Product Description
How far would you go to have a baby? "Making Babies the Hard Way" is a frank account of one couple's discovery that they cannot have children of their own, and their ensuing struggle through four years of fertility treatment. One in six couples worldwide seek assistance to conceive and 80 per cent of couples undergoing fertility treatment are currently unsuccessful. Writing with humour and honesty, Caroline Gallup describes the social, emotional, spiritual and physical impact of infertility on her and her husband, Bruce, including feelings of bereavement for the absent child, the unavoidable sense of inadequacy and the day-to-day difficulties of financial pressure. As well as telling her own moving story, she also offers information and guidance for others who are infertile, or who are considering or undergoing treatment. This courageous and poignant book will be of interest to couples who cannot conceive and those who are undergoing treatment, as well as their families and friends. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Highly recommend for those new to DI
I am fairly disappointed by how few books there are about DI.While there is a lot of information on the internet, I think that reading a variety of first-hand narratives would be helpful for people who are just beginning to consider DI.So, I was very pleased when I found this new book.This book follows a British couple as they go from diagnosis of azoospermia to exploring various treatments to deciding how many cycles are too many. (Boy, do I remember agonizing over that point!)

While some of the procedures and costs are different in the UK, their experience closely mirrored our own.Because it is based on a diary that the author kept, she includes some very intimate and intense conversations that she and her husband had in regards to infertility.These events clearly highlight the need for both parties to be in full agreement before embarking on the DI journey.

At times, the story line is a little muddled. The author has a lot of friends in whom she confides and it is sometimes difficult remember who is who.She is also a practicing Buddhist and writes about that quite a bit.(It's a little odd so see Buddhist terms mixed in with infertility jargon in the glossary.)Overall, though, I think that this book is a worthwhile read, especially for those just starting out. ... Read more

Product Description
Statistics show that each year millions of peopleexperience infertility problems ? whether they could betraced back to the female partner, male partner or ? as insome cases ? both. While reproductive medicine has seensome significant development during the last few decades,determining the exact cause of infertility is still oftenimpossible, which ? in result ? seriously burdens furtherresearch. Today many people are willing to try artificialinsemination or in vitro fertilization ? methods opposed byseveral religious groups and conservative movements.Nevertheless, despite relatively high costs and ethicalcontroversies, these procedures are becoming more and morepopular. In order to find out more about male and femaleinfertility, its causes and possible methods of treatment ?read this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Medicine.

Consultthe second edition of this authoritative, comprehensive, in-depthmedical guide for information on more than 1,700 medical topics inlanguage accessible to adult laypersons. Presented in a singlealphabetical sequence, articles range in length from one or twoparagraphs for minor topics, to several pages or more for major topics.Disease/disorder articles typically cover definition; description;causes and symptoms; diagnosis; treatments; prevention; and more.Test/treatment articles typically cover definition; purposes;precautions; preparation; risks; normal and abnormal results; and muchmore. This second edition includes more than 200 new entries, 300updated entries, approximately 650 color images and illustrations, anda comprehensive subject index. New features include biographical andhistorical sidebars throughout the text.

Disease/disorder articles contain some or all of the following sections:

• Definitions -- brief dictionary-style definition of the disorder
• Descriptions -- overview of the disorder; who gets it and why
• Causes & symptoms -- process, substance or organism thatproduces the condition; any risk factors that increase susceptibilityto the condition; signs and symptoms of the disease
• Diagnosis -- overview of procedures and tests used todiagnose the condition; how the test is done; who should be tested andwhen; time required; cost; whether it's typically covered by insurance
• Treatments -- overview of conventional methods of care ormanagement of the condition, such as drugs, surgeries, physicaltherapy, etc.
• Alternative treatments -- overview of alternative/complementary therapies that may be used to treat the condition
• Prognosis -- probable outcome of the disease
• Preventions -- what actions can be taken to prevent the condition from occurring

Test/treatment articles contain some or all of the following sections:

