsisThe ultimate science-backed approach to understanding fertility.Bringing a baby into the world isn’t always easy, and the challenge often starts with the decision to conceive. Leslie Schrock’s Fertility Rules is your practical guide through that process, drawing on cutting-edge science to provide advice every step along the way, from the complexities of pre-conception planning to the nuances of conception itself and what to do if you run into challenges. Fertility Rules is the first preconception guide for both male and female fertility, and includes advice tailored to help protect the mental health of prospective parents from the stress, anxiety, and disappointment that often accompany the journey. Fertility Rules answers every question you’ve ever had (and others you didn’t know to ask) about fertility, including: -How to understand your cycle, identify your fertile window with period tracking, and when to stop birth control when you’re ready to conceive -Understanding how to improve sperm count and other key aspects of male fertility -Fertility diets and the true impact of nutrition and supplements -How endocrine-disrupting chemicals and climate change influence fertility -Navigating in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments including egg freezing and sperm cryopreservation -Finding the right clinic and doctor and questions to ask in appointments Bringing her trademark humor and candor, Schrock proves once again that she is an invaluable companion for women and men who want a modern approach to understanding their health. Fertility Rules leaves you prepared to face the joys and challenges of making a baby and excited to get started.

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Book SynopsisAllie and Sam are two moms. Mommy and Other Mommy. One carried the couple's twin boys, who are genetically related to the othera cute little story of teamwork with a happy ending. But it was so much more than that. When they decided to grow their family, they naively went into things thinking they'd have a baby nine months later. Easy. Their conception journey began with nothing but hope. Planning pregnancy announcements. Picking names. (Picking sperm!) Soon, that turned into the harsh realization that it would take several years, thousands of dollars, and so much heartbreak to even get close to a baby. As a same-sex couple, Allie and Sam faced barriers from day one. If it wasn't constant heteronormativity, it was a couple of thousand dollars in the trash, next to another negative pregnancy testjust to rub it in a little more. It was jealousy of friends who were on baby one, then baby two, before they could even get in for another try at the fertility clinic. Who had sperm readily available at home. Who had babies for free. It took three years, three IUIs, one home insemination, one round of IVF, two losses, four embryo transfers, $50,000, and ultimately, a whole lot of teamwork. And now they get to watch their twins grow and learn, as Mommy and Other Mommy. With two moms, their family looks a little different to a lot of people. That's why it's important to share Sam and Allie's journey: to help normalize all types of families, and to hopefully make people think twice before they ask Who's the mom?

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'Reproflexology' - the study and treatment of male and female reproductive and fertility conditions using reflexology - is aspecialist therapy that has been pioneered and carefully developed by Barbara Scott over 20 years. The therapy can be applied either as a stand-alone treatment to support natural conception or alongside fertility treatment. This is the first book to be published on treating fertility issues using reflexology.Reproductive reflexology can be a minefield with much conflicting advice being given about what practitioners can and cannot do. Because of this many practitioners choose not to work with clients who are having fertility issues. In this book Barbara Scott gives clear guidance on how to gain information from clients, how to interpret that information, how to plan treatment and what reproflexology techniques to use. This will give practitioners the knowledge and confidence to work with clients who have a wide range of reproductive conditions and who are trying to conceive.

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Book SynopsisSince the advent of agriculture and animal husbandry, the human population has multiplied by about one thousand in a ?demographic explosion?.However, in recent years, global fertility rates have begun to decrease significantly, and this is one reason to make a case for humans being becoming an endangered species. Many of the possible interpretations of this dramatic U-turn in the history of mankind may be found in modern ways of being born. For example, where caesarean rates are high, the average number of babies born per woman is very low. During the ultimate phase of the history of socialised birth, the hormonal dance that was previously essential is altered or eliminated.Today childbirth needs to be highly medicalised, after thousands of years of misunderstanding of the physiological processes involved. In a renewed scientific context, it may still be possible to rediscover the basic needs of labouring women and to try to ensure the future of our species. Is it too late to reach such a utopia? Michel Odent re-evaluates the comparative importance of recently acquired insights, to suggest links between data and ways of thinking from a great diversity of highly specialised disciplines.

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Book SynopsisA guide to optimising male and female fertility via a whole food plant-based diet and lifestyle interventions, drawing on the growing evidence that animal products and trans fats can have a detrimental impact on fertility and supporting the beneficial effects of plant-based eating. The role of macro- and micro-nutrients, the nutrients and fibre found only in whole plants, and the importance of tackling sleep and stress issues are explained together with guidance on how to harness the latest knowledge. Lisa Simon draws on her personal experience of overcoming fertility issues with a plant-based diet and on her professional work with many clients seeking a healthy and successful pregnancy.Table of ContentsIntroduction; What is the preconception period; What can reduce your chances of conceiving: animal protein, haem iron, saturated/trans fats, AGEs, fish-related pollutants; Macronutrients: carbs, fibre, protein, fat; Micronutrients: iron, calcium, zinc, iodine, folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin B12, vitamin D, vitamin E; Plant chemicals (phytonutrients); PCOS; Sleep; Stress; Avoiding risky substances: BPA, cleaning products, caffeine, alcohol, environmental; Supporting each other; Fertiity recipes

