Staff Picks
Books on Infertility
- Mona Verma
- Saturday, April 13, 2019
Collection
Infertility affects 1 in 8 couples in America. Books in this list are excellent guides to learning more about what to expect when you cannot conceive. Read about personal stories, IVF treatments, support systems and several other Infertility resources to equip you with knowledge and options.
An Excellent Choice
Panic and Joy on My Solo Path to Motherhood
Published in 2018
"From the author of She Left Me The Gun, an explosive and hilarious memoir about the exceptional and life-changing decision to conceive a child on one's own via assisted reproduction. When British journalist, memoirist, and New York-transplant Emma Brockes decides to become pregnant, she quickly realizes that, being single, 37, and in the early stages of a same-sex relationship, she's going to have to be untraditional about it. From the moment she decides to stop "futzing" around, have her eggs counted, and "get cracking"; through multiple trials of IUI, which she is intrigued to learn can be purchased in bulk packages, just like Costco; to the births of her twins, which her girlfriend gamely documents with her iPhone and selfie-stick, Brockes is never any less than bluntly and bracingly honest about her extraordinary journey to motherhood. She quizzes her friends on the pros and cons of personally knowing one's sperm donor, grapples with esoteric medical jargon and the existential brain-melt of flipping through donor catalogues and conjures with the politics of her Libertarian OB/GYN--all the while exploring the cultural circumstances and choices that have brought her to this point. Brockes writes with charming self-effacing humor about being a British woman undergoing fertility treatment in the US, poking fun at the starkly different attitude of Americans. Anxious that biological children might not be possible, she wonders, should she resent society for how it regards and treats women who try and fail to have children? Brockes deftly uses her own story to examine how and why an increasing number of women are using fertility treatments in order to become parents--and are doing it solo. Bringing the reader every step of the way with mordant wit and remarkable candor, Brockes shares the frustrations, embarrassments, surprises, and, finally, joys of her momentous and excellent choice"-- Provided by publisher.
The Conception Chronicles
The Uncensored Truth About Sex, Love & Marriage when You're Trying to Get Pregnant
Published in 2005
Conceivability
What I Learned Exploring the Frontiers of Fertility
Published in 2018
"Part memoir, part guide, this personal and deeply informative account of one woman's gripping journey through the global fertility industry in search of the solution to her own "unexplained infertility" exposes eye-opening information about the medical, financial, legal, scientific, emotional and ethical issues at stake. Although conception may seem like a simple biological process, this is often hardly the case. While many would like to have children, the road toward conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy can be unexpectedly rocky and winding. Lawyer Elizabeth Katkin never imagined her quest for children would ultimately involve seven miscarriages, eight fresh IVF cycles, two frozen IVF attempts, five natural pregnancies, four IVF pregnancies, ten doctors, six countries, two potential surrogates, nine years, and roughly $200,000. Despite her three Ivy League degrees and wealth of resources, Katkin found she was woefully undereducated when it came to understanding and confronting her own difficulties having children. Shattered by her inability to get and stay pregnant, Katkin surprised even herself by her determination to keep trying. After being told by four doctors she should give up, but without an explanation as to what exactly was going wrong with her body, Katkin decided to look for answers herself. The global investigation that followed revealed that approaches to the fertility process taken in many foreign countries are vastly different than those in the US and UK. In Conceivability, Elizabeth Katkin, now a mother of two, shares her fertility journey. Part memoir, part practical guide--with a foreword by founder of New York Fertility Services Dr. Joel Batzofin--Conceivability sheds light on the often murky and baffling world of conception science, presenting a shocking expose into the practical and emotional journey toward creating a happy family. Armed with a wealth of knowledge from her years-long fertility struggle, as well as stories from other women and couples, Katkin bravely offers a look inside one of the most difficult, painful, rewarding, and loving journeys a woman can take"-- Provided by publisher.
Avalanche
A Love Story
Published in 2016
"A personal account of the author's failed efforts to have a child discusses the agonizing realities of infertility and modern scientific approaches, recounting her struggles through various therapies before making the decision to end treatment and redirect her love elsewhere,"--NoveList.
Get a Life
His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF
Published in 2017
INFERTILITY & FERTILIZATION. Richard and Rosie started trying to conceive after five years of being together but, two and a half years and countless prenatal vitamins and ovulation kits later, there hadn't been even a phantom pregnancy. So began their adventure into IVF, via blood tests, sperm tests, injections and probes, becoming involuntary experts on embryology through failure, despair, persistence and success. After 4 years, 3 different clinics, 2 positive pregnancy tests and 1 miscarriage, they finally had a successful pregnancy. GET A LIFE is the perfect down-to-earth guide for anyone thinking of embarking on fertility treatment. It's two books in one, a book of advice for women and a survival guide for men, each chapter mirrored but with very different experience and advice. IVF is terrifying, awful and extraordinary in equal measures for both partners.
Be Fruitful
The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Birthing a Healthy Child
Published in 2013
Practical advice covering contraception, nutrition, diet, and exercise to increase optimal fertility. Includes information for both males and females and ways for them to curtail environmental factors and stress.
What to Expect Before You're Expecting
Published in 2009
Offers answers to common pre-conception questions, from how to chart fertility cycles to when to seek medical assistance.
What to Do when You Can't Get Pregnant
The Complete Guide to All the Options for Couples Facing Fertility Problems
Published in 2013
Offers an up-to-date guide on the latest technology, procedures, and drugs available to women who are having difficulty conceiving, providing advice on how to make the right fertility choices.
Yes, You Can Get Pregnant
Natural Ways to Improve Your Fertility Now & into Your 40s
Published in 2014
This is the complete guide to getting pregnant and improving fertility naturally -- even if you've been told your chances of conception are low. A nationally renowned women's health and fertility expert, Aimee Raupp has helped thousands of women optimize their fertility and get pregnant. Now, in this book, she provides her complete program for improving your chances of conceiving and overcoming infertility, including the most effective complementary and lifestyle approaches, the latest nutritional advice, and ways to prepare yourself emotionally and spiritually.
A Baby at Last!
The Couple's Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant-- from Cutting-edge Treatments to Commonsense Wisdom
Published in 2010
Explain all the various ways to overcome infertility, from such simple solutions as proper nutrition to the most complex IVF procedures, with advice on alternative treatments and how to find the right doctor.
Fertility & Conception
The Essential Guide to Natural Ways to Boost Your Fertility and Conceive a Healthy Baby-from Learning Your Fertility Signals to Adopting a Healthier Lifestyle
Published in 2010
Taking Charge of Your Fertility
The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
Published in 2015
Eat Yourself Pregnant
Essential Recipes for Boosting Your Fertility Naturally
Published in 2014
Zita West, midwife to Cate Blanchett, Stella McCartney and Kate Winslet, shares her expertise in nutrition to help you and your baby stay healthy naturally throughout your pregnancy. It is crucial to eat an optimum diet during pregnancy. Your levels of nutrients need to be high in order to support you through the process of pregnancy, and the baby that you're carrying inside of you needs the full range of nutrients to be as healthy as possible. It can be difficult and tiring to make nutrient-filled meals, but Zita gives you clear information and simple, easy-to-make recipes. The first section of the book covers details such as what nutrients are important and what they do for you and your baby, and foods that are unhealthy to consume during pregnancy. The second section uses the vitamins and nutrients explained in the first section in 80 delicious recipes.
The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation
A Compassionate and Comprehensive Guide for All Parents-to-be
Published in 2012
Provides information and advice about egg donation for families of all types, including same-sex couples and single parents.