Infertility Books

Nice book, can be carried in the pocket and is a great guide and quick reference document for the busy clinician. Quite up to date and easy to read.

This is a good and concise reference book, but not worth the purchase if you aren't considering doing OB/GYN as a profession. Blueprints is enough to get you through the 3rd year rotation. I would have preferred larger pages to reduce the number of total pages in the book, this way it would have fit better in my white coat pocket. Something to consider for next edition I guess.

Great pocket reference. Concise and easy to use.
A must have for anyone doing an Ob/Gyn rotation.

I think it is almost equivalent to reading Speroff...saves time and also the questions really help highlight major points.
I wish they had one for the 7th edition Speroff, though.

RESOLVE has been helping those in the infertility for years and continues to do so with this amazing book. The author takes you through the biological side of conceiving and also the different causes of infertility. What I especially liked about it is how easy it is to understand as it guides you through the entire process from medical, to diagnosis and through treatment, pregnancy and beyond.

It provides sound advice for infertility coverage and choosing a good doctor. It offers alternatives to conventional fertility treatment, as well as adoption, and the use of donors and/or surrogates. It also takes you through resolving issues to help those who choose to live life without children or to move on to adoption. Throughout, if gives the reader emotional support, which I feel is the hardest obstacle to overcome. As a fertility patient myself, and director of community of ChildofMyDreams.com, I highly recommend it.

I was grateful to find this new book to address many questions and concerns I had. The content is thorough, the tone is very compassionate, and the suggestions are respectful of diverse values. There are lots of quotes from real people that bring a nice personal touch to a sometimes very clinical subject. I get a lot of comfort from just re-reading parts of the book that reassure me that others before me have taken and survived this journey. I don't know of any other book like it.

If you only buy one book about infertility, buy this one. It offers in-depth, solid information about male and female infertility problems, testing, hormone levels and treatments.

But what really separates this book from the others is that it includes a great deal of information on how to decide which treatments are right for you, as well as when (if) you should end treatment. They don't give any pat answers, but they do equip you with the decision making skills you need to reach a point of resolution.

I loved this book!

This book is the most detailed and clear encyclopedia on fertility issues that we've come across. Very thorough and reliable. Very up to date

This isn't so much a book about "Motherhood Late In Life" as it is about conception using donor eggs. As a 40+ woman pregnant for the first time (through traditional methods), I picked up this book after my first OB visit, thinking it would provide a good overview of some of the issues I might face. At the time, I didn't realize that the book was specifically about ART (assisted reproductive technology) and pregnancies through donated eggs; I assumed it was just about being an older mom. Nonetheless, once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. It provides much more detail about the biology of conception than do any of the traditional pregnancy books. Juxtaposed with the detailed biology lessons are installments in the story of Sarah & Joe, an older (Sarah is 48; Joe is younger) couple that opts for donor egg use after years of more traditional fertility treaments. In telling the story of Sarah & Joe, the authors address the ethical issues of pregnancy in post-menopausal women in what struck me as a balanced, compassionate, and very thoughtul manner. In the Sarah/Joe story, they discuss the response Sarah & Joe elicit from family members, friends, Sarah's sister, Sarah's adult daughter from a previous relationship. Let's face it -- not everyone is going to be congratulatory & rushing to hold a baby shower for a 50 year old pregnant woman -- or a lesbian or single woman for that matter; nor do all folks embrace the idea of creating an embryo in a test tube rather than accepting whatever God apparently had in mind. And I think it would make a typical adult women a little put off to learn her mother (and her children's grandmother) was using a donor egg to become prenant again. Paulson & Sachs deal with the questions and challenges that women choosing egg donation (or even pregnancy later in life or under other non-traditional circumstances) may face, and their treatment is even-handed -- realistic, not pedantic or preachy, not utopian. I think this would be essential reading for anyone considering assistance in reproduction, especially egg donation. It would also be helpful for the friends and families of women who have elected to use donor eggs.

An instructive book about assisted reproduction in the postmenoupausal years, written with great compassion and respect for the couples contemplating such a decision. Paulson and Sachs are obviously attuned to all of the emotional and ethical, as well as practical issues, that enter into such a decision. As a clinical discourse on post-menopausal pregnancy issues it is first rate. As the journey of a fictious woman who must deal with all of the complexities of making such a decision it is an emotional and compelling story.

This book was written by 2 people. Parts deal with the mechanics of fertility treatment and other parts follow a 48-year-old woman's life as she decides to achieve motherhood.

