Book Description
In Positive Conceptions, Kristen Magnacca offers her firsthand experience of infertility--the heartbreak, depression and miscommunication--and how she and her husband, Mark finally devised the much needed life-saving strategy that led them to achieving pregnancy. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A buffet of ideas for coping and communicating
The book has a "buffet" of ideas of techinques for dealing with the stresses of infertility.Ideas include practical communication starters, and thought-provoking ways of looking at your partner's and your own needs and communication styles.Some ideas I left on the buffet table.With some others, I piled my plate high!

Useful for anyone who is just starting out or well along the infertility treatment path, and is finding it stressful (and you'd be hard pressed not to).

A GREAT BOOK!!!
This book is a must read, she talks about struggles couples face when going throw infertility and ways to gain control back, This book makes you feel like your not alone, other couples face the same obstacles as you do!

She lets you into her home and heart by sharing stories of herinfertility experience and what steps her and her husband took to solve their own problems. I felt like she was speaking to me through her book like a friend. she's honest, down to earth, funny, practical and educated. She has wonderful tips and techniques that are very helpful in dealing with you husband your family and your life. It gave me a new prepective and new hope, I would reccommend this book to everyone.

Helpful Read!
Thanks to Love and Infertility I'm back in control of my emotions and communicating better with my husband! We now have our own elevator speech and I'm much more comfortable in social situations. We're also using the gratitude list to combat our negative feelings of being childless.I recommend this book to anyone battling infertility!

Read it!
Kristen is both funny and wise. She's been there, both professionally and personally, and she's learned from it. Through anectodes and practical tips, she shares her victories and lets us, too, learn from her failures. Her book is an honest, practical and easy to read compilation of very personal anecdotes and well-researched strategies for finding balance during a very trying time. Read it-- you'll be glad she is holding your hand on the rocky journey to parenthood!

A Stress Reliever!
Love and Infertility was such a stress relief for me. The book offered a wide variety of tips on how to communicate better with your partner to creating a fertility game plan to making a goals list. The book is an easy read and is also good for couples that are looking to seek balance in their lives. I'm thankful for this new perspective on infertility and will recommend it to all my friends!

... Read more

Book Description
Today, 6.1 million women in the United States suffer from infertility, according to Resolve, the national infertility association. What do you do when all you want is to have a baby? How much time and money are you willing to invest with no guarantee of success? What do you do if you are single and Mr. Right is nowhere in sight? How do you handle everyday life when pregnant women and babies are everywhere? This personal account details the trials and tribulations associated with infertility and the blessing when all efforts pay off. The author hopes that the personal words written within this book will comfort others who suffer from infertility, letting them know that they are not alone. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Tells it like it is!!
Unless you struggle IF you will never know the pain and heartache. In this book you will see what we go through. You will laugh and cry with each entry.
Another reviewer wrote, "Too much info" If more people spoke out the stigma and embaressment and shame we go threw would lessen.
Thanks Robin for being so couragious to write this book.

Lori

Very honest and open with her infertility struggles
I was able to read Ms lee's book in 2 hours. I did not read every little detail, I found all the indepth journalling to be more than I wanted to know, but it highlighted her struggles and determination to have a baby. I did not find it helpful per se. IMO it is the kind of book that is best shared with family and friends who know you personally. A great book for her to share with her son one day...

A true representation!
This journal is very open and honest.I couldn't stop reading once I started it!The author does a wonderful job of capturing the rollercoaster ups and downs of trying to conceive a child.There are a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that go along with this process and they are all shared within this journal.Financial and social struggles are also seen along the way.This journal is a very good description of the nightmare that infertility can be.

Amazing honesty
There aren't many people in this world that would open up their most private wishes, struggles and disappointments for others to experience through publishing.This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with infertility - as well as their friends and family members.I read this book in one sitting.It was so compelling to see how each attempt came out that you can't stop reading.I thank the author for sharing her journey with us.And I heartily congratulate her on having the family and son that she fought so long and hard for.

Inspiring book!
The story of Ms. Lee's journey through infertility is a 'must read' for anyone embarking on their quest for a child.Those who have not experienced this heartache would benefit from learning what it is like to yearn for a child who is seemingly so out-of-reach. It really makes you count your blessings! ... Read more

Book Description
This is an indispensable aid for pastors, counselors, and friends of couples dealing with infertility. The book contains frank and emotionally resonate stories from both men and women faced during their struggle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Good pick-me-up just when I needed it!
This book is a collection of short stories written by both women and men.I usually pick it back up when I feel like there is no hope for us.Even if children are not in our future, there is always hope.I wanted something written for a Christian household and this was it.I heard of this book on one of the radio stations several years ago when we first tried starting our family.The book stores did not carry it, so I was happy to find it here.You're not alone!If you're sick of the good standby's from people that don't have anything else to say, this is something that will make you cry, laugh, and see that not all is lost.Enjoy the time with your spouse!Infertility is hard, but this book let's you see that there are more of us out there dealing with very similar issues, and that you are not alone.

