Infertility Books

This book along with "The Art of Natural Family Planning," was probably one of the most insightful things I have read in my life. My health was literally transformed, and in turn my whole outlook on life. This is essential knowledge for any woman at any stage of life. I never understood how important a woman's fertility was to her whole well being.

It was easy to read and easy to grasp.

This book and its references have saved me many trips to the doctor as well as a lot of pain and suffering. I recommend it to all my friends. I used to have bad cramps until I started following Shannon's advice, and I haven't had cramps now for a few years. I totally recommend it!

Excellent book. Essential companion to Taking Fertility in your Hands. After years of trying to figure out my cycles, this pair has saved me from going through a million confusing and inaccurate dyagnoses AGAIN.

Informative book starting from the basics about the female reproductive system to different situations that women encounter with their body throughout their life. Would definitely recommend this book to ALL females, so they know how their lifestyle affects their cycle and possible fertility status.

I found this book on my first read to be informative, well sourced, and well thought out. Marilyn offers many tips on diet and supplements, many of which I'm trying to implement but I'm having a little trouble with the dietary because I'm a vegetarian who doesn't eat too many eggs or dairy, and she recommends 3 servings a day of dairy but then goes on to let you know that there can be some problems associated with dairy for infertile women, and that if you have PMS you can help the symptoms sometimes by avoiding dairy. Anyway, I thought the rest of the advice seems sound and is worth trying! It's a well-written book and I'm going to recommend it.

If you are at all a Christian, you will not like this book. The first chapter suggests getting pornography to keep your physical relationship going with your partner. Later in the book, the author suggests lying to those around you, saying that the "Truth God" doesn't want to go to baby showers either. Also, it talks about stabbing people with needles who make insensitive remarks. This book focuses almost entirely on IUI and IVF, and if you are not willing or able to go those routes, it has very little for you.

Overall, I thought the book had a desperate, snide attitude - unless you are obsessed with carrying a child and willing to go to any lengths to get there, you will get very little from this book. There is some good basic medical information - other than that, it was almost useless. I'm glad I didn't waste my money and buy it at full price. If you are like me and would LIKE to get pregnant but your whole life doesn't depend on it, and you can still look at a pregnant women without feeling sad, you won't find this book appealing - much of it is spent talking about how the author couldn't even look at a pregnant women or go to a baby shower - not everyone is like that.

Also, some of the advice is impractical - like telling your boss you will be late on the days of treatment or bloodwork - if you are a teacher (or countless other jobs) like me, you can't just show up late on a whim. And the financial information is misleading - the author uses her own insurance coverage as an example, but my insurance covers nothing, so it is WAY more expensive than she says.

I can't say enough bad about this book - don't buy it! If I could give zero stars I would!!

I just started my first IVF cycle. My best friend who also went through IVF bought this book for me. She read it and thought it would help me. It really has!
I read it in three days. I laughed, cryed and was uplifted. Elizabeth's story is compelling, heartfelt, but most of all imformative. Believe it or not it was even comforting to know we aren't alone in this world of infertility. If you are having trouble starting a family and would like to explore all of your options, I urge you to read this book. It is brilliantly written.

This book was a quick read with lots of good information. It covers a wide variety of topics, from IF treatments to how it affects your relationship. I really enjoyed this book.

Goodness, I wish I had read all of the reviews before purchasing this book. When my husband and I found out that we had a few infertility issues to address we promised ourselves to try and stay positive and not to become obessed with having a biological child. The experiences Ms. Swire-Falker had to endure were incredibly unfortunate, but I found myself thinking...stop the procedures and get on with your life. She seemed obsessed with having a baby and I simply didn't relate. My husband and I love children and want to have a family, but not at the cost of my career, our marriage, or financial security. There was some useful information, so I did find the book helpful on some fronts.

While the writing is accessible and conversational, I found this book to be heavily biased towards IVF (at one point stating "In vitro fertilization is truly amazing and miraculous."). Falker provides a wealth of information for women considering IVF, but in her descriptions of alternative treatments, she inevitably makes a statement along the lines of "but IVF is better." I know she wishes she had tried IVF sooner, but for some people IVF just isn't an option. In order to truly be an "infertility survival guide" the book needs to have some focus on the positives of other fertility treatments/options. It really should be called the IVF survival handbook.