The writing of the medical aspects of fertility is done in a detailed and complete manner. It is an education by itself and can be referred to often by any fertility patient with medical questions. (Note: Dr.Paulson is a University professor.)

The portrayal of the older would-be mom is very repectful. She has taken care of herself so well that she is able to run an actual marathon. Why shouldn't she be able to have a baby? A man in her position can have a baby!

This book gives men and women a way to achieve some manner of reproductive parity.

A donor egg cycle may include the medication, Lupron. Weeks of Lupron therapy puts one in a different hormonal state in which one is barely able to function. Nurses call this induced hormonal state, "going under," which includes hot flashes and debilitating headaches. Not addressed in the book are the physical symptoms that occur with supression of one's natural hormones and treatment, if any, of the physical symptoms. Although generally informative, I wonder what other critical information may have been left out.

For anyone looking to treat infertility disorders, I would highly recommend this book. The quality and sheer volume of information presented is quite impressive, and the same goes for her seminars. I would not suggest this book for anyone other than a TCM practitioner, as it is a professional text. The content is both highly specialized and should not be used by those without extensive training; besides, there are plenty of other introductory books that will give patients a more comprehensive view of TCM theory in an easily digestible format.

That said, this book is one of my favorites in the subject, and fully worth several times the purchase price!

A valuable,modern and important resource for any practitioner wishing to work in or specialize in the field of infertility. Her analytical and poetic mind combined with the potency of Chinese medicine make this inspirational reading. Its a must have I cannot recommend highly enough.

This book is the A++++ must have for treating fertility disorders with chinese medicine. Jane Lyttleton does an EXCELLENT job of combining western knowledge and treatments with traditional chinese medicine. She is extremely thorough and detailed in all pathologies and treatments. AMAZING!

I was referred to this book by a fellow friend who like me, is trying to conceive a baby over 40. This book talks with detail about how chinese medicine works and in particularly to help "strengthen" our reproduction systems. The information is very clear and detailed and can help anyone starting to explore the benefits of TCM. It enlightens the reader because it never dismisses the Western medical community, but talks about how the Eastern methods of TCM can enhance our already traditionally accepted practice of conventional medicine. It also talks about how TCM works well alone. However, it takes diligence and specialized practitioners to fully incorporate all of this info to practice. Finding a excellent Acupuncturist or Chinese doctor seems integral and the information is amass. I felt I learned quite a bit about Chinese medicine in just one night of reading,and I was already educated in many areas.

This book puts feelings and emotions (which are rarely discussed in society) into words to help couples dealing with infertility. The authors define stages of grief dealing with infertility and give ways to handle these stages in a positive way. It has been a great tool for me as I seek to sensitively deal with friends struggling with this issue. The book steers clear of medical and technical issues and addresses handling emotions (anger, grief) in a Godly way. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with infertility and for anyone who knows someone who is. It would be a great small group tool also.

The best way to succinctly describe this book is as a "How-To" manual for dealing with the grief of infertility. Each of the three authors have walked this journey and they combine their experiences and expertise (they are professional ministers and a professional counselor) to walk along side the reader through the ins and outs of grief.

The book is divided into 2 sections. The first section deals with identifying the stages of grief and how it manifests specifically in infertility grief. Each chapter identifies a new stage and offers constructive, biblically sound suggestions on navigating it.

The second section focuses more specifically on overall coping and healing, rather than stage specific exercises. It concentrates on the wounded woman's possible necessity to reconcile with herself and her identity in Christ, with God, with her spouse, her family and/or her friends. The authors challenge the reader to reach beyond her grief out to others around her and encourage the reader to really internalize that God's plan for her life is not limited by infertility. My favorite line in the book is at the very end and states in a prayer,

[God,] help me to realize that the purpose of my suffering far exceeds the pain of my suffering.

While I don't agree with the authors that infertility is a "special calling" (a minor part of the book so don't dismay if you also disagree), I do know that God can redeem any pain by making His glory known through it. There is great purpose in evidencing God's glory throughout the earth, and this specific challenge from the authors stirred my heart to search beyond, rather than dwell in my pain.

At the end of each chapter, the authors offer challenging questions designed to nudge the reader to introspection. These questions would make excellent prompts for journaling, or, with some modifications for privacy, a spring board for a small group discussion. The authors also offer a specific action challenge at the end of each chapter.