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Book SynopsisThe definitive week-by-week diet and lifestyle plan to support IVF treatment and help you become pregnant from the one of the UK's foremost experts on fertility and conception, Zita West.'The IVF process is so out of your control and this was a really helpful tool to bring me back in control and nurture my body' -- ***** Reader review'Excellent book, a great way to feel like you have some control over this crazy process!' -- ***** Reader review'Terrific and informative - worth every penny' -- ***** Reader review'Easy to read and easy to understand' -- ***** Reader review'Brilliant' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************************************************************More and more couples are turning to IVF each year to help them conceive, and yet there are still many questions to be answered. "What makes IVF successful?" and "what else can we do to support our treatment?" are two of the most important queries couples can have, and here, Zita West offers solutions.Nutrition and lifestyle advice, psychological and emotional support and a positive mindset all play an important part in helping couples conceive, and can even make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful outcome.This book not only advises how to prepare for IVF, but why it's so important to prepare, and with a step-by-step diet and lifestyle plan and over 60 recipes for meals designed for optimum fertility heath, this is a clear way to actively support your treatment.Table of Contents 1: Acknowledgements 2: Foreword by Dr George Ndukwe 3: Preface 4: Introduction 1: Understanding the IVF Journey 1: Fertility: The Basics 2: Starting Your IVF Journey 3: The IVF Process 2: IVF and Your Lifestyle 4: Transform Your Lifestyle 5: Nurture Your Relationships 6: Build Your Energy Reserves and Reduce Stress 7: Maintain a Positive Mindset 8: Lifestyle Factors That Affect IVF 3: Preparing for IVF 9: The Importance of Nutrition 10: Ten Egg and Sperm Health 11: Nourishing Your Digestive System 12: Fertility-influencing Conditions 4: The Countdown Nutrition Plan 13: Clearing the System 14: Balancing Your Blood Sugar 15: Your Acid–Alkaline Balance 16: Reducing Inflammation 5: Diet and Your IVF Cycle 17: Starting an IVF Cycle 18: Egg Collection 19: Embryo Transfer and Implantation 20: The Two-week Wait 21: When IVF is Successful 22: When IVF Fails 23: Appendix: Commonly Asked Questions 24: About the Zita West Fertility Clinic 25: Index

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Book SynopsisA beautifully illustrated and comprehensive lifestyle guide to help you achieve optimum health for conception and pregnancy from fertility expert Emma Gannon, covering diet, physical and mental health. Fertile is the book every woman should read, it's not just about getting pregnant it's about nurturing our femininity and really taking care of ourselves.' -- Madeleine Shaw'Really informative, great to have these details in one place and trust what your reading' -- ***** Reader review'A must if going through IVF' -- ***** Reader review'This book is incredible' -- ***** Reader review'This book talks to you like a caring, gentle and experienced friend' -- ***** Reader review'Her approach to food and fertility really helped me to relax and I felt nourished just reading the book' -- ***** Reader review'Life changing' -- ***** Reader review'I love this book, if it wasn't called Fertile it would be called Nourish' -- ***** Reader review******************************************************************************************************Fertility expert Emma Cannon brings a holistic approach to fertility, fusing Eastern and Western traditions with great success in her London clinic.This beautifully illustrated book brings together her wealth of experience to give readers practical ways to improve their health and wellbeing ready for conception and pregnancy.You will find:* Over 50 recipes with key nutrients to nourish your body* Cleansing plans to optimise your health* Targeted advice for those undertaking IVF* Holistic approach to specific fertility problems such as PCOS and endometriosis* Advice on how to rebalance after miscarriageIf you want a book that explains how to change your mindset and approach to fertility in a really supportive, informative way then this is the book for you.Trade ReviewEmma Cannon is a fertility goddess, she works magic in her sessions. She has taught me so much about what being fertile is, I can't thank her enough for helping me to have a regular cycle and look after my body. She is my role model, gorgeous, loving, knowledgeable and caring. Fertile is the book every woman should read, it's not just about getting pregnant it's about nurturing our femininity and really taking care of ourselves. * Madeleine Shaw *Knowledgeable, engaging and caring, Emma Cannon teaches you how to nurture your fertility. * Jasmine Hemsley *

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Book Synopsis Overcome your symptoms and live a better life. All the information you need to help you manage endometriosis. One in ten women suffers with endometriosis. So why is there no definitive cure and why does it take an average of 8 years to diagnose? Endometriosis experts Professor Andrew Horne and Carol Pearson explain what Endometriosis is and provide vital information for women who suffer from the disease. Find out:- How to get a diagnosis - What treatment options and care are available to you- How to overcome your symptoms and live a better life - The lifestyle changes you can make that could improve your condition With the voices of countless women at different stages of their journey and advice from a range of specialist healthcare practitioners, Endometriosis provides the information and support to empower anyone with the condition and those close to them.