Empty Womb, Aching Heart: Hope and Help for Those Struggling with Infertility
This book has helped me mourn and FINALLY move on from my infertility.It made me realize that my feelings of anger and sadness were normal and it makes it easier to hear that others have experienced the same frustration and inconsolable feelings.It's so important to mourn so that you can move on to other options if that is your plan and I am finally able to do that with the help of this book.

Wonderful comfort
I took so much comfort in realizing I was not the only one with the thoughts, emotions, and fears that go along with the infertility struggle. I found myself laughing and crying along with the women (and men) in these stories as I realized they were speaking about what I felt. Such an encouraging book!!

Helps one look at the "big" picture
after reading this book, it really helped me to explore many different ways to look at infertility.The best part of this book is that it allows insight into the many emotions that one can have when dealing with infertility by sharing stories of many who live with it daily.It is a spiritual guide as well.The only drawback is because it is centered around faith and spirituality, it only discusses infertility for couples- no mention here at all for those of us who are single and want to have a child but have not been blessed to have found the perfect spouse.Not a book for open-minds and open-hearts, but definitely helpful with the emotional roller coaster ride that is infertilty.

You are not alone
This book has a great message at its core-if you are experiencing infertility, you are not alone.The men and women who shared their stories in this book give truly heartwrenching accounts of their experiences with infertility.I read this book after my 2nd miscarriage, and appreciated the Christian perspective, as there are not too many other such books out there.The first time I read the book through, I thought it lacked one major thing-hope that someday it would be possible to have a child.There are only a few stories in this book that detail the couple's experiences ending in the birth or adoption of a child.I felt like I must have missed something in the book, so I read it again.This time, with a more open heart and mind, I found inside this book its true message-infertility is not always "cured" with a child.It is ok to let go of dreams for a child and fill your life with God and other things, and maybe someday there will also be a child.This wasn't the message I had hoped to get out of the book, but it was one I desperately needed to hear.I recommend it to all who are looking for God's voice in the midst of infertility.An excellent companion, and one that is even more helpful to me is Ginger Garret's Moments for Couples who Long for Children. ... Read more

Product Description
It's estimated that endometriosis effects 15% of American women of reproductive age and is a leading cause of infertility.This book explains why endometriosis and infertility are on the rise in contemporary Western society and describes how traditional Chinese medicine diagnoses and treats these two, often related conditions.It includes sections on prevention, diet, exercise, and relaxation therapies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Interesting alternative look at endometriosis!
Although this book is short, it is quite technical into the differing ways that Chinese medicine views women's health conditions, such as endometriosis.I would recommend that you know a little about the wayChinese medicine looks at deficiencies and stagnations in the variousmeridians before delving into this book.Otherwise, this information mightsound repetitive and be difficult to dissect into usable portions. On apositive note, there is accurate and interesting information in this bookon an underexplored topic. ... Read more

Book Description
This exceptional collection of essays breaks new ground by examining the global impact of infertility as a major reproductive health issue, one that has profoundly affected the lives of countless women and men. Based on original research by seventeen internationally acclaimed social scientists, it is the first book to investigate the use of reproductive technologies in non-Western countries. Provocative and incisive, it is the most substantial work to date on the subject of infertility.
With infertility as the lens through which a wide range of social issues is explored, the contributors address a far-reaching array of topics: why infertility has been neglected in population studies, how the deeply gendered nature of infertility sets the blame squarely on women's shoulders, how infertility and its treatment transform family dynamics and relationships, and the distribution of medical and marital power. The chapters present informed and sophisticated investigations into cultural perceptions of infertility in numerous countries, including China, India, the nations of sub-Saharan Africa, Vietnam, Costa Rica, Egypt, Israel, the United States, and the nations of Europe.
Poised to become the quintessential reference on infertility from an international social science perspective, Infertility around the Globe makes a powerful argument that involuntary childlessness is a complex phenomenon that has far-reaching significance worldwide. ... Read more

Book Description
The Sixth Edition of Speroff, Glass, and Kase's Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility is now available on a fully searchable CD-ROM. Users will have one-click access to the entire content of this definitive text--1,170 pages of up-to-date information on reproductive physiology, contraception, infertility, clinical endocrinology, and hormone therapy. The CD-ROM also includes the questions and answers from Seifer and Speroff's companion self-assessment and study guide. The answer to each question is hyperlinked to the appropriate portion of the text, so that users can instantly access complete information. An excellent, time-saving way to prepare for board or recertification exams! Windows / Macintosh Compatible ... Read more

Book Description
Practical, frank, and compassionate advice from an infertility specialist.

A diagnosis of infertility can be devastating for the woman or couple who is ready for a baby, but those suffering with infertility should know that there is still hope. Fortunately, there's a helpful, compassionate resource that offers readers just that.