• Definitions -- brief dictionary-style definition of the test/treatment
• Purposes -- why and when this test/treatment is prescribed
• Precautions -- when this test/treatment should not be prescribed
• Descriptions -- overview of the test/treatment including cost,length of time required, procedures followed, whether typically coveredby insurance
• Preparation -- pre-test treatment procedures, if any
• Aftercare -- post-test treatment procedures, if any
• Risks -- any complications/side effects commonly associated with the test/treatment
• Normal results -- for tests, describes the normal values; for treatments, describes the anticipated outcomes
• Abnormal results -- defines abnormal test values

Published/Released: December 2001

Product Description
The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine.
"Gale's products are known to be thorough, well-researched, and good reference tools.This item is no exception...
This is a valuable resource for readers who are seeking information oncomplementary medicine and herbal remedies. The scope of thisencyclopedia is comprehensive, but not definitive. Readers should usethis as a supplement,.to professional healthcare consultation. Thissource has been a long-awaited product for the consolidation of generalalternative medicine information."
-- ARBA (2002)

Informationon recommended therapies for specific disorders and diseases, medicinaluses for plants and herbs are balanced by conclusions of studies onefficacy and analysis of current levels of acceptance by traditionalscientists and doctors. Biographies of pioneers in the field --including Deepak Chopra, Edward Bach and David Palmer --appear assidebars through the text. Included are 39 sidebars. Each volumecontains a color photo insert containing images of herbs. There aremore than 275 disease/condition entries, 300 herb/remedy entries, and150 therapies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

great
Many people try to cure infertility by different methods which might resemble the torturing methods from the Middle Ages so don't put your health at risk with methods from friends or other strange methods. Curing infertility is a very important issue, but people should know that there are some natural risk free methods that won't have any secondary effects. These methods are described in the book [...] and I recommend it for every guy out there who desperately tries to solve his problem. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Internal Medicine News, published by International Medical News Group on December 1, 2004. The length of the article is 625 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Estrogen use in teen girls tied to later infertility.(Adolescent Medicine)
Author: Christine Kilgore
Publication: Internal Medicine News (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2004
Publisher: International Medical News Group
Volume: 37Issue: 23Page: 31(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

Product Description
The article is excerpted fromGale Encyclopedia of Medicine.

Consultthe second edition of this authoritative, comprehensive, in-depthmedical guide for information on more than 1,700 medical topics inlanguage accessible to adult laypersons. Presented in a singlealphabetical sequence, articles range in length from one or twoparagraphs for minor topics, to several pages or more for major topics.Disease/disorder articles typically cover definition; description;causes and symptoms; diagnosis; treatments; prevention; and more.Test/treatment articles typically cover definition; purposes;precautions; preparation; risks; normal and abnormal results; and muchmore. This second edition includes more than 200 new entries, 300updated entries, approximately 650 color images and illustrations, anda comprehensive subject index. New features include biographical andhistorical sidebars throughout the text.

Disease/disorder articles contain some or all of the following sections:

• Definitions -- brief dictionary-style definition of the disorder
• Descriptions -- overview of the disorder; who gets it and why
• Causes & symptoms -- process, substance or organism thatproduces the condition; any risk factors that increase susceptibilityto the condition; signs and symptoms of the disease
• Diagnosis -- overview of procedures and tests used todiagnose the condition; how the test is done; who should be tested andwhen; time required; cost; whether it's typically covered by insurance
• Treatments -- overview of conventional methods of care ormanagement of the condition, such as drugs, surgeries, physicaltherapy, etc.
• Alternative treatments -- overview of alternative/complementary therapies that may be used to treat the condition
• Prognosis -- probable outcome of the disease
• Preventions -- what actions can be taken to prevent the condition from occurring

Test/treatment articles contain some or all of the following sections:

• Definitions -- brief dictionary-style definition of the test/treatment
• Purposes -- why and when this test/treatment is prescribed
• Precautions -- when this test/treatment should not be prescribed
• Descriptions -- overview of the test/treatment including cost,length of time required, procedures followed, whether typically coveredby insurance
• Preparation -- pre-test treatment procedures, if any
• Aftercare -- post-test treatment procedures, if any
• Risks -- any complications/side effects commonly associated with the test/treatment
• Normal results -- for tests, describes the normal values; for treatments, describes the anticipated outcomes
• Abnormal results -- defines abnormal test values

