Infertility Books

"Impotence in an age that believed in witchcraft was quite different from impotence in an age that believed in science." So writes Angus McLaren in _Impotence: A Cultural History_ (University of Chicago Press). What's even more important than the differences, however, is that all cultures have fretted about not having sufficient lead in their pencils. We have _the_ solution now, a wonderful pill, although like all the others, it is a solution linked with its own problems. McLaren's extensive history may be about impotence, but winds up being a history of all sorts of sexual ideas, like understanding of conception, superstitions about masturbation, women's emancipation, and more. This is literally a vital topic, and in some ways it is dismaying that we have a long history of surrounding it with silly and illogical worries. That merely shows, however, that the subject is an important one, and McLaren's entertaining book puts it into proper historical perspective.



Everything always seems to start with the ancient Greeks, who started the long tradition of blaming someone else for the problem. A Roman man would fret if neither women nor boys prompted an erection, and not having an erection, not being able to penetrate, was a shame in itself. It had nothing to do with failing to please a partner, for a desire to please a partner was itself felt to be effeminate. The medieval church felt that a marriage was only a marriage if it were properly consummated, and as a result, there was the irony of nominally celibate churchmen having to debate and adjudicate the finer points of coitus. If a wife or her family claimed that a husband had not fulfilled his part of the bargain, he might have to show that he had the power to do so. Sometimes prostitutes would be hired so that the clerics might witness the resultant erection. The performance anxiety must have led to many false positives. The problem has always been perceived as a real one, and so solutions were always there to be tried, even if they were not real solutions. Impotence then as now has been a boon for quacks. In the 1700s Dr. Brodum offered his Nervous Cordial and Botanical Syrup to get men ready for the rigors of the married state. Victorian doctors tried to cure the ailment, but they had little to offer to distinguish themselves from the quacks. They had advice on morals; don't have sex too often, and for goodness sake, don't masturbate. It would be nice to think that the twentieth century and its scientific and sexual revolutions would have solved things, but such is not the case. There were nutty therapies involving the implantation of goat or monkey glands. Viagra (and the subsequent Cialis and Levitra) were supposed to take all the worry out of sex, but nothing performs that function. McLaren reports that female partners of Viagra users aren't nearly as convinced that the drug is a boon as those who swallow the pills are, and anyway, only half of the men who try it ever get their prescriptions refilled.



It would be nice to shake some sense into people, to have them see that erections are not all there is to sex, and that there is plenty of sexual enjoyment to be had in lots of ways whether or not an erection can be counted upon. That's really the only sensible way to look at the issue, but McLaren's book demonstrates that we do not look at it sensibly. The best guess is that there will be even more advanced solutions to the problem a hundred years from now, and a hundred years from now, we will be fretting over the problem (or turning it into some new problem) just as every generation in history has.

As an everyman "hey, look at what people did in Ye Olden Times!" book, this is enjoyable and amusing. It is a perfect example of how to publish scholarship that will actually sell on a mass scale. As a "Cultural History," this book exemplifies the common complaints against *some* works in Cultural Studies and New Historicism.

For individuals interested in a vague overview of gender issues and sexuality through the ages, the book is fine (with a grain of salt). Its tendency to conflate hundreds of years of history into "one era" and "one viewpoint," to hand-pick items of literature that will prove a statement while ignoring several dozens of items that disprove it, to overlook some *major* elements in the field, and to play fast and loose with information makes the book risky to use for any real scholarship. Its attempt to be the Reader's Digest of the topic makes it and its dubious veracity virtually uncitable.

This compilation of stories is not as good as suggested. There are a few gems hidden within but for the most part, these tales mean far more to the authors than they did to this reader.

This is an great anthology with a nice variety of pieces by some excellent women authors. I found it to be thought provoking, moving, and fun to read. I think many ( most, all) women over 40 would like this book. It is not a "self help" book in the style of articles you see in women's magazines although the title sounds like it might be. It is however very helpful to hear the articulate voices of intellegent women who are facing many the same issues. I liked being introduced to new writers that I had not read before and will now look for other things they have written. Many of the writers are from western states and liked that as I am too. If you are an intelligent woman over 40 years old who likes good writing. I would say- buy this book

The subject of the book is, of course, the story of the little blue pill and how it changed sexuality and medicine in the United States. Written by a sociologist, the book looks at the pill and its effects from a sociological standpoint.

The author starts the book with a relatively short history of the medicine and the disease process it is designed to cure. This is followed by a look at how this has been received by men and by women. Finally, the author looks at the medical industries attempts to find a drug to "fix" FSD syndrome.