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Book Synopsis'This book is an absolute game-changer' - Dr Xand Van Tulleken'Everyone concerned about their fertility should read this book' - Dr Raj Mathur, Chair of the British Fertility SocietyThe book you can trust to help you achieve a healthy pregnancy.Whether you are trying for a baby now or preparing for a family in future, The Fertility Book is the no-nonsense guide you need to help you to optimize your chances of a healthy pregnancy. World-renowned fertility consultant Adam Balen and reproductive biologist Grace Dugdale dispel the myths in this comprehensive guide to reproductive health, explaining in easy-to-understand terms the genetic and lifestyle factors at play. They take an honest look at the evidence for both conventional and alternative approaches, equipping you with powerful tools to improve your chances of a natural conception and an understanding of how to create the best environment for a healthy pregnancy. If you do decide to seek help through assisted conception, this book will be with you every step of the way, explaining what treatments are available and how to approach them, so that you can come to an informed decision about what is right for you. Professor Adam Balen and Grace Dugdale have decades of experience helping couples on their journey to conception and beyond. Now in this, their first book for a general readership, they explain everything you need to know to understand your own fertility.Trade ReviewKnowledge is power and, in the disempowering situation of struggling to conceive, this book is an absolute game-changer. Whether you're brand new to the world of fertility or you've struggled for a while, this book is a beacon of clear, detailed information. It is an amazing resource and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is even considering having a go at conceiving!' -- DR XAND VAN TULLEKEN, TV presenter, Honorary Associate Professor, University College LondonThis unique, patient-centred book provides high-quality clinical and scientific information, but with an emphasis on a holistic approach that seeks to empower readers. Comprehensive and authoritative, it is written in an easy, accessible style that makes it a pleasure to read and understand. Everyone concerned about their fertility should read it - and so should the clinicians looking after them! -- DR RAJ MATHUR, Chair, British Fertility SocietyAn utterly brilliant book. Fully comprehensive and reader-friendly. I wish it had been around when I was on my own fertility journey. -- JESSICA HEPBURN, founder of Fertility FestInability to conceive is tremendously stressful for many couples. Whilst there is no shortage of information, it is difficult to separate what is credible and evidence-based from wishful theories and anecdotes. This is where The Fertility Book makes a unique contribution, by synthesising and presenting credible evidence to inform one's fertility journey. If you are struggling to have a baby, make time for this book. It will help you. -- PROF ARRI COOMARASAMY, Director, Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research, University of BirminghamThis book has all that most need to optimise their fertility. It clearly explains the science in ways that should help couples feel empowered when it comes to making what could be some of the most important decisions of their lives. -- DR EDWARD MORRIS, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

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Book Synopsis‘A vital, heartfelt read for anyone navigating the rough seas of infertility and pregnancy loss’ – Leah Hazard, author of Hard PushedAn insightful, moving memoir, capturing life working as a midwife in a busy NHS hospital at the same time as dealing with experiences of infertility, IVF and loss. As a young married couple, Sophie Martin and her husband spent years trying to conceive. They went through several rounds of IVF, at great expense, and even travelled overseas for treatment, never quite knowing whether they would one day have a family. Alongside this, Sophie was working hard at a job she loved: looking after expectant mothers and newborn babies as a midwife in a busy hospital, where the patients’ daily new additions were a constant reminder of Sophie’s own setbacks in pursuit of motherhood. The Infertile Midwife is a deeply personal, moving account of chasing something that you want so desperately. It also offers a much-needed look at how society treats infertility – from the language we use to the small talk we make – and the ways in which we can all do more to make things better for hopeful parents. With great warmth and honesty, Sophie shares her experiences of the bursts of hope and moments of great loss, but also the humour, love and joy that can be found in even the darkest places. Trade ReviewSophie’s words provide a supportive lighthouse of hope for many. She is gifted at starting and facilitating the conversations ensuring those who feel like they sit in the shadows of other people’s celebrations are supported, seen and validated. She holds up a microphone to the stories that need to be heard, generously sharing her own along the way. * Anna Mathur *I read Sophie’s words with tears, a lump in my throat, much nodding and laughter too. This beautifully-written, tender book has captured so much of what I experienced and, when women share, it’s incredibly comforting and empowering. I hope her book plays a part in the women’s healthcare revolution that the world so needs * Melissa Hemsley *A vital, heartfelt read for anyone navigating the rough seas of infertility and pregnancy loss. * Leah Hazard *An important, insightful book for midwives and anyone interested in birth … Well written, deeply personal [it’s] a story that will resonate with many readers. This is an important story to tell and highlights, also, the importance of language used around birth. * Anna Kent *'The Infertile Midwife by Sophie Martin is a deeply personal account of infertility and loss, love and joy. I am so glad Sophie has shared the story of her three beautiful sons and I know it will help many, many readers. It was an honour to read this book.' -- Marianne Levy * Marianne Levy *No one wants to have a story like this to tell. But Sophie does it with honesty and bravery. Heartache and hope jump off every page. She's given her little boys the centre stage they deserve. Hard to read at times but important that we do. -- Gabby Griffith * Big Fat Negative podcast *Honest, heart-breaking, and funny; it had me nodding along, crying and laughing in equal measure. It’s the book I was desperately searching for six years ago, and I am just so glad it’s here to support those who need it now. Thank you, Sophie, for sharing your most personal heartache and your professional knowledge with us all. -- Elle Wright