The Baby Solution is a step-by-step, practical guide to overcoming infertility. Reassuring and friendly, this book will give readers an insider's view on getting expert care, providing information about intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and other standard infertility treatments, as well as the latest state-of-the-art care. It also includes such alternative means of improving fertility as acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine. This essential resource gives readers tips to help them financially negotiate a field where the cost of treatment is high and the business concerns of clinics and doctors can sometimes override a patient's best interests. This guide will tell readers how to choose a doctor or a clinic that will give them the best chance of success, how to get the most out of their insurance coverage, and how to keep their relationship intact during treatment. Third-party reproduction options, including sperm and egg donation, surrogacy, and embryo donation, are also discussed. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Helpful and reassuring
After reading several books regarding infertility, this one most clearly explained diagnosis and treatment. It uses facts, statistics, and the doctor's own experiences to explain choices in infertility treatment. Highly recommended as a resource for all women facing infertility. ... Read more

Product Description
The latest addition to the Handbook for Clinicians Series. All the facts that you need for dealing with issues of reproductive endocrinology an dinfertility in one easy to read handbook.This Desk Version has a larger trim size (5.25x7.375 inches) than our Pocket Version (4 x 5.5 inches). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Good if you are thinking of doing OB/GYN residency
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.

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

Review of book
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.

Great Review of a wordy textbook!
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. ... Read more

Book Description
This is a book that any couple facing infertility issues must have. Couples who have been trying to get pregnant for some time - without success - experience a rollercoaster of emotions, and they often feel alone. They may blame themselves or their partners, and the challenges of the "process" can be a severe strain on their relationships. This Cleveland Clinic Guide gives couples facing fertility issues substantive information from a source trusted all over the world--a pioneer in such treatment as in vitro fertilization. The Clinic's experts understand what their patients are going through and know that with more information and education, they will understand they are not alone and that they can have hope. ... Read more

Product Description
Since 1990 this pocket handbook has been used by thousands of physicians, medical students,nurse midwives, nurses and other healthcare providers. Now in this completely rewritten and revised UPDATED 6th EDITION you can find everything that you need to provide comprehensive healthcare to women.This Desk Edition contains page-for-page the identical information found in the smaller pocket-sized version but in a larger format. This Desk Edition also contains the PDA Download allowing readers to have the best of both worlds: print and electronic.Written for a wide range of medical professionals, this pocket-sized compendium is dedicated to all aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology and contains over 500 tables, flowcharts and figures making each topic easier to recall. Many useful resources from recent original articles are now at your fingertips in one source-book. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A helpful, compassionate book
As an individual and as part of a couple I've read dozens of books on infertility. Unfortunately, they are usually preachy and/or clinical. "Couple Therapy For Infertility" was neither. It offered newinsight into how infertility effects relationships. It gave me personalguidance - I've recommended it to friends and to my therapist! I amthrilled such a book has *finally* been published. This is an importanttopic that demands such sensitivity and compassion. Recommended reading forall couples. Thank you sincerely!

A must read for couples facing infertility treatment!
This is a magnificent resource.Infertility treatment has become so common.The medical advances have been tremendous.But before this book appeared few experts in infertility paid attention to the psychologicalconsequences couples oftenface when they try to conceive.Many times theemotional difficulty can literally tear a couple apart.Using case studiesand extremely thoughtful analysis, the authors prevent a guide for bothcouples and professionals to help overcome the many hurdles raised by thisrapidly expanding technology ... Read more

Book Description

Women who are anxious to conceive -- and who have yet to conceive -- know about waiting. Waiting is the hallmark of infertility. You wait in doctor's offices. You wait to ovulate. You wait for prescriptions to be filled. You wait for the pregnancy test indicator to light up. You wait for a miracle, and then you wait again. Inconceivable is the remarkable true-life story of Shannon Woodward -- a woman who stopped waiting her life away. She wrote this book for other women who've been waiting -- for women who can't afford the next round of medical treatments, who can't bear to let their feeble hopes rise again only to have them crash to the ground in disappointment. Woodward revisits eighteen years of personal frustration, pain, and anger. She speaks of healing, but not the kind that other women in her condition have prayed for. The healing she has experienced is the healing of walking another path -- the path of peace that she is uniquely equipped to share.

Customer Reviews (5)

Comforting and Well Written
Being a woman who's been through five miscarriages, I could sense the comfort and hope that this book brings to those who are unable to conceive. The loss of a pregnancy or the fact that you can't conceive at all can be a dark place in one's life.

The author's own experience offers hope and opens new paths for women who need a hand to guide them through this dark time.

As with her last book, Shannon Woodward paints vivid pictures with her words, in a style that is unique to her writing.

A WOMAN'S JOURNEY FROM HEARTACHE TO PEACE
This book shares the author's journey of learning to accept the fact that she'll never be able to conceive children. Her story begins in 1988, when her doctor discloses the dreaded news. She said his words became like "a constant, haunting hum in my head, like a song you can't shake -- a song with the power to drive you insane. His voice was inescapable."

Shannon Woodward explores her pain and subsequent healing in intimate detail for readers. She takes us back to her childhood, where she first looks out at the stars and wonders if God even exists, and she shares with us how her faith began to grow.