The author seems to have a problem with the creation of the drug. Her attitude seems to indicate disgust with the major pharmaceutical houses that are "curing" a disease that the author does not view as a disease, but rather as a social condition. While recreational use of the pill is unwarranted and a problem, the author believes erectile dysfunction is nothing but a fancy name for impotence and that it is a natural part of the aging process. While delving into the history of impotence, and some of the attempted cures along the way, the author misses one big point. Life expectancy 50 years ago was much lower than today, and it wasn't uncommon for men to die in their 50s and 60s. With men living longer, they expect to be able to enjoy relations well past their 50s, which the author sees as a problem.

I would say that I agreed with about 50 percent of the content of the book. Her interviews with men certainly didn't reflect my attitudes towards the issue and I doubt they would reflect a majority of men.

The writing is scholarly and, at times, difficult to wade through. That makes this a book for those who need to read it or a willing to read through a rather heavy tome. If you are looking for a quick, light book on the subject, this isn't it.

Good case study of the enormous influence wielded by BigPharma over modern culture. Loe describes how the application of the medical model turns sex into a commodity, with quality measured by speed of erection, efficiency of ejaculation, and ability to perform on demand and in the absence of relational connection. "Normal" is defined more and more narrowly until any variation becomes a "dysfunction," and such dysfunctions take on epidemic proportions. Meanwhile, men feel more and more pressure to attain the unattainable. Just as Prozac is used to medicate modern angst and stress, Viagra is used to relieve men's insecurity in this age of sexual McDonaldization. The irony is that antidepressants reduce sex drive, so men are more in need of Viagra in order to perform at the level of their (and their partners') increasingly high expectations.

Loe's section on how BigPharma is extending the Viagra model to "Female Sexual Dysfunction" (FSD) is eye-opening. Look for "FSD" in the upcoming Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V).

Also providing food for thought is the growing emphasis on sex as a purely physical act, ego-centered, non-relational and even alienated from others. When I see this focus in the sex offenders I evaluate, I see it as deviant. But according to Loe, it's market-driven and increasingly normative. Interesting.

I gave it only 4 stars because the writing is somewhat pedantic and jargon-laden, and you have to wade through lengthy and tedious quotations. I wish she'd had the confidence to write more in her own voice.

More books need to be written about this! There are helpful suggestions, and I will be putting it on my website www.fertilityfair.com

It's true that a woman's general health may play a role in her fertility (and certainly in her ability to carry a healthy pregnancy), and that certain medical problems can drastically increase the risk of infertility (untreated polycystic ovary syndrome, STDs). This book might be useful in suggesting some testing that women in their early 30s might do to help them decide how long it might be relatively safe to delay trying to conceive.

But this book also contains some of the same hype that makes women mistakenly confident that they can easily get pregnant with their own eggs after age 40 (or even 45!):

"You can have it all. A challenging career. A satisfying personal life. A loving mate. And a baby when you're ready." (back cover)

"In addition to the women's revolution and the technological boom weighing in on the age of childbearing, it's become downright fashionable to be a mature mom. Our superstars are looking more capable and beautiful than ever with a baby in tow, including Geena Davis (first-time mom at age 46), Madonna (second-time mom at 41), Kim Basinger (gave birth at 44), and Susan Sarandon (who had babies at 39, 42, and 45). Former *cover* girls are now focused on their *baby* girls (and boys) including over-40 moms Christie Brinkley, Iman, and Cheryl Tiegs (mother of twins at 52 who used a surrogate to carry the babies, although the eggs were her own)." (pp 4-5)

It's true that most women can get PREGNANT and GIVE BIRTH in their 40s, but what this isn't telling you is that a very significant percentage cannot get pregnant with their own eggs in their 40s, and a majority cannot get pregnant with their own eggs in their late 40s. If a woman is happy to go through several cycles of in vitro fertilization, spend tens of thousands of dollars for the medical procedures and the egg donor, and become pregnant with the genetic baby of another woman (as most of the celebrities mentioned above did), then yes, medical technology has much to offer - and that's wonderful! I don't at all mean to suggest anything negative about this way to become a mother. But many women reading the tabloids and this book may not understand that that route (or adoption) is the route that they very well may HAVE to take if they delay childbearing until their 40s or perhaps even to their late 30s. As a woman who didn't find my husband and marry until age 35, I understand well that there are plenty of weighty reasons not to have children younger, and I'm all in favor of options. But I hope women's decisions will be informed ones. This book is a mixed bag when it comes to helping women be informed.