Her personal experiences made for a nice touch, but I found a lot of it too negative. I really don't want infertility to become the sole focus of my life, so I found how all-consuming her process became very, VERY scary. She does offer some helpful hints on how to tell people that you are struggling with fertility and how to deal with the many off-hand comments that people make about having children & dealing wtih fertility issues (although a lot of her focus is on how insensitive people are, so again... venturing to the negative). Personally, I found the book to be negatively focused and a little disheartening.

I found this book to be a bit negative at times... But I think that the author addressed the emotional/spiritual issues of infertility very well. Many times she really hit the nail on the head and it was comforting to read that others have felt the same things I'm feeling. In addition, I found some things about the book very helpful. All of her coping strategies were things I already knew. But I still liked the idea of the minis, which is simple to remember and can be used any time. I also loved reading another perspective like talking to your family and friends about infertility. I had been avoiding talking to my parents about it completely. But based on her comments I thought that I would share some of my struggle with my mom (no details) and it went very well and we both felt better. I also keep thinking about the author's statement, which she makes several times throughout the book, that some day this struggle will be over and life will go back to normal and if you really want to be a parent you will be. This keeps me sane when I feel trapped in the nightmare of infertility.

I found the relaxation exercises to be very basic techniques I was already familiar with, although I did appreciate the reminder to take time each day to relax.

Maybe because I already have a support forum and have discussed the emotional issues with my RE, I didn't have the eye-opening sense of surprised self-recognition of some reviewers. Yes, she accurately describes many of the emotional pitfalls of infertility, but I never thought I was the only one who was jealous of pregnant relatives and coworkers or who had a hard time finding sympathy for those with secondary infertility.

The biggest problem I had with the book was that I came away from it feeling hopeless. So many of the stories are about situations where all attempts failed. She stresses adoption and childlessness, which are valid choices and obviously must be considered at some point. But I feel like I need to go into these procedures with a positive attitude and this book robbed me of the hope I had been clinging to. As an example, I became convinced that my cycle was going to be canceled due to lack of response to stimulation and spent several days worrying about that, needlessly it turns out. Before reading this, I wasn't worried at all because I knew that my eggs develop slowly.

In summary, some good relaxation techniques, although probably nothing new to you, and probably helpful if you have no infertility support group already.

Domar is a smart, well-informed, articulate author who writes very well about a difficult subject. She provides concrete examples of how to adjust your attitude toward infertility, including advice on managing both depression and anxiety. This isn't just another book telling you "just relax and you'll get pregnant": she demonstrates how a positive attitude can help boost your fertility, but more importantly, she reminds you of ways you can enjoy your life regardless of your fertility.

After reading this book, I definetly have more coping skills for managing the stress and anxiety of our fertility journey. Domar devotes a whole chapter to relaxation techniques and stratedgies, which I am already seeing the benefits of everyday! In my opinion, she spends a little too much time discussing the sadness, jealousy, and anger some women feel towards their pregnant family and friends. Don't get me wrong, I definetly identified with the emotional sadness and struggle, but felt it was over discussed. I will keep this book handy as we start our second IVF, hopefully much more relaxed this time!
Best of luck for healthy babies in 2008,
Jamie Lynne

I liked this book because it gave suggestions on relaxing and trying to deal with infertility. It gave me ideas on what to do when I am feeling anxious. I know how to handle my emotions better.

I almost couldn't get throught the first half of this book. I felt bad for her with all her health problems that held her back from having everything she wanted out of life. She however disguisted me very early in the book on how unstable she was. She could never dedicate herself to any of her marriages because her head was so focused on having a baby. Like that is the most important & only thing in life. She was beyond obsessed with having a baby at the cost of her health, possible health of her future baby, & her marriages. She should have perserveired as much in her marriages & all aspects of her life as she did in her baby dance. This women reminded me of someone that is very unstable!