She takes us with her to every scene, filling each memory with description and dialogue which reads like the best of storytelling. We reach the point with her when she and her husband decide to adopt -- and we agonize with her frustration when birth mother after birth mother changes her mind.

One of the most poignant scenes in the book is when she and her husband are bringing home their first adopted son, Zachary, whose name means, "The Lord has remembered." As their new little son is bundled in soft blankets in the car seat, she and her husband look up and see an oversized, lighted marquis hovering above a used car lot. In bold black letters, the sign reads, "Congratulations, Dave and Shannon. It's a boy." They never learned who wrote that message.

The book takes readers up to the present, where we see how Shannon's journey has helped her become a mother to many. She has an active ministry in mentoring and encouraging hundreds of women through her speaking and writing.

There are some books I read once, then set aside, without feeling a change. Shannon Woodward's book is one I'll read again and again, always remembering how the blessing of motherhood is a gift not to be taken lightly. The back of the book contains a wonderful reader's guide which includes discussion questions for each chapter.

This is a must-read for anyone who struggles with infertility; Shannon's transparency gives readers the support they need to move toward peace.

Journey of Healing
I am absolutely awed by Shannon Woodward's ability to tell this story.A story lived by many, but voiced by far too few.

She has taken this uncomfortable and sometimes extremely painful journey and helped forge a way to healing.

I would highly recommend this book to any women who is struggling with issues surrounding infertility.Sometimes it's good to know you're not walking through darkness alone.

More for those who decide to pursue adoption
In this book, Shannon Woodward basically shares her personal story and struggle with infertility. While I related to many of the feelings she expressed, and found some things helpful in the book, overall I did not identify with most of what she wrote about. Her book largely covers her pursuit of adoption, and the many failed attempts she endured. While I found her stories engaging, I personally have not chosen the adoption route. I have pursued my path more through medical intervention to conceive biological children, and very little was mentioned in her book about this option, mostly because she seemed to have barely pursued it. I do think this is a good book, but I wish that I had been able to get more of a picture of what this book actually covered before I had purchased it.

Inconceivable is a MUST READ book
"Inconceivable: Finding Peace in the Midst of Infertility" is an excellent book that I highly recommend.

If you suffer from infertility, or know someone who does, you must buy this book and read it.The author of this book doesn't tell you how to fix your infertility, but she does share many things that will cut to your soul.This book has a wonderful ending, but it doesn't end with her conceiving.The ending is the kind of ending that infertile people can hope for and achieve without spending thousands of dollars for infertility treatments.

Shannon Woodward shares her struggles with infertility in a very transparent and non-candycoated way. She shares the frustrations that only someone who is infertile can experience.She is so open and honest about her thoughts and feelings--things I have felt but would never say to another person for fear of being an outcast.

This book has changed my life and my outlook on my own infertility. I want other ladies to know and experience the peace that I now have.
... Read more

Book Description
Eat your way to pregnancy!The Infertility Diet is a nutritional approach to fertility enhancement and miscarriage prevention.Endorsed by infertility doctors across the country, this book is based on over 500 medical studies linking fertility and nutrition, and is a groundbreaker in the field.The essential diet for anyone trying to have a baby.A caring gift for all potential parents.

The Infertility Diet: Get Pregnant and Prevent Miscarriage supplies specific nutritional advice for couples with problems including sperm count, motility, morphology and clumping; miscarriage; candida albicans; cervical fluid; endometriosis; estrogen/progesterone balance; hypothyroidism; luteal phase defects; ovulation; PCO; elevated prolactin levels; and prostaglandin.Learn what foods to eat--and what foods to avoid--to get pregnant and carry your baby to term. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (57)

Pregnant after 6 years
After 3 failed IVFs, countless other procedures (including surgery), a miscarriage, and seeing 4 infertility OBGYNs, all of whom were considered among the top in their field, (and over $35K spent), we were told that the only way we were having a baby was with a donated egg. My husband bought this book, said it was our last hurrah, and followed the basic principles, which he distilled into a group of foods to avoid and foods to eat every day. We followed the diet for five months (it's easier to stick to if you know it's not forever) and I got pregnant in the sixth month. Our son is now 14 months old. My OBGYN calls him the miracle baby. We ate a lot of yams, true, but they were not the wild type, just the regular Safeway ones, and my husband fried them in oil and garlic. I think the best thing about this book is that the author is so positive and upbeat and makes you believe that you can conceive against overwhelming odds, which is the opposite of what all the specialists had been telling us for years.

I did get pregnant after one month!
I did not follow the diet strictly, but I simplified the diet by buying Amy's brown rice and tofu bowls which had most of the ingredients she recommended. I ate one of these every day for lunch. I also ate yams, yams and more yams.I got them from the local International grocery in St. Louis.I would think it would be hard to implement this diet if you are not in an urban area. I had been trying to get pregnant for a year before I tried this, and when I tried the diet, I got pregnant within a month.I agree that the diet is confusing, and it was impossible for me to follow strictly.But I did do the best I could and it seemed to work.