I recently had a miscarriage, and will be following the protocols in this book to prevent another one. This is my second miscarriage, so I wholeheartedly want to prevent another one.
While the information may scare women who have never had a miscarriage, I feel this book is full of helpful information for those who want to have the healthiest pregnancy possible.
While we all know women who have smoked, drank and used drugs while pregnant, the vast majority of us cannot carry a healthy baby to term under those conditions without birth defects or learning issues.
This book does not use scare tactics, but helpful hints on how to protect and rejuvenate your fertility.
Ideas for a healthy pre-baby body are:
*getting in shape ~ calculate your perfect fertility weight
*nutrition ideas before and during your pregnancy
*ways to eliminate potential toxins and environmental pollution
*fertility boosters for males and females

There is also information on fertility treatments, IF it comes to that.

I think it is an excellent book for all parents to be...

I have not been able to put this book down since I got it!! It has so many answers to so many questions that were in the back of my head.......I am currently trying to get pregnant and this book has become very helpful.
Details in here are great!
This book tells you about the conception process and talks about the female repoductive system and male organs!!
My doctor discussed with me a few other options if I should continue to have a problem conceiving ....... this book explains the options that my doctor talked about. It goes over pros and cons about all kinds of diagnosis and treatments Women AND Men!!
This book is probably the best book I have read thus far about trying to conceive!!!!
I plan on buying this book for a friend who is much older than me. I know she will find this helpful in many ways!!
Every dollar well spent on this book!!

It was a quick read for me. Prefect for a beginner. Mind you it has A LOT OF INFO about infertility and miscarriages. For me, I am just beginning and not needing all of that info at this time. But it has info for diet, and tells you just what to do to figure out how to get pregnant. It also tell what the man needs to do to get ready as well. I liked it. Buy it used if you can otherwise its totally worth the price listed in order to get free shipping.

I found this book helpful as far as what we as a couple need to start off our new family...a must have for all trying to conceiver's :)

Although I only finished half of this book, I felt that for my siutation it was not appropriate. I had been trying to conceive for about 10 months when I started reading this book and about half way through decided to stop reading it because I started getting very stressed out over ALL of the things that I needed to "change"....It goes as far to say that even your clock radio could be affecting your fertility....are you kidding me?!?!?!?!? I just found it very inappropriate for someone who has been trying to get pregnant and is still in that 1 year time frame that is so often talked about. Unless you know that you have fertility issues and want to know some other options or treatments for your condition then I suggest that you do not read this book.

Robin Cook sticks with his strong suit-the lone individual doctor going after evil corporate medicine. While the plot is not one of the more believable--his protagonists do some pretty illogical things--it makes for some harrowing and enjoyable reading. Marissa Blumenthal makes a return from a previous book, but this time she is not only the white knight, she is also the victim. Really engaging book, just calls for a suspension of disbelief.

I picked up Vital Signs at a used book store and enjoyed this early 1992 Robin Cook medical suspense thriller. Plenty of adventure takes the protagonist from Boston to places around the world. Good reading that plays out like a cool movie.

I would have to say that this is one of the most disappointing books I have read in a long time. I know no one will probably read this review but I just have to get this off my chest.

When you read the back of a Robin Cook book, it sounds so promising. I enjoy medical dramas so I am always drawn to them but I have to say his earlier work is just terrible.

The main character is extremely irritating and annoying. I felt no sympathy towards her at all. Come to think of it, I didn't like anyone in this book! The lack of emotion shown when people died was totally unrealistic and totally insensitive.

Also I am from Brisbane, Australia where some of the book is set. I found myself getting more and more annoyed with the 'tourist book' writing.

This book was just too predictable and badly written. I have read a few of Robin's newer books and they do get better. But unfortunately I have just read too many bad ones so I am giving up!

Robin Cook is at his best when his medical thrillers stay focused and are more suspenseful. Now Cook is trying to turn his medical thrillers into convoluted espionage thrillers, taking his characters all over the world. Here we go to Australia, Hong Kong and China. Drawn out, unbelievable situations and meandering dialogue draw this book down. I liked the character of Tristan Williams, but both Marissa and Wendy get a little too much, and I can't blame husband Robert for his disdain with Marissa's antics. Of all the Cook books (ha, no pun intended) I've read, this is his least effective.