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Book SynopsisInvolving a third person in a child's conception raises many difficult issues and dilemmas. This book provides a comprehensive guide to the place of third party assisted conception within health care provision, drawing on local ethical and religious standpoints as well as political and economic factors.Eric Blyth and Ruth Landau have brought together authors from a broad range of professional backgrounds to consider the social, legal and ethical aspects of third party assisted conception in thirteen countries dispersed through North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Australasia. Third Party Assisted Conception Across Cultures addresses many contemporary social issues including the role of the state in family creation, the changing forms and conceptualizations of a 'family' and concerns about the potential commodification of body-parts and functions. All health care practitioners and policymakers who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of the policies underlying third party assisted conception practice and the ethical context surrounding it, will find this book invaluable.Trade ReviewThis is a collection of articles descriptive of third party assisted conception practices and regulations in a variety of countries. At the outset it must be said that for a book that deals with a rather esoteric topic, one that appears to be distant from the average reader, it is well written and holds the interest even of those who may not be familiar with that area of endeavour... It is an interesting text to be perused. The authors, scholarly professionals themselves, demonstrate an understanding not only of infertility and third party assisted conception, but also of the religious and cultural contexts in which these practices arise. -- European Journal of Social WorkAnyone concerned with the artificial creation of families, including adoption, should study this volume and take note of what happens when relatively unregulated processes, dominated by money, medical technology and the needs of adults, reign supreme. -- Adoption and FosteringCompact as it is, this book contains a wealth of fascinating research into the way in which assisted conception is regarded at social, legal and ethical levels in each of thirteen countries across the world, from places as diverse as Argentina and Finland, Singapore and Poland. The book presents a wealth of facts in a most digestible format. It fascinates as much as it informs. -- British Journal of Social WorkGiven the government's recent decision to allow infertile couples one course of IVF on the NHS more people will have access to third party assisted conceptions, this is a timely book, writes Kathryn Evans. It may answer some of the myriad questions raised by those unfamiliar with the subject. The introduction provides a readable potted history of assisted conceptions in each country despite international knowledge of the different techniques. -- Community CareTable of ContentsIntroduction. Eric Blyth, Univerity of Huddersfield and Ruth Landau, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. 1. Argentina: Hopes, Results and Barriers. Luisa Baron, Buenos Aires University. 2. Australia: Choice and Diversity in Regulation and Record Keeping. Helen Szoke, Infertility Treatment Authority, Melbourne. 3. Canada: The Long Road to Regulation.Jean Haase, London Health Services Centre, Ontario. 4. Finland: Unregulated Practices, Familiarity and Legality. Maili Malin, STAKES, Finland and Riitta Burrell, Researcher, Michigan. 5. Germany: The Changing Legal and Social Culture. Petra Thorn, Protestant University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt. 6. Hong Kong: A Social, Legal and Clinical Overview. Ernest Ng, Athena Liu, Celia Chan and Cecilia Chan, University of Hong Kong. 7. Israel: Every Person has the Right to Have Children. Ruth Landau. 8. New Zealand: From Secrecy and Shame to Openness and Acceptance. Ken Daniels, University of Canterbury, Christchurch. 9. Poland: Provision and Guidelines for Third Party Assisted Conception. Eleonora Bielawka-Batorowicz, University of Lodz. 10. Singapore: Practice and Challenges. Rosaleen Ow, National University of Singapore. 11. South Africa: Cultural Diversity. Charlene Laurence Carbonatto, University of Pretoria. 12. The United Kingdom: Evolution of a Statutary Regulatory Approach. Eric Blyth. 13. The United States of America: Eric Blyth with Jean Benward, psychotherapist, California. Conclusion Eric Blyth and Ruth Landau. Editor and Contributor Biographies. Subject Index. Name Index.