This book just makes sense
The previous reviewer's comments seem very harsh, and I can only guess she was hoping for a quick fix to her own infertility. How can one blame infertility on a good diet? I think the author makes a very solid connection between diet and infertility and her recommendations are good, but of course, one needs to be ready to implement change. If you are not ready to give up meat, of course you may be put off by her advice as the previous reviewer was. Animal proteins (meat) are not the only, and definitely not the best, source for iron, zinc and calcium. Any quick search on the internet will provide you with a list of alternative sources for these minerals...plus most women who are trying to get pregnant should be taking a prenatal vitamin, which will supplemant their mineral needs. But one should always look to food sources first for their vitamins and minerals as they are most easily absorbed by the body. I for one agree that food has a connection to infertility, plus who wouldn't want to "detox" their bodies to ensure they have a health environment for a growing baby.

Worth a Try
I bought this book and went on the diet during my second IVF cycle--after 3 years of trying.I got pregnant for the first time in my life...Unfortunately, I miscarried at 11 weeks, but this was due to Down's Syndrome & my doctors have told me it was not related to my infertility problems (endometriosis) at all.

What I most took to heart was the author's qualification that though the diet has not been proven by traditional scientific trials, the worst that will happen is that you will eat nutritiously while you're on it.I don't know if this diet got me pregnant or if it would have happened anyway, but now that I'm embarking on another IVF, I feel strongly enough about the diet that I am going on it again, just in case it was what made things work for me last time. (BTW, I did not follow the diet strictly after becoming pregnant).I also just ate the yams I found in the supermarket.

Maybe it's one of those mind over matter things.It is an effort, but I just feel like it's worth a try.Who knows?

Best of luck to all out there TTC.

Yams are sweet potatoes
Hi - I am interested in purchasing this book, so I have been reading all the comments.I just wanted to let everyone know that yams ARE sweet potatoes.The difference is that "yams" are sweet potatoes that are grown in south Louisiana.Hope this helps out some of you.

... Read more

Book Description
Accounts of couples struggling with infertility reach out with comfort and support. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A must read for any infertile couple!
I read this book over 6 years ago when I was experiencing infertility trouble. I couldn't put it down. It brought great comfort to hear someone else talk about the feelings involved with infertility. I was so glad to find it again for someone else I know going through this right now! Thank you for sharing your story, you have no idea how much you've helped other people!

I have finally seen others feel as I do...
I have read this book twice.Once as an undergrad for a class taught by the author.The second time I began to read it when I started to experience infertility myself.I have a beautiful 4 yr. old daughter and have been trying to conceive for nearly 3 years.The book has some very good insight into the feelings a woman goes through when trying to conceive and no one else understands.It has given me some comfort in knowing there are others that understand my feelings and that I am not crazy.Thank you so much, Michelle for this book.

This book saved me
A heartwrenching look at the effects infertility can have on a woman's life, and the ways other women have dealt with this problem.If you have this problem--or know someone who does--get this book.It'll help you so much. ... Read more

Book Description
One of every six couples in America is experiencing infertility, a devastating crisis that affects men and women individually and as a couple. This comforting and informative book addresses the medical, financial, and emotional issues that couples must work through while resolving their infertility. Written in a question-and-answer format, this sympathetic book offers practical advice on how to contend with the emotional ups and downs of infertility-from learning how to communicate feelings more effectively to coping with the losses of failed treatments or miscarriages. Warm and practical, the book is divided into twelve chapters, grouped according to the four stages involved in resolving infertility: crisis, acceptance, resolution and epilogue. Addressing the crisis phase are chapters on communicating effectively in a crisis, viewing infertility through the eyes of a parent, coping with family and friends, dealing with stresses at work while going through medical treatment, dealing with the medical establishment, and working through loss. For the stages of acceptance and resolution the authors offer chapters on deepening one's faith, knowing when to stop medical treatment, and practical advice for couples deciding to live child-free or considering adoption. An extensive section at the end addresses issues and concerns of professionals dealing with infertility patients. In addition, there are self-help exercises and a guide to resources. Originally titled What to Expect When You're Experiencing Infertility in hardcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (25)

The women in this book are ME
I was browsing through the bookstore and this book caught my eye.I thumbed through it, and could not put it down.I bought it, and read the entire thing in one night.

I cried all night.I relate to the women in that book so much. Everything that wassaid, I have felt.I especially appreciated the section on Secondary Infertility, since that is what I am facing.Most books and other infertility resources don't even acknowledge that Secondary Infertility is a real problem-it makes those with Secondary Infertility feel so alone.

If you're looking for a book that helps you cope, helps you know that you are not alone in your struggle with infertility, and really helps you feel validated in your feelings, then I highly recommend this book.