What I love the most about this book is how constructive and tangible the tools are. They are very prescriptive with "do this," and "think about that." As I said, it's almost like a "How-To" manual and at this stage in my grief, I found that very helpful because at times in my Infertility Grief Journey, I found myself almost being afraid that I was doing things out of order, or too quickly or too slowly, and it was helpful for me to just have an outside reference as sort of a guide of what to expect, what to be on my guard for, etc. Of course, it goes without saying that everyone's process is different, but even in my limited interactions with other Infertility women (compared to the interactions of the authors), I noticed quite a few commonalities too, and this book draws on that. The solutions they offer are physical, emotional and spiritual changes. I appreciated this holistic approach and at this point in my journey, it's just so helpful to have someone say "Do this." "Expect that." "Guard your heart from this."

This book is very brief. They offer scriptural support for their claims, especially any about the nature and character of God and His will for one's life. However they are very matter-of-fact and do not dwell long on their point or on the exegesis of any scriptural support. The book is very simplistically written, making it easy to read and process.

My reason for pointing this out is that I think it is important that any potential reader identify where she is at and what she is ready to handle before picking up this book. The frank, matter of fact approach can come across as "rushing" you through the grief process if you're not ready to move on. It can almost come across as judgmental because an issue is so black and white and already resolved to these women, while you may be fresh and wrestling in your grief.

However, on the other hand, this might serve to equip you as sort of a road map of what to expect in the future, or as a good review of where God has already taken you. In my particular case, I was wishing that I had read it earlier so that I could have the book to accompany me through the various stages, but I can see easily how someone of another temperament might want to read this with a little more emotional distance from the situation.

I will say that I personally detected no hint of insensitivity or judgment from the authors, but I've also already digested and processed a lot of my emotions to date. If I were still reeling, I might respond differently. On the other hand again, this might have been doubly "useful" were I still reeling.

All of that to say, search your heart for the kind of tool that you need right now. If you need an empathetic, heartfelt, gentle encouragement, try something like Hannah's Hope. If you need something a little more clinical, or more of a kick in the bloomers, this is an excellent resource. The two books are not at all similar or interchangeable but are appropriate for different places in someone's Infertility journey.

I will say that I did not do the written exercises. I may find the book even more challenging if I go back and do them, but I also recognize what is realistic for my lifestyle and know that it is unlikely that I will prioritize time to complete them. However, I appreciate that I was able to learn from and be challenged by the book without the exercises. I can only imagine how much more I would be challenged if I were to complete the written questions.

This book is unlike any other Infertility book I've read or have in my ever-growing pile to read. I appreciate the fresh approach and the practical tools. Now knowing what to expect from the book, and preparing your heart accordingly for where you are at in your grief process, I would encourage you to trust the authors' virtuous intentions and their submission to God's leading as they wrote this and when you are ready, pick up this book and read it. Whether this will serve as a GPS for your yet to be arrived at destination or a chronicle of where God has already faithfully taken you, I assure you that you will be edified, equipped and challenged by this book.

Recommended: Enthusiastically

I have read many books on infertility and this one is a definite must have. Every chapter touches on exactly what I have been through, or am experiencing right now. It's great to have a Christian outlook, and reflection questions at the end of each chapter. A+++

I would highly recommend this book for anyone going through or who has just gone through infertility treatment. It helps you understand the grief process and confirms that your feelings while going through the infertility journey are real. The chapters are 1. Denial/Shock, 2. Desperation/Panic, 3. Anger/Resentment, 4. Sadness/Depression, 5. Inadequacy/Guilt, 6. Hope/Peace, 7. Reconciliation/Integration, 8. Does Time Heal All Wounds?, 9. Relationship, Reconciliation, and Restoration, 10. Renewing Your Mind, 11. Refuge in the Rock. It is really a MUST HAVE.

Joe discovered that raising children was more challenging, emotionally draining, and required a lot more skills than most jobs, businesses or careers. During his kids teenage years Joe says he chose stand up comedy (over Prozac) to keep his sanity. This book is a candid, insightful and a fun read. His compelling story should be required reading in school! A must read by anyone who is thinking of starting a family -or already has one. Joe's honesty is refreshing and relatable to those of us parents who know that all too often the long & expensive road from cradle to college, can be filled with surprises...and they are not always pleasant. Buy this book -laugh and learn -you will be glad you did! Give Me Back My Credit!