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Book SynopsisHow far would you go to have a baby? Making Babies the Hard Way is a frank account of one couple's discovery that they cannot have children of their own, and their ensuing struggle through four years of fertility treatment.One in six couples worldwide seek assistance to conceive and 80 per cent of couples undergoing fertility treatment are currently unsuccessful.Writing with humour and honesty, Caroline Gallup describes the social, emotional, spiritual and physical impact of infertility on her and her husband, Bruce, including feelings of bereavement for the absent child, the unavoidable sense of inadequacy and the day-to-day difficulties of financial pressure. As well as telling her own moving story, she also offers information and guidance for others who are infertile, or who are considering or undergoing treatment.This courageous and poignant book will be of interest to couples who cannot conceive and those who are undergoing treatment, as well as their families and friends.Trade ReviewThis poignant book portrays the journey a couple make to create a family. Caroline's clear style, which is interspersed with Bruce's interpretation of events, makes the book an accessible articulation of the impact infertility has on a relationship. The section entitled "Things not to say to an infertile couple" is absolutely spot-on. Caroline and Bruce are brave to bare their souls in this richly evocative book. -- Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsI would recomment this book to professionals and patients alike. It conveys concisely the intensely difficult feelings that couples experience, which can test their relationship and put it under pressure. -- Royal College of Obstetricians and GynaecologistsThis is a lovely, warm and highly readable book. It is a personal account of one couple's emotional and practical journey from the discovery of male factor infertility, through fertility tests and treatments to the final painful decision to stop trying to conceive with the help of donor sperm. This book differs from any of the other books I have encountered about personal experiences of infertility and its treatment in several ways. First, because it features a man with fertility difficulties and Caroline's husband Bruce comments and contributes throughout in bold. Secondly, Caroline's candour, humour and insight offer a view of the practical procedures and emotional processes at work for a couple grappling with what this all means for their relationship and the future, that is rarely visible to outsiders. It also takes place in a UK context that will feel only too familiar to anyone who has experienced the pressures of tests, the endless waiting and the impact of vast amounts of money disappearing into what feels like a black hole. For these very reasons it should be required reading for all those who work in fertility clinics or indeed anyone who is likely to come into contact with couples with fertility problems. Highly recommended for couples going through fertility treatment and those who have their well-being in mind. -- Healthcare Counselling and Psychotherapy JournalFrom the start of this book, the first chapter was gripping because the story was so personalized and written in such a heartfelt and honest manner. As infertility is such a sensitive and often private subject, the approach taken by the author is refreshing. The book takes the reader on the complex journey of discovering infertility, attempts to solve this via treatment and the complexity of decisions that arise from the experience. Some pertinent ethical questions arise and provide much food for thought. Thus, this book provides a different dimension for readers when compared to the often technical descriptions of infertility found within other texts.So the book is more readable than many others and, more fundamentally, the author adds the important component of emotion by discussing the personal psychological impact of infertility. -- Health MattersThis is the story of Caroline and Bruce who discover quite early on in their quest to have a child that Bruce does not appear to be producing sperm. With refreshing candour, humour and eye for detail Caroline, with interjections from Bruce, describes the clinic visits, tests and the endless waiting and worrying that will be familiar to anyone who has struggled to start a family. Sperm donation turns out to be the only way that they might achieve a pregnancy. One of the very special features of this story are the insights into how Caroline and Bruce, mirroring many other couples, approach and deal very differently with the emotions and practicalities of diagnosis and fertility treatment. Bruce does not understand why Caroline finds talking to a counsellor the most natural thing to do, Caroline cannot understand Bruce's practical attitude to sperm donation, but they both find having to choose a donor a very weird process. Their attempt to turn a clinic insemination into a romantic occasion is of course doomed to failure!This book is compulsive reading. Over a weekend I could hardly put it down. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone going through fertility treatment just for the true to life detail, the humour and the raw reality of the feelings. -- Donor Conception NetworkIf you read this book you will discover what to expect if you learn that you cannot have babies the easy way. You will also be helped to face what is often the hardest decision for couples struggling to make babies with medical help: how and when to stop trying. Few books on infertility will have so much impact because few authors have Caroline and Bruce's courage to allow the emotional pain of infertility to transform them and their relationship. Much more than an infertility survival guide, Making Babies the Hard Way tracks a journey which starts and ends with love. It is at once a witness statement and an inspiration. -- Dame Suzi Leather, Chair, The Charity Commission, UK, and former Chair, Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, UKIt is a personal book, desciribing the efforts and the personal sacrifices inherent in the struggle to have a child without being able to conceive the easy way. This book can doubtlessly be read as self-help literature for anyone facing infertility and treatment. Making Babies the Hard Way gave me useful insights about the feelings, questions and states of mind that couples in the Gallups; situation may experience. I thank Caroline Gallop for that. -- Metapsychology Online ReviewsIt is a must-read for all involved in managing infertility patients. It might also help prospective couples before they embark on artificial conception. It may put some off, but it would ensure informed consent for the process. -- The Surgeon, Journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and IrelandTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Introduction. 1. `It doesn't make you any less of a man you know.' 2. `When am I going to be a grandma?' 3. `You may feel a little uncomfortable for a few days.' 4. Chauffeur driven to Fertility Central. 5. `And how do you feel about that?' 6. Do we need another man in our lives? 7. Treasures of the heart. 8. The first insemination. 9. Trials and traumas. 10. Footprints in the sand. 11. Good omens and then… 12. Constructive communication. 13. Am I forcing Mother Nature? 14. `I don't mind what we do, as long as we decide something.' 15. `Have you thought about adopting?' 16. In sickness and in health. 17. `I don't know how to tell you this…' 18. This could be the last time… Epilogue: Past, present and future. Glossary and abbreviations. Useful addresses. Further reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive integrative handbook on fertility treatment, and Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART), the book is written by specialist contributors for health professionals and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practitioners, and for those seriously considering ART themselves.Integrated approaches to infertility offer both a greater awareness and understanding of the combination of factors that can influence the chances of success when undergoing different types of ART. Leading experts review the evidence and discuss the benefits of different approaches to support the physiological and emotional aspects of fertility and fertility treatment. The book covers everything from identifying and treating conditions that may reduce fertility, including immunological abnormalities and specific male and female factors, to how nutrition, acupuncture, reflexology and yoga can support couples going through assisted reproduction, including helping to improve some immunological aspects. There is also a chapter that looks specifically at support for the over 40's.Trade ReviewThis book is important for patients and all health care professionals working with infertile couples and those undergoing ART. The book reviews the evidence supporting integrated approaches to patient care and the management of infertility, and it outlines how a person-centred approach can help those trying to conceive to nurture their mind, body and spirit as they strive to bring forth new life. -- Penny Abatzi, Clinical Director, Serum IVF, Athens, GreeceThis practitioner handbook constitutes essential reading for couples experiencing sub-fertility. Whilst offering detailed information on the journey through fertility treatment, the authors build a compelling case for adverse impacts to fertility and pregnancy mediated by poor diet and lifestyle choices, genetics and environment. They raise important questions around why many of us are moving away from evolutionary reproductive norms, while offering necessarily controversial answers born out of research and clinical experience. The book should be recommended reading for all healthcare professionals. -- Meleni Aldridge BSc Nut Med, Dip cPNI, Executive Coordinator, Alliance for Natural Health InternationalHealth Practitioners working with pregnant women continue to see increasing numbers of infertility and recurrent miscarriage and IVF issues, as the average age for first-time mothers in the UK and Europe rises to 30 years of age with more women deciding to start their families later in life. This book represents a priceless resource to health practitioners of all disciplines, from medicine to nutrition as well as complementary therapists who wish to deepen their knowledge of reproductive health whilst having easy access to well documented practice-based evidence on the subject. -- Miguel Toribio-Mateas BSc (Hons) Nut Med PgDip Clin Neurosc. MSc mBANT CNHC ABAAHP, Chairman of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy, BANTTable of ContentsForeword by Professor Gab Kovacs. Introduction. 1. Preparing for Fertility Treatment. Justine Bold, Senior Lecturer, Health and Applied Social Sciences, University of Worcester, UK. 2. Introduction to Assisted Conception. Karen Veness, Infertility Network, UK. 3. Obesity, Body Mass Index, Associated Factors and Their Effect on Fertility. Susan Bedford, Nutritional Therapist, private practice, UK. 4. Introduction to Female Factors in Infertility and Pregnancy Loss. Justine Bold. 5. Endometriosis. Dian Shepperson Mills, director, The Endometriosis and Fertility Clinic Ltd, London, UK. 6. Male Factor Infertility. Clare Casson, The Zita West Fertility Clinic, London, UK. 7. Coeliac Disease and Infertility Disorder. Dr Mohammed Rostami-Nejad, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases (RIGLD), Shahid Behehsti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran-Iran. Kamran Rostami, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, UK. 8. Unexplained Infertility and Reproductive Immunology. Louise Carder, Nutritional Therapist, Private Practice, UK. 9. Reproductive Immunology Case History. Justine Bold. 10. Dietary Factors, Key Micronutrients and Nutritional Support. Karen MacGillivray-Fallis, Vita Sana Nutritional Consultancy, UK. 11. Lifestyle and Nutritional Factors Affecting Male and Female Infertility. Susan Bedford. 12. Supporting Assisted Reproduction in Women Over 40 Years of Age. Natasha Claire Dunn, Senior Clinical Embryologist, London Fertility Centre, part of Spire Fertility, UK. 13. Acupuncture in Assisted Reproduction. Irina Szmelskyj, Co-Director and Lead Clinician, True Health Clinics and Founder, The Fertility Foundation, UK. 14. Reflexology to Assist with Fertility. Deborah Cook, MA in Higher Education, BSc (Hons) Health Studies, RGN, RNT, Member of the Association of Reflexologists, UK. 15. Yoga to Support Fertility. Lisa Attfield, Fertility Yoga, UK.