I have read Kate's book. I also worked for her and therefore felt compelled to respond to il fiore's comments. When Kate had her daughter she was married and her husband was making a good living. Shortly thereafter that marriage ended and from that point on Kate struggled as a single parent, living on limited funds, while dealing with a very serious, very active and debilitating disease -lupus. When I went to work with Kate she was opening The Mind Body Fertility Clinic based on Ali Domars work at Harvard because she so wanted to help other women "find their babies" either biologically or thru adoption. Most importantly she wanted to help women learn to take control of their lives again, stop the insanity that infertility creates, save their marriages, stop hating themselves and their lives, and have hope. The tips that she advocates are for women of any economic background - relaxation, diet, meditation, journaling, time with your partner. The program that she started was open to anyone and if the couples could not afford it then Kate would work out a way for them to attend anyway...even if it meant that she lost money. She is an amazing woman and your review was mean spirited. Kate wrote about her experiences so that other women could see that there are options outside of endless medical tests and last time I checked she had received little to no money for all the time and effort she put into writing I Got Pregnant You Can Too. I recommend this book and if you are in LA I recommend attending The Mind Body Fertility Clinic - which is now being run by Dr. Laurel Kline.

I have read Kate's book. I also worked for her and therefore felt compelled to respond to il fiore's comments. When Kate had her daughter she was married and her husband was making a good living. Shortly thereafter that marriage ended and from that point on Kate struggled as a single parent, living on limited funds, while dealing with a very serious, very active and debilitating disease -lupus. When I went to work with Kate she was opening The Mind Body Fertility Clinic based on Ali Domars work at Harvard because she so wanted to help other women "find their babies" either biologically or thru adoption. Most importantly she wanted to help women learn to take control of their lives again, stop the insanity that infertility creates, save their marriages, stop hating themselves and their lives, and have hope. The tips that she advocates are for women of any economic background - relaxation, diet, meditation, journaling, time with your partner. The program that she started was open to anyone and if the couples could not afford it then Kate would work out a way for them to attend anyway...even if it meant that she lost money. She is an amazing woman and your review was mean spirited. Kate wrote about her experiences so that other women could see that there are options outside of endless medical tests and last time I checked she had received little to no money for all the time and effort she put into writing I Got Pregnant You Can Too. I recommend this book and if you are in LA I recommend attending The Mind Body Fertility Clinic - which is now being run by Dr. Laurel Kline.

How hearing some woman's sad, sad story and all the sad stories of her famous (but she can't say exactly who) friends helps anybody with infertility is completely beyond me. What a dumb book. I could'nt even make myself finish it. So, unless the second half of the book instantly becomes helpful, I think it is a waste of time. It's not very well written on top of its total uselessness.
However, if you don't believe me , I know where you can get a used copy in fabulous condition.

Some of the lower-rated reviews of this book focus on the author's "privilege." Personally, I didn't see it that way at all. I'm a fairly middle-class woman who doesn't have the freedom (or cash) to jet off to Arizona, but the advice and esecially "life lessons" in this book helped me enormously! Reading this book made me feel like I was getting advice from a big sister who's been through it all.

Yes, there are some New Age references in the book, but they seem awfully tame and in no way inconsistent with her also speaking of God. Her best advice (and I wish more doctors felt this way) is that a positive attitude can aid the fertility process. Katie (I hope she doesn't mind me saying that!) is in no way blaming women for their infertility. Rather, she's asking women to evaluate their readiness and prepare themselves mentally and spiritually for parenthood, something more of us (even the fertile!) should be thinking about. Nor is she arguing that her book is somehow a bible for getting pregnant. This book introduced me to the work of Louise Hay, Susun Weed, and Alice Domar, and she definitely encourages women to learn as much as they can about their condition in order to help their doctors help them. In this respect she's a lot more rational than some New-Age fertility "gurus"--she advocates an informed use of technology aided by positive thinking. And, as someone who's also gotten more than a few gold stars from the school of hard knocks, I really admired her resiliency and emotional depth. Her story alone is well worth the read.

I wish I'd had this book when I was starting out on the "roller coaster" in 1996--it could have saved me a lot of grief. As it is, her suggestions have improved the quality of my life immensely, and I now have the satisfaction of knowing that my husband and I will be much better parents than we were in '96 (and more balanced people). So--a big hug for Katie and Mimi!