It's About Time
It's about time a book on the topic of infertility explored the more emotional aspects of this situation. As men and women, when we are confronted with the possibility of infertility, we are thrown to the scientific wolves and sometimes end up feeling like "road kill." Doctors, labs, medicines and experimental procedures can make us feel like modern day Frankensteins. It was so theraputic for me to read this book. Not merely a scientific forum for informative medical information but more importantly, a bible that helped me move forward emotionally. A must read for anyone going through this experience. Well written and heartfelt. Bravo, Harriet and Debby--thank you so much for sharing your wealth of expertise.

-What to Expect When You're Experiencing Infertility : How t
As a professional working for more than 15 years w/ couples experiencing infertility, I have found that the insight offered within this book has greatly enhanced my clinical effectiveness. I have gained sensitivity to the emotional impact of infertitlity at a deeper and more meaningful level. Sadly I became aware that I had overlooked some of the day-to-day experiences of infertility. Experiences that I simply took for granted as a woman who biologically conceived without difficulty. These overlooked experiences were profoundly significant to couples working hard to resolve their infertility. Imagine my surprise when I read the review titled, "There are Better Choices Out There." It appeared that this reader was having a very personal & emotional response to this book, given his or her overly harsh reference to literary merit and the lack of professionalism of its authors. I feel this book was written in a "user-friendly" format seeking to reach all persons touched by infertility. I also happened to research the background of one of the authors, H. Rovner-Ferguson and found that she has a long and well-respected history as regards all aspects of infertility, including emotional and medical implications. I am bewildered by this persons harsh criticism and wonder if perhaps they are reviewing a different book.

this book is definetly a must read
This book is a must read for all infertility patients. It is well written and as far as I can tell, comes from the heart. I have been experiencing infertility for four long years. Everywhere I turned no one understood my jealousy and need to isolate myself from pregnant family, friends and coworkers.I felt alone and crazy. A woman in my doctorsoffice suggested that I read this book and I am so glad I took her advice. It feels great to know that I am normal.I even gave the book to my husband and he actually read some of the questions and answers.That says it all. Thank you to the authors that truly "get" what I am going through.

There are better choices out there.
I did not learn anything from this book that I did not already know.Most of the information included comes under the definition of common sense.If you're looking for a book that will really give you practical strategies by which to deal with infertility issues, there are better ones out there.From a literary standpoint, this was not a well written piece.

From what I've been told, the authors don't have the best reputation for professionalism either. ... Read more

Book Description
Testimonials from men and women who have survived fertility difficulties accompany exercises and practical strategies designed to help readers make informed decisions, cope with stress and anger, consider third-party reproductive options, and decide when it's time to quit treatment and move on. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

These words are so comforting
After 3.5 years of trying and a fourth failed IVF treatment, I finally found comfort in the words of Dr. Daniluk. She proved to me that I'm not alone in my anger, jealousy and frustration. Infertility is challenging enough without doubting my emotions, and her words gave me the strength to realize it's okay to feel the way I do.

Her chapters on dealing with friends who have babies, dealing with unwanted advice and dealing with my emotions in general really have given me emotional strength.

Thank you.

Great book
I love this book.The emotional turmoil of infertility is not easily put into words, but it is done fabulously in this book.I've been reading it thinking "Yes, that is EXACTLY how I feel"No, it doesn't sugar coat what this roller coaster ride is like and probably isn't the best resource for anyone who has been trying for less than 1 year to get pregnant or anyone who is not ready to accept that there just may be a possibility that treatments will not work.But, for those of us who know that our fertility is a struggle that will not be easily overcome, if at all, it is a great source of information. I highly recommend it.

Discouraging
I found this book to be discouraging and depressing.Infertility is a miserable experience, and reviewing the bad feelings associated with it is counter-productive.We know we're not alone and we know we're on an emotional rollercoaster, now someone offer us something useful.This book reviews all of these feelings in great detail, making one dwell on the helplessness of the situation.The information on handling family and friends was helpful, but overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone dealing with infertility; please find another source of support.

Very Helpful!
My partner and I found this book to be tremendously helpful.Daniluk's book contains lots of really useful information on what to expect and how to cope with medical infertility treatments, as well as lots of valuable suggestions and ideas on responding to the comments of others.We found the part on how to deal with family gatherings particularly informative.My partner and I read this book together.We found it helped us stay connected as a couple as Daniluk gave us words to describe the emotions we were each experiencing.We found that by reading Daniluk's book we were in a better position to make treatment decisions during the time we were trying to get pregnant, and we recommend this book to anyone who wants to know how to better cope with the trials and tribulations of being infertile.