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Book SynopsisThis practical book provides need-to-know information vital for acupuncturists to treat patients with fertility problems.Nick Dalton-Brewer details the causes of fertility issues, including the impact of lifestyle and diet, and explains the scientific basis for the different methods of treatment. Integrating Assisted Reproduction Techniques (ART) with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies and acupuncture, he presents his own cutting-edge research on the successful use of these therapies to improve fertility and pregnancy rates and describes a method for integrated diagnosis and treatment.This book will give TCM practitioners direct access to the vital specialist knowledge and technical information needed to treat the increasing numbers of patients with fertility problems effectively. It will also be of interest to doctors of Western medicine concerned about the efficacy of recommending acupuncture treatments as adjuncts to ART.Trade ReviewIVF is a bewildering, complex process. It places extreme intellectual and emotional demands on its patients. This clearly written and comprehensive book demystifies the process without losing necessary detail. Its explanations of natural treatment, scientific research and theory, and guidance for self-help are essential for couples going through IVF and wanting to enhance their chances of a successful outcome. -- George Cooper, IVF acupuncturist and author of 'Be Your Own Nutritionist'After treatment from Nick Dalton-Brewer with herbs and acupuncture, I had a joyous success on my second cycle of IVF. I now have a bouncing, beautiful daughter. Nick's expertise and sensitivity as a practitioner helped the whole stressful process of IVF, and he took into account both the emotional and physical aspects of my subfertility. This book condenses Nick's many years' experience of TCM into a very readable format which will inform clinicians as well as those seeking help having a baby. -- Suzy Robinson, happy mother, LondonAcupuncture support during IVF treatment is rapidly becoming accepted practice. Several good quality research studies have demonstrated the benefit with increased implantation rates. Nick Dalton-Brewer has for the first time brought together in one well-organised and well-referenced book the practice, the research and the physiological science behind this exciting natural enhancement to IVF. This book is a "must read" for all acupuncturists involved in IVF treatments and all conventional medicine IVF doctors alike. -- Dr Trevor Wing, clinician at The Women’s Natural Health Practice, researcher and lecturer in female healthNick Dalton-Brewer boldly seeks to reconcile recent developments in molecular medicine with traditional acupuncture theory. The integrated approach to IVF treatment described in this book is original and well thought out, a multidisciplinary approach which I believe should be encouraged. Students and practitioners of both disciplines will find this book a useful foundation for a rapidly evolving medical discipline. -- Dr David Gillott, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at St George’s Medical School, LondonTable of Contents1. Acupuncture: an Introduction. 2. Natural Fertility. 3. Understanding IVF part 1. 4. Understanding IVF part 2. 5. Western Conventional Medicine: Causes, Diagnoses and Tests. 6. Lifestyle part 1: The stress epidemic and stress hormones. 7. Lifestyle part 2: excitement, excitement hormones and reactive species. 8. Take back control part 1. 9. Take back control part 2: Fertility antioxidants, endocrine disrupting compounds, epigenetics. 10. Evidence: placebo, evidence, narrative. 11. Acupuncture in ART. 12. A Return to Diet.