My husband and I recently decided to begin trying to have a baby. We decided to buy this book along with a couple others so that we could prepare. This was one of the 1st books that I read and after about the first half, I was convinced that I would be infertile and unable to have a baby. Some of the information is very good but a good proportion of the book covers the plethora of things that can cause a woman to be infertile and then all of the latest medical treatments that can help an infertile woman get pregnant. This might be a great book for the woman who has been trying for a while without success but for me, I finished it and was scared to death!

I thought the book was ok but not really geared for couples just starting to try to conceive as it claims to be. There are a few helpful suggestions on baby making but most of the info is about the many things that can possibly be wrong with you or your spouse to cause you NOT to conceive and about medical treatments available.

My husband and I purchased this book while we were undergoing fertility treatments for "unexplained" infertility. The doctors had no other explanation for why two otherwise healthy people would be having problems conceiving naturally. I found this book full of information in laymen terms without all the medical jargon which can be boring and hard to understand. I wanted to be a better informed patient and be able to make responsible decisions regarding what treatments we were going to have. Getting Pregnant tells us about environmental factors, personal habits, and all the treatments that's available as well as general information for couples who are not experiencing infertility. I was surprised to read some of the unfavorable comments left by other readers. It is extremely draining physically and emotionally having to deal with infertility and everyone should take what they read with a grain of salt. I am happy to say that we had a beautiful baby girl while waiting for an IVF cycle and I guess that's where the "unexplained" comes in again. In all this book is well worth the read.

Ordered it....1 week later it came, I opened the box while my wife was doing the ept exam, two lines appeared, never read the book. One month later, gave it to my brother since his wife is trying to get pregnant. She says its pretty good.

This book provides some wonderful information, in a very easy-to-digest format. The section on the pre-conception exam is great- you'll know what to expect, and how to make sure your doctor isn't overlooking something important. I also liked the attention on male fertility issues, which are often ignored. However, the first half of the book is esentially "you could be infertile, and not even realize it!" It describes the fertility problems caused by cysts, endometriosis, etc., and lists the very common symptoms (gee, who hasn't had headaches or heavy periods?) and stresses how frequently women have these diseases without realizing it. Halfway through the book, I was convinced I had every problem listed. The authors' approach may be helpful if you're having difficulty getting pregnant and want to educate yourself on possible causes, but I think for most people it's really overkill.

I just couldn't get into this book. The writing just wasn't my style, and I didn't find the jokes funny... Oh well.

As some other reviewers have noted, this book can be useful both to those going through the experience of dealing with infertility, and to those who want to interact with them with tact and understanding. The author treats every conceivable aspect of the topic. Her approach is always intelligent and warm, yet never cloying or clinical.

The author's wit (and impressive familiarity with pop culture!) make the book compulsively readable and even---though I hesitate to apply the term to a book on such a serious subject---highly entertaining.

The book is filled with practical advice as well as with moral support for those going through the experience of trying to cope with infertility. Highly recommended!

A truly excellent book. It is funny, sad, deep, and very touching.

Everybody should read it, in particular people that did not go thru such an ordeal. It really opens a new window on a not so openly discussed problem.
It made me understand what friends, neighbors, relatives really went thru, and I suddenly felt so very close to them.

This book deserves more than a 5 stars rating.

CF

I have found this book to be very helpful in supporting and dealing with the emotions of my spouse as we go through our IVF journey. The book really helped me understand the delicate emotions of someone experiencing infertility and how comments like "relax", "stop worrying about it", etc. actually do more harm than help. As a result, I am much more supportive in this IVF cycles than I have been in other cycles because I changed the focus of my comments and have avoided saying the wrong thing.

Dealing with almost ten years of infertility, I really thought this would be a book I'd breeze right through. Barna tends to speak only to IVF patients as she refers to the Lupron Loonies. What happened to the Clomid Crazies which I'm sure many more infertility patients can relate to? Not all infertility patients can afford IVF or even feel led to go down that road so I found her frequent mentions hurtful. I really did not laugh much. I expected to be laughing so hard I'd have to stop to wipe the tears or hold my sides but it was just a chuckle here and there. I found her wording to be difficult at times as if she was trying too hard for a laugh. Lastly, why is this book so much money? If you understand those of us going through infertility then you would also realize much of our money has gone to ARTs, adoption, HPTs, OPKs, doctor visits, surgery, tests, etc so where's the break? $20 could easily go toward a copay.