Infertility
This is the most depressing book I've read on the topic and I've read quite a few now.The chapter of what to say to significant and not significant others is about the most useful part of the book, otherwise it is quite discouraging.If you are in the early days of infertility and still having lots of tests and still have lots of hope then please don't read this yet.I finished feeling like I'd better prepare for not ever getting pregnant. ... Read more

Book Description
This well-illustrated new publication provides concise yet comprehensive practical information on the modern-day approach to the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. The author explains basic principles of reproductive physiology, before moving on to the medical causes of infertility. The full armory of techniques from IVF to ICSI and even newer technologies used to treat infertility in all its manifestations is described and detailed. The aim throughout is to explain issues clearly, simply, and directly in a way that will be understood by doctors, scientists, and nurses alike. By combining basic science and medical aspects, along with "how it is done" descriptions of techniques and medical interventions, this book offers an unsurpassed introductory account of this fast moving area. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the most complete discussion of Chinese medicine on this subject available in English.It includes the TCM treatment for various Western diseases associated with infertility, such as female immunologic infertility, fallopian tube blockage, endocrine imbalances, polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine myoma, luteal phase defect, anovulation, and endometriosis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mediocre book
Definitly not worth the money. I thought it was poorly written and really did not have any new informatin in it that was not in any of my basic text books. Quite disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description
A Christian guide to the medical, ethical, emotional, marital, spiritual, and biblical challenges of infertility.Includes chapter questions and a workbook section with exercises ideal for individual or small-group use. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

pity party
This book spent the first several chapters helping you know how to best feel sorry for yourself and understand your grief.It does have some good information in it also but I sure could have done with out the pity party section. My wife and I need the answers not sympathy.

Comforting and informative... a MUST HAVE
I am so glad I happened upon this book! The personal experiences of Sandra, the expertise of Dr. Bill, and the spiritual issues addressed in this book have been an invaluable resource to my husband and me as we have struggled through the difficulties of infertility. This book is a terrific guide to anyone going through infertility themselves or any lay person or clergy helping a couple that is struggling. Rarely does one find a book that balances medical terminology and its great detail with the emotional and spiritual aspects of the patients' experience, but this book does. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone that is beginning the journey of infertility as it clearly gives medical information. More important to me, though, was the biblical content that reminds us that we are NOT alone through this process, that God is still God, and that the emotional roller coaster is a normal thing. Not to mention the chapter that deals with handling well-intentioned advice... great content there, too! :)

Good resource
Very good resource if you are considering the ethical implications of IVF and infertility treatments.

Practical information with heart
Right around this time of year, sermons about Mother's Day and the beauty of parenthood bring grief to those experiencing the hellish ride of infertility. Though I have not personally experienced this, I have walked with several friends that have. This book was invaluable in helping me understand the medical, spiritual and emotional issues facing infertile couples. Glahn's personal story is woven throughout, giving the reader glimpses into the pain of infertility. Cutrer offers the reader practical and sound medical advice, gleaned from years and years of treating infertile couples. Both grapple with theological questions like "Is infertility a curse from God?" and "Why did God create sex?" Perhaps the most helpful chapter detailed the well-intentioned (but painful) things people say: Just relax. You can have my children for a weekend. If you adopt, you'll conceive. Just trust God. The latter half of the book deals with the ethics of medical intervention in an honest, non-alarmist way. If you are looking for an infertility manual with heart, pick up this book. If you are longing to love a friend or family member through infertility's minefield, read it for understanding.

Comprehensive and poignant
The Infertility Companion is just that: a companion.Like a survivor's guidebook, it covers the vast array of situations, dynamics, decisions and procedures couples dealing with infertility often face.It offers insights and suggestions on everything from handling doctor's visits to protecting your marriage, as well as helpful explanations of complex medical terms and options.I personally have found this book to be an invaluable resource, as my husband and I have waded through, what has turned out to be, the most complicated and difficult journey of our lives. Glahn and Cutrer are to be thanked for not only writing a superb resource, but also for offering true compassion and understanding through the pages of this book. ... Read more

Book Description
In "Twice Blessed, A Diary of Secondary Infertility: One Woman's Journey," Ninotchka Beavers chronicles her experience with what she thought would be a brief journey to conceive her second child. Unaware of the possibility of encountering any delays in conception, Ninotchka is devastated early on when month after month passes without a pregnancy. Because there is so little information readily available specifically about Secondary Infertility, Ninotchka struggles alone to endure the varied emotions that arise when one has conceived easily before but finds themselves unable to do so a second time.

What started as an uneventful continuation of her existing personal journal soon became a journal onto itself. Consumed with grief and ever-looming depression, Ninotchka pours her heart and raw emotions into her entries all the while desperately trying to brave the uncertainty of her situation.

Either resented by couples who have no children or dismissed by couples who do, she finds herself desperately needing but sorely lacking the support and validation she seeks. Not a part of the childless community, yet not the "Fertile Myrtle" she once thought herself to be, Ninotchka is helplessly caught between two worlds.