This book was okay as a vacation cabin read, but it is not one of Robin Cook's best. I found the plot pretty much predictable, in that the clinic was obviously trying to drum up business by creating a market, and then stringing the customer along to milk them for more cash. It only takes a couple hundred pages before the heroine of the story even gets close to that idea. She also falls for some of the lies quite easily, although she was suspicious about a coverup and evil intentions, she doesn't grok the obvious motive and means until the last few pages. The entertaining part is the traipsing through the clinic, breaking into the computer, and then off to Australia while chased by two bumbling hit-men, and then the heroine and her alter-ego trying to make contact with the triads (the number of watches they went through), before finally figuring out what the Chinese doctors do best. A good rainy day read, but not much of a mystery.

this product took forever to arrive... over the 21 business days... when i placed a 2 star review i was sent an email asking me to remove my opinions. now that the book has actually arrived i am redoing my review with more stars. the book was in great condition and had no tears, stains, folds, or markings. if you have a month to wait around on it to be delivered i would recommend buying from this user.

Let me begin by saying that the first book anyone should read if they are trying to conceive is Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Wechsler. This book has some good information and recommendations. I tried to conceive for 2 years. I began taking evening primrose oil daily after reading this book. About 6 months later, I discovered the website tryingtoconceive.com and learned that evening primrose oil should only be taken prior to ovulation because it can cause uterine contractions and interfere with the implantation of an egg. After discontinuing the EPO from ovulation to menstruation, I conceived within 3 months. So, I guess you could say, had I NOT read this book, I may have been pregnant sooner.

This book does a good job of explaining how to use the methods of natural family planning (NFP) with the goal of conceiving. I had taken a NFP course before I was married to learn how to prevent conception, and this book took that knowledge and helped me learn how to apply it to trying to conceive.

I would agree with other comments that it is not for those who are having great difficulty conceiving and are facing infertility issues.

I was not looking for information about herbs or alternative therapies, so I cannot comment on those sections of the book.

This is great for those wanting details about the physiology of conception.

This book is for people who do not have infertility issues. It does not address any real actions for people with proven infertility. It is a waste of time for the infertile reader.

This book is OK for someone who doesn't know her menstual cycle, has never monitored BBT or cervical mucus, has never tried ovulation predictor kit... I mean, WHO HAS NOT STARTED TRYING YET. Otherwise, you won't find anything new here.

This book introduce many herbs to boost your fertility.
But NATURAL doesn't mean harmless.
Each herb is explained like "estrogen promoting" "Progesteron promoting" but it doesn't tell you WHEN of your cycle you should take it.
Don't guinea-pig your fertility.

I found this book the best I had ever read regarding donor conception. It covered so many of the issues that I needed to think about such as why we should tell our children the truth about their conception and what we will need to get for them in the way of information about their donor.
The clinic we went to didn't tell us a fraction of what this book has in it.
It should be a must read for anyone thinking of using donor conception, those of us who have kids and all the doctors, nurses etc who work in the area.

Anyone who is interested in reading this book is likely faced with some pretty tough decisions. I would not suggest buying this book. It is written with a very one-sided point of view. The author includes only "proof" that supports her opinions.

It was a great book with lots and lots of information. I have lost two sons to still birth and this book gave me hopes and options and let me be in the drivers seat. It gave me knowledge so I won't have to depend on the doctor to give me all the information I need and desire. I would recommend this book to anyone who has experienced a loss and needs a little more answers than what was provided.

I thought that this book was actually going to give me options on ow to manage my high risk pregnancy and what to do or avoid in order to stay pregnant, but it did NOT!! It's more of a dictionary. It explains some things and what the meaning of medical terms are but it doesn't give you any advice whatsoever. It doesn't tell you anythhing that your doctor can't tell you. I wouldn't recomment it at all.

I thought this book was informative,especially when it laid out in no uncertain terms the difficulties of becoming pregnant for women over 35. I also feel it has a great deal of information, especially homeopathic remedies which the reader will not find anywhere else. I object to a bias in the book in favor of career professionals. The book explains that women have to work, which may not be the case and does not link enough the obesity epidemic to the mass exodus of women out of the home, to which it is directly related. Poor eating habits and the mass consumption of convenience foods has led to the prevalence of obesity in our society, as has a general lack of respect for what generations of women used to do in the home, prepare healthy meals. While the book does touch on obesity's relationship to infertility, it fails to adequately explore the reasons for this situation.

This book had some great information that I hadn't read in other similar titles. I was most interested in the sections on movement therapies such as yoga and qi gong, although I wish there had been more specific information such as particular yoga poses that are beneficial. Many times in this book, the reader is told to consult a professional (yoga teacher, naturopath, accupuncturist) rather than being told what they can specifically do on their own. I suppose that is the most prudent course. Still, this book exposed me to some new ideas and I ended up feeling more optimistic than I had before I read it about my chances to conceive.