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Book SynopsisHaving Your Baby Through Egg Donation is a helpful, authoritative guide to negotiating the complex and emotive issues that arise for those considering whether or not to pursue egg donation. It presents information clearly and with compassion, exploring the practical, financial, logistical, social and ethical questions that commonly arise. This fully updated second edition also includes recent developments in the field, including travelling for egg donation and the emerging field of epigenetics.This book will be valued by all those considering or undergoing donor conception, as well as the range of professionals who support them, including infertility counsellors, psychologists, therapists and social workers.Trade ReviewIf you are considering the use of donor eggs to build your family, this is a must read. Experienced reproductive healthcare professionals Ellen Glazer and Evelina Sterling answer your questions about both the practical and emotional considerations in pursuing this form of assisted reproductive technology, and will guide you to explore other questions you may not have yet considered. Illuminating vignettes both inform prospective parents and reduce feelings of isolation in this pursuit and new information regarding worldwide egg donation expands prospective parents' potential options. Upon completing Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation, you will be in a far better position to decide if this family building option is right for you and, if so, to proceed as an empowered parent to your child. -- Dr. Joann Paley Galst, PhD, Chairperson of the American Fertility Association Mental Health Advisory Council, USAHaving Your Baby Through Egg Donation should be the bedside companion of women and men choosing to build or expand their families through egg donation. Glazer and Sterling explore the broad spectrum of issues to be considered before embarking upon egg donation. I am glad that they approach the topic from the perspective of the best interests of children, while being respectful and sensitive to the feelings of those who long to be parents. -- Wendy Kramer, Co-Founder and Director of the Donor Sibling RegistryI am delighted to endorse this new edition of Having Your Baby by Egg Donation, a book that DC Network always highly recommends to anyone contemplating building a family this way. There is now more material that is relevant for UK families but what is more important is that Ellen Glazer and Evelina Sterling's wise words and sensitive approach to all the social, emotional and practical issues remain intact. They do not shy away from the difficult questions and feelings but by the very acknowledgement of them allows the reader to face and work through the loss and grief of infertility towards making decisions that are right for her and her family. -- Olivia Montuschi, Founder of the Donor Conception Network, UKA practical and sensible guide to the choices available to hopeful parents considering egg donation. -- Sanford M. Benardo, Esq., Past-president of American College of Assisted Reproduction and Adoption Lawyers, Co-founder of Northeast Assisted Fertility GroupTable of Contents1. Some Introductions. 2. An Overview of Egg Donation. 3. Deciding Whether to Pursue Egg Donation. 4. Choosing Your Donor. 5. Mental Health Counseling and Legal Issues. 6. Attempting Pregnancy - A Collaborative Effort. 7. Pregnancy with Donated Eggs. 8. Parenthood after Egg Donation. 9. Ethics and Faith. 10. Globalization of Egg Donation. 11. Egg Donation, Ever Changing. Acknowledgments. Bibliography. Resources. Index.

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Book SynopsisAt 11.47pm on July 25th 1978, Louise Brown was the first person ever to be born through science rather than as the result of two people having sex. The birth was hailed as a "miracle" by the world's media, making her instantly famous. For the first time Louise tells the story of her world changing birth and its impact on her life.

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Book SynopsisAn original graphic novel based on the IVF stories of its husband-and-wife authors and the 1-in-50 couples around the world like them. Conrad and Joanne met in their final year of university and have been virtually inseparable since then. For a while, it felt like they had all the time in the world. Yet now, when they are finally ready to have kids, they find that getting pregnant isn’t always so easy. Ahead of them lies a difficult, expensive, and emotional journey into the world of assisted fertility, where each ‘successful’ implantation is followed by a two-week wait to see if the pregnancy takes. Join Joanne and Conrad, their friends, their family, their coworkers, and a stream of expert medical practitioners as they experience the highs and the lows, the tears and the laughter in this sensitive but unflinching portrayal of the hope and heartbreak offered to so many by modern medicine.Trade Review‘The Jacksons, married educators and parents of two, partner with artist Wild to tell a compassionate story about the struggle to conceive based on their own experiences and interviews with other couples who have dealt with fertility issues … Wild’s loose, fluid, warmly coloured pencil art perfectly complements the script; in swooping curves and simple shapes, she draws emotive characters in domestic settings that look lived-in. Gentle and empathetic, this enters a growing trying-to-conceive graphic medicine genre, recalling Sarah Glidden’s and Lucy Knisley’s work, and offers a touchstone for any reader dealing with IVF.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Full of honesty and vulnerability … Two-Week Wait will appeal to readers of memoir and graphic novels alike.’ -- Adam Ford * Books+Publishing *‘The book demystifies the technical processes of IVF for readers, and tracks the ups and downs … The drawings, by the talented German illustrator Mara Wild, are full of light and air … It is a beautifully drawn, heartfelt, real- feeling examination of the struggle to become parents.’ -- Bernard Caleo * Readings *‘Compelling, harrowing … proof that comics can be much more than superhero stories — they are a dexterous art form that can effectively communicate complex, serious topics.’ -- Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen * The Guardian *‘In this lovely volume, you’ll encounter heartache, hope, humour, and a very true and personal exploration of the physical, emotional, and financial roller-coaster of IVF. You’ll also see the graphic novel form at its finest: where every dot and line has nuance and meaning, and where big ideas and feelings are conveyed with great subtlety through spare, elegant illustrations working hand-in-hand with great dialogue.’ -- Nicki Greenberg‘Readers who have never experienced IVF may find this book educative, while readers who have may be pleased to see their experience reflected with so much empathy.’ -- Kerryn Goldsworthy * Sydney Morning Herald *‘Luke C. Jackson and Kelly Jackson have created a beautiful and gut-wrenching story of infertility, relationships, and hope centred around the two-week period waiting to find out if the implantation resulted in a successful pregnancy … Accompanied with the Jackson’s narrative is Mara Wild’s beautiful illustrations. Wild has drawn in a digital, minimalist style with a simple powder-blue, navy, grey, red, white, and peachy orange colour palette. The simplicity of their illustration style leaves room for emotion to burst off the page. The happiness, pain, love, and dejection that the character’s experience comes across so clearly in Wild’s illustrations; readers will become emotionally invested within the first chapter. Once you pick up Two-Week Wait it’ll be incredibly hard to put it back down again … Two-Week Wait captures many facets of the IVF experience, hence making it an excellent graphic novel to educate people and start a healthy conversation around the highs and lows of IVF. Moreover, the language and illustrations within are very easy to understand and follow, making Two-Week Wait an accessible text which could be used in a high-school-aged educational setting.’ -- Lauren Pratt * Underground Writers *‘The intimate struggles of a husband and wife desperate to become parents might not be universal literary fare, but with millions of couples worldwide attempting conception via IVF, Two-Week Wait will surely, deservedly find sympathetic audiences… an insightful, moving tale.’ -- Terry Hong * Shelf Awareness *‘Readers are taken along their journey through the process, through the anxiety of waiting for answers, and then finding out nope, nothing is clear cut as they thought … I found myself immersed in their story, in their heartache and their joy during the process … I can see just how well the format of a graphic novel can lend itself to all sorts of different stories.’ * pop.edit.lit *‘I really enjoyed Two-Week Wait. I thought it was a well-written book that handled an incredibly sensitive topic very well and did a great job showing how the difficult and expensive process of IVF works … I thought Mara Wild did a great job illustrating the character's emotions and the mental and physical strain that the IVF process puts on them. I liked her use of soft colours and sweeping shapes and lines. She was able to put a lot of emotion into scenes with just the stroke of a pencil. I think this book would be great for couples who are going through IVF or who are considering it.’ -- Marisa Quinn-Haisu * Weekend Notes *‘Anyone looking for the thoughts of someone who has gone through the journey of trying to conceive, infertility testing, of deciding what treatments to pursue, of determining to continue the path, and IVF or is looking for tips on what to do and not to do when talking about infertility and IVF will find a good resource in this book … Mara Wild does a fantastic job at providing context to the story and illustrating the invisible emotions and pain … It gives the reader an empathetic look at the experience. I recommend this to anyone wanting to know more about the infertility and IVF process, especially from a mental health perspective.’ -- Alice Jaggers * Graphic Medicine *‘Two-Week Wait is as much a medical text as it is a depiction of the emotional, corporeal and financial vicissitudes, that are commonplace in patient descriptions of assisted reproductive technologies.’ -- Jennifer Takhar * Graphic Medicine *