Published/Released: December 2001

Product Description
Articles and abstracts on technologies related to infertility treatments. Includes index, references. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An emotionally touching book
This is a fantastic book filled with essays & poems on a variety of IF related subjects:reproductive technology, donor egg/sperm, adoption, childfree living, dealing with friends & family, and parenting afterinfertility.Each chapter contains a collection of essays written bypeople who have "been there, done that".It really helped me toread others stories & see that I wasn't alone.It is not a"solutions" book, but it definately gives you some differentperspectives.There are some very funny stories as well as stories thatwill make you cry.I even read the chapters that didn't apply to mysituation...it was that good! ... Read more

Product Description
(Checkmark Books)Consumer text discusses the common causes of infertility, how they are diagnosed, and various treatments available. Explores assisted reproductive technologies, how to select a reliable fertility clinic, and what options are available when treatments fail. Softcover. ... Read more

Product Description
William Patterson Univ., Hawthorne, NJ. Consumer text provides information on the most current traditional and complementary solutions in infertility. Topics include obtaining an accurate diagnosis, conventional medical options, natural treatments, emotional support, and other options. Contains halftone illustrations. Softcover. ... Read more

Product Description
In this series, broadcaster and columnist Dr Mike Smith draws on the questions that concern his patients most frequently. In this book he and his wife, an SRN, focus on infertility. ... Read more

Product Description
Hardbound. Advances in Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, provides the most current scientific information written by recognized authorities at the forefront of research in their specific fields in reproductive medicine and science. This book includes high quality peer reviewed manuscripts of Plenary topics and Trilogy lectures at the 18th World Congress of Fertility and Sterility.

The understanding of mechanisms of disease has expanded exponentially with developments in molecular and cellular biology. Similarly, new innovations in assisted reproductive technologies have opened up numerous options for treatment of infertility and improved understanding of the processes involved in gamete interaction and implantation. The increased focus on evidence-based practice has led to a critical review of existing evidence in the areas of therapy, diagnostic assessment, causation and prognosis and has provided the framework for conducting clinical stu ... Read more

Product Description
King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth, Western Australia. Deals with the clinical aspects of male infertility. Contents include the anatomy and physiology of the male genital tract, the analysis of semen, disorders of ejaculation, testicular cancer and fertility, genetics and infertility in the male, and more. For gynecologists. DNLM: Infertility, Male. ... Read more

Product Description
How do men react to diagnosis of male infertility and how, if at all, are all their lives affected by it?Male infertility is commonplace yet the male experience of it has been woefully neglected.Male Infertility - Men Talking explores these issues by gathering together men's stories and seeing what common strands, if any, exist between them. Mary-Claire Mason explores the past and present medical management of male infertility as this forms an essential backdrop to the men's stories but the main emphasis is on how men's lives are affected. In the first half of this book the discovery of sperm and the man's role in reproduction is considered together with a review of how the past affects the present medical management of male infertility and the problems that bedevil it. The male voice predominates in the second painful events and relationships with families and friends, their feeling of isolation, their medical experiences, the importance of biological fatherhood, and their hopes for the future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

I would have prefered narrative.
I am fascinated by actual and perceived gender-atypical phenomena.There are men who have lupus and women who are colorblind, for example.Although many reports now say the man is equally likely to cause a couple's barenness as a woman, there's still a perception that women are to blame.In this book, the author speaks to infertile man.

This book will definitely make you sympathize for the group.From a scientific perspective, researchers are not as interested in male infertility as much as its female counterpart.Fertile men have said to them within earshot, "At least I'm not shooting blanks!"The book does mention instances of couple's divorcing due to the problem.One man said, "I'm masculine and hairy, how can I be infertile!?"

Still, I wish this was not reporting by the author; I would have prefered for each man, or couple, to have had a chapter all too themselves.The author is always giving her two cents and summarizing things that are obvious.I really think those readers with this difficulty would have related more to men just speaking about themselves without a journalist's filter.

This is a British book and I think things may be different in the US.First, I imagine that the British health system would pay for infertility treatments that stingy US medical companies would not.Several times men said, "I'd be ruled too old to adopt."In the US, with our large number of parent-less children, I highly doubt that would be a