"Twice Blessed, A Diary of Secondary Infertility: One Woman's Journey" is a candid and touching memoir of a woman's struggle to understand, cope with and ultimately overcome Secondary Infertility. With a Foreword by Dallas OB/GYN Angela Angel M.D. and a comprehensive Resources page, this book is a must-read for any couple trying to conceive. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Not for those going thru secondary infertility
I'm sorry, I just don't see how someone who takes a little over a year to get pregnant, and never has to have intervention can call it true infertility.I'm not saying it's disappointing to not get pregnant right off the bat, for anyone ... but perhaps this should have been sold as some sort of diary on the road to conception, and not sold as a book about infertility.I will say this about the book:the author is very up-front about how painful it is not to get pregnant right away.Nobody should have to go through that kind of pain.It may be helpful for some to see they're not alone in wanting a baby NOW, and not being able to have one.But from my viewpoint, and from other women I know who have gone through years of secondary infertility, this just seems a bit insulting for some reason.At any rate, I'm very glad the author was able to add to her family, and I hope she encounters no difficulty the next time.I'm wishing I'd saved my money & not actually purchased the book, though!Should have ordered it from the library.

Not for couples who have experienced treatment
This book discusses the journey up until treatment but the author has 1 infertility counsel before getting pregnant.For those of us who are in the throws of infertility treatment the book is somewhat frustrating.There is no discussion of what it is like to have secondary infertility AND seek treatment with a child.After 14 months the author is preganant with spontaneous conception.The author misses the crux of secondary infertilty

Awesome book teaches about infertility and about LIFE!
In a world where most people hide their true feelings, I found "Twice Blessed: A Diary of Secondary Infertility - One Woman's Journey" a breath of fresh air because of its honesty and rawness.From the anticipation of 5 years before she even starts trying to over a year of month after month of different procedures, attempts, and disappointment, you feel Ninotchka's every emotion on this journey.I cannot imagine being so ready - having my life together so young, being so happily married, with a great husband, an awesome first child, a beautiful home, having a great career, running marathons, surrounded by so many great friends with whom you share your life with, et cetera - in other words, having and living such a fully complete and fulfilled life - and then finding myself unable to add on to that life and family with another child.Isn't that what we all dream of?Wow!How frustrating indeed to not be able to conceive, especially for no apparent reason.Whether for a month, or 13 months (as Ninotchka's experience was), or 5 years, I think the disappointment is all the same.Any woman who has tried to get pregnant and couldn't, or has been blissfully pregnant and knows what it's like to plan and actually bring a child into the world, could totally feel for Ninotchka.I know I did.Infertility is described as being unable to conceive after one year of trying but gee, no one shares what one goes through during that horrible year.One often hears about infertility but not secondary infertility too and, honestly, I don't know which is worse.My husband and I are about to start trying for a second child and I can't even fathom not being able to give my little boy a brother or sister.I am hoping our journey is not as arduous as Ninotchka's and her husband's but at least now I know it is a possibility so we probably won't be as bewildered and shocked if it happened to us.But that's only possible because of this book.Thank God I read it and thank you, thank you, thank you for writing it!I am basically ahead of the game in 2 major ways because of this book.One is that after much research in preparation for our second baby, I feel as prepared as I can possibly be to deal with both the social and emotional issues and not just the physical ones should I be unable to readily conceive.And two, this book has made me so grateful for what I already have (my son) because of Ninotchka mentioning how grateful going through this made her for her own daughter. Children are indeed blessings and miracles and I'm glad that because of this book, I am present to it yet again.I can think of more ways I have been impacted by this book too -- it brought up compassion for me for a fellow human being, faith, hope, love, determination in the face of adversity and despair (to just keep going with one's life even when so disappointed and sad is just so admirable!), and triumph -- and as I write this I realize that's the HUMAN SPIRIT!No wonder this book landed as so good to me!I now see that Ninotchka having gone through this is actually a BENEFIT because due to her sharing her story, anyone who reads it can learn about this much-too-little-discussed issue AND life itself.This book has really helped me and I will for ever be grateful.Thank you again and may I also be Twice Blessed!

Repetitive and insulting, just too much drama.
Infertility is such a deep reaching issue that engulfs one's soul.I won't go into my own story here.However, what I will address is this horrible book I purchased in a moment of need to connect with other infertiles.What I found was a drama queen that cries wolf.As per RESOLVE, infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected well-timed intercourse.While true, Ms. Beavers did take 13 cycles to conceive, she started crying infertility when she didn't get her way after cycle #1.I was insulted and easily bored.This is a quick read.I skimmed through a lot of it because it was soooo repetitious a la "dear diary, I'm not pregnant.I'm so mad.Boo hoo why me!I just knew I'd get pregnant the 1st time I had unprotected sex!"She defines infertility as having wanted to have an "oops" baby for years because she always hoped her diaphragm would get a hole?Seriously, don't waste your time or money.There are better resources on the web!

Complete Disclosure
Twice Blessed will take you for a ride on an emotional rollercoaster.Ninotchka intimately discloses feelings, procedures, and thoughts that are generally regarded as private.She "outs" all of the raw emotions that build up inside when facing infertility.Her honesty will bring you to tears and laughter.Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down.It's not only a must read for those facing infertility, but for women everywhere considering childbirth.When I finished the book, I looked at my 8 year old son and thought - Life is truly a miraculous blessing! ... Read more