As I read this book, I honestly became more and more disgusted by the selfishness on display. The stories were filled with so many abortions, I wanted to cry. One women was blessed with twins, and then triplets, and she ended the lives of four of those precious little human beings. These women expressed no regret for ending the miracle of life.

It seems like the idea of giving these babies through adoption to couples who would love and nurture them never crossed their self centered conscious. Instead, they decided to play God and end these babies lives after their own irresponsibility with the birth control. Near the end of the book, I was so upset I almost didn't finish.

I plan to return this book to the library immediately and am very thankful I didn't spend money on it. I wish I hadn't wasted time reading it wading through the selfish tales looking for a few wholly positive stories. Even most of the few who expressed happiness at becoming a parent did so with such reluctance it would seem, being after having terminated previous pregnancies like they were nothing. A very depressing book for those in love with and longing to have children. If you have a deep desire to become a parent and you love children, don't read this depressing book. I was very very disappointed.

I am a young woman who is thinking a lot about having a child and what that will mean in my life. I am also in a relationship with a partner who is not as "interested" right now as I am in this huge topic. I turned to this book for "conversations" on parenthood and that is exactly what it offered. Maybe Baby includes many different ideas about having and not having kids and the uncertainty in between. I found these essays to be entertaining and thought provoking; I look forward to passing this book on to my partner and discussing our favorite installments.

It's a compilation of short stories, so you can read it in segments. I whipped through it in two days. Most of the stories are by writers, resulting in many very well-written accounts. I felt relief knowing I'm not the only one who - at 33 - thinks "maybe not". I enjoyed how the book covers the no's, the maybes, and the yes's to this choice.

The writers here seem proud, smug, and so "me" oriented that I found them boring and unhappy. Regardless of their stance on child rearing, there seems an overwelming urge to be right rather than display any in-depth personal conversation. I was put off by some religious bashing... Is it necessary to reprimand Christians for wanting to reproduce? Do rich people make better parents? Should deciding to have a child be as simple as deciding where to go on your next vacation? Some of the authors seem to think so. I was impressed by a few of the entries... hence the 1 star.

I picked this book up second hand. It seemed like an interesting topic. I must say that many of the stories presented were interesting pieces of non-fiction. These well-written and personal tales were a quick read but I found it really hard to relate to most of the writers. Many seemed overly neurotic, some merely callous. I didn't find the book helpful enough that I would loan it to any friends who were deciding on whether or not to have children. There are a small handful of gems in the book. I would recommended it only as an interesting read for non-fiction short stories if you get can pick it up at the library.

I think this was a well written book, that covered many topics on adopting after going through the craziness of infertility. I actually felt empowered and like I had options when reading this book. My husband and I are now on the road to adoption. Not everything in this book applies to every situation, but it was great to read.

There was not much useful information in this book (unless you like being talked down to), and I also noticed a lot of incorrect information in what there was. The author comes off as pompous and sort of a "know it all" in many areas, which is a bit odd for a person who obviously doesn't know as much as she is claiming to know. Our family has adopted four children over the recent years, all in separate adoptions, and I can tell you for a fact that the author is way off base in some of her claims. I would not recommend this book to anyone because adoption is a very tricky process, and a lot can go wrong, especially if you are following incorrect information from a supposed "expert" such as in a book like this.

I read this book shortly after dh and I decided to look into adoption. The author goes on and on about getting through your grief over infertility and it made me even more depressed about my situation!! She goes through different stages that a couple has to grieve before they are ready to move on and adopt such as the grief of never sharing a pregnancy with your spouse, the grief of never having a biological child etc. etc. etc. To me, adoption is not about grieving over what I am going to miss out on, it is about embracing life's path and looking at what I do get to experience such as the joy of finding out there is a child for us, and the excitment of sharing the adoption experience with my dh. IF sucks, I will be the first one to admit that!!! But life is what you make of it and I don't think that I need to grieve all these different steps before I am ready to embrace adoption.

This is by far the best book I read after my journey through infertility and as I began considering adoption. My husband and I now have a 3 1/2 year old son from Russia and we are in the process of adopting child number two. The truth is that adopting is extremely different from having a biological child and it is very important to work through your emotional issues before becoming an adoptive parent. I am grateful that I took the time to work through the issues addressed in this book before adopting my son. I am a better mother as a result. I highly recommend this book!