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Book SynopsisAfter receiving the news that in vitro would be their only hope for biological children, award-winning poet Emily Adams had to learn to live in a new world of needles, embarrassing tests, long waiting periods, and expensive doctor’s appointments.In this beautiful and touching book of poems and essays, Emily tells the story of the diagnosis and the chaotic years that followed. Despite the many instances of disappointment, she learns how to continue to hope. Emily Adams weaves a powerful and compassionate story for any woman who is desperately trying to conceive but can’t.Trade Review"It has always been a mystery to me—what, exactly a couple goes through when they desperately want to have children but are not able to do so. I've always felt awkward . . . not knowing what to say, not having any idea what they must be feeling, wanting to be a friend and a support, but worrying that by saying anything at all I would just make things worse. Emily Adams has written a book that I can only compare to something like a jewel or a gift. With beautiful writing, powerful stories, and incredible insights, she has created a resource that will undoubtedly bring comfort, hope, and inspiration to all who read it."—April Perry, co-founder of PowerofMoms.com “A perfect depiction of what infertility is and feels like. The essays and poems are so relatable, I felt like I might have been reading my own journal. This book is a must-read for anyone who is or knows someone struggling. Where was this book when my arms were empty?” —Serena Mackerell, Director of Footsteps for Fertility Foundation "Part memoir, part poem, and part prayer, For Those with Empty Arms is a great companion through the longing and waiting that have always filled a spiritual life." —James Goldberg, author of The Five Books of Jesus "Emily Harris Adams has done a beautiful job of helping the reader to step inside the thoughts and emotions of the couple with fertility challenges. The reader can really feel and understand from the inside perspective. This is a book that would be wonderful, not only for couples experiencing infertility, but also for those on the 'outside' to understand firsthand the many aspects of infertility. I look forward to sharing this book." —Carol McLellan CST-D, Obstetrics Ombudsman, Upledger International

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Book SynopsisNow in its revised and expanded second edition - including over 20 new chapters - this comprehensive textbook remains a unique and accessible description of the current and developing diagnostic and treatment techniques and technologies comprising in vitro fertilization (IVF). Arranged thematically in sections, each chapter covers a key topic in IVF in a sensible presentation. Parts one and two describe the planning, design and organization of an ART unit and IVF laboratory and equipment and systems, respectively. The sections that follow provide detailed descriptions of IVF techniques, embryo culture methods, sperm processing and selection, insemination procedures, micromanipulation, embryo evaluation, cryopreservation, and embryo transfer. Concluding sections address issues of management and regulation of ART labs across the globe, as well as special topics and emerging techniques and devices. Chapter authors, all experts in the field, contribute their expertise from around the world.With the addition of learning key points and review questions at the beginning and end of each chapter, this new edition of In Vitro Fertilization is a readily accessible, high quality instructional resource for reproductive medicine trainees at all levels. Practicing reproductive endocrinologists, urologists, and embryologists also will find value in the book, as will infertility researchers.Table of Contents

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