Loved the book and couldn't put it down. Don't let the title fool you--it's full of great advice to prepare you for having kids. Should be required reading for high school kids.

As a parent, I found each reason to have merit, full of insightful anologies and information splashed with humor. The authors shares his experience as a single parent in a truthful and inspiring manner. Well researched and supported, he often supports his observations and opinions with info from well respected sources and world figures. If this book could have a subtitle, I think, HUG A PARENT, they neeed love too, would be an excellent choice. However, because I cannot "unring the bell", I would love this author to write a sequel; 51 reasons to have children and the million little blessings they impart on our troubled souls. I would buy that book as well. Thanx Joe for a wonderful, well written peek into the lives of parents.

I picked this book up because of the topic but it was so much more than an infertility story:it was a great chronicle of one womans growing up.When I was done I felt I had made a new friend and was sad to put the book down.

Or about to run out of time all together? Then this book is for you...or anyone else who loves suberb memoir writing. We need to keep hearing from Bates Alden on a regular basis. She has important things to tell us.

I picked this book up because of the topic but it was so much more than an infertility story:it was a great chronicle of one womans growing up.When I was done I felt I had made a new friend and was sad to put the book down.

Empty Arms: A Heavy Load to Carry by Dorothy Donham is an emotional rollercoaster of wanting a child yet told you cannot conceive. She takes you on a couples odyssey of heart break and realization of a dream. Her poignant write from beginning when doctors appeared to lack compassion to elation when her pregnancy test is positive will keep you glued to the pages.

You will find yourself cheering them on in the quest to have a child, a family to complete her dreams. They walk in faith that their dreams will become reality even though they appear to be on a mountain climb of never ending procedures and tests. Truely an inspiring write for everyone.

Dorothy Donham puts a heart, face, and family to an issue many women face in society. We stand afar and can only wonder at what they must be going through. Dorothy gives you her personal journal of her accounts that is sure to soar to new hieghts. A very wonderful write from a blessed woman.

Few people understand a woman's emotional need to conceive, carry and nurse a child of her own. And even fewer understand the emotional turmoil that committed couples endure when they discover they cannot conceive. Fewer yet understand the mental anguish (and physical pain for the woman) that the couple faces as they contend with a mirage of tests, procedures and failed attempts to reproduce. "Empty Arms: A Heavy Load to Carry" by Dorothy Donham is a both a heartbreaking and heartwarming saga of one couple's struggle with infertility. The author bears her soul through a collection of journal entries to expose infertility on a personal basis. Have a full box of Kleenex on hand when you read this book, especially the final pages!

I have a copy of Ms. Donham's new book, Empty Arms..., and I found it to be quite refreshing. It was so nice to find a realistic perspective of the unexpected pain that infertility can cause. I appreciated the invitation to read Ms. Donham's journal and quietly follow her through the up's and down's of her journey. I laughed, cried, and celebrated her joy when she finally received her miracles! I would highly recommend this book to all who are dealing with infertility. I found a new hope by reading this book. I know that I can look at my own situation differently now and I look forward to the time when I too can celebrate my long-awaited child.

Is goog to know that we are not alone out there, that our dificulties is share by a million people, and someone have better answers for our questions.

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for ten months now and in that time I have watched 8 of my friends get pregnant, have a baby(ies) or get pregnant again; it has been very frustrating to be the only one not getting pregnant. This book truly made me feel like there were other people out there going through exactly what I was. The author presents a personal account of her journey that is easy to identify with and straightforward. I found myself laughing at the ridiculous things she did trying to get pregnant that I though only I did! I had trouble towards the end because I felt overwhelmed with what may lie ahead for me. It is a practical book though that honestly tells you what to expect. It does offer hope for all of us out there trying to conceive.

Bravo Cindy Margolis for having the courage to write such a fun, informative book and work to remove the shame and secrecy around infertility. This book will help so many couples on a difficult road and hopefully open our society's eyes to the need to remove all stigma still surrounding infertility. We are a culture that celebrates beauty and fame so we desperately need those that seem to "have it all" to share their experiences.
I am so grateful to this author for this wonderful book!

this is a thoughtful and easy to read discussion to help you navigate the the current stream of information on impotence. The best review I have ever seen.

The book uses termnology that is easy to follow. It makes for interesting and informative reading of impotence.

Dr. Steidle's ability to communicate the answers [to questions often diffucult to state] is incredible. This is information that my not be used today, but needed in the future. He covers all bases.