Of all the books and many, many websites my husband and I have read since we began looking into adoption, "Adopting After Infertility" ranks near, if not at, the top of my list. The best part about this book is how sympathetic Johnston is to [prospective] adoptive parents. I've gone back to this book a few times, after reading more elsewhere and learning more, for her balanced, direct, and kind style. As well as easier on the psyche than others, "Adopting After Infertility" is informative. Not as in depth regarding laws (state by state, country by country) as other sources, there is plenty to get you started in knowing the types of adoption and choices available. Invaluable for making me feel human. An excellent starting point and grounding reference along the way as we encounter the daunting realities. Emotionally, Johnston keeps the reader in line by reminding us that, though we don't have choices or resources we might wish to, we DO have many, which she describes quite well and accurately, providing information unavailble in the "how to" stlye accounts or in the "pro" or "con" material. Johnston is soft and kind, and empowering at once. If you are considering adoption, whether or not you are infertile, I highly recommend this book.

This book is very informative. It goes into great detail about the possible causes of ovulatory infertility and what you can do, naturally, to help get pregnant. I loved that it gives you the basic outline for what to do and then you can make the choices that are necessary to help you have a baby - and that all of it is based on a national study. I also like the fact that it gives you some daily meal plans and some recipes.

This is a good book that strikes a nice balance between a plan that's easy to follow and plenty of detailed background for those who want it.

I have read and followed this book like it is the 'Bible' and have been doing so for about a year. Still not pregnant and have ruled out every other possibility for infertility. I just don't understand....

This book is a result of a lot of study, and i can say that for me it worked really well.

I followed the Fertility Diet as described in the book and now I am pregnant! And the best part is it was a natural process. No in vitro fertilization, no shots, no pain, nothing like that! I have some cists in my ovaries and doctors told me I would have to be treated in oder to have a baby, but they were wrong!

The way we eat REALLY affects everything else.
It is worth trying. I recomemnd it!

I read this text from cover to cover and thought that it contained excellent advice for infertility patients with ovulatory dysfunction (such as PCOS).

Keith L. Blauer, MD
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Sandy, Utah

Despite being written in a high school girl's language, the book contains some useful information like the tear-out checklist to bring to your doctor. The author's commentaries that are sprinkled in with the useful info are unbearably annoying. You will see many question/exclamation point combinations and a very large font.

This book is ok. I thought it would be better. The most interesting part of the book is at the end when they talk about rituals, gems, herbs, etc. to help conceive, although some of the rituals they write about are just plain ridiculous and not even feasible to attempt. The rest of the book is pretty much common sense if you have read anything on preconception or are as obsessed with trying to conceive like I am. I agree with the previous reviewers about all the exclamation points, it makes the writers seem like airheads because they use so many exclamation points it is distracting. They are used even where they aren't appropriate. I use a lot of exclamation points, too, but their overuse was annoying even to me. I also got annoyed with the phrase "deliciously sexy sex" that they like to use. While it is descriptive, and was fine a few times, after awhile it just made me want to roll my eyes. I really think the writers of this book are formerly annoying high school cheerleaders or are the type of women that think acting ditsy is cute.
If you think you can stomach it, go for it.

I was a bit disappointed with this book! I found the first few chapters helpful, but the rest of it I skipped over, as it was just filled with shopping lists for things to eat (and practically anything you might eat is an aphrodisiac or offers some benefit when you're planning a baby, it seems!) and "spells" you can cast to increase your odds. I also found the tone of the book to be a bit demeaning, like this is the first time you are having sex and you don't know how a man's body works when he gets aroused! Not to mention, every other sentence ends with a exclamation point! Isn't that annoying?! I don't have a recommendation for something better as this is the first I've read, but I would recommend looking elsewhere if you want solid information to help you prepare for a baby.

This book was not what I had originally thought it was going to be about. It has a lot of alternative medicine stuff in it, which isn't bad but not what I was looking for.

I found this book helpful, as a first time TTCer I found the resources and information helpful :-) it was a great motivation for us to get started on the right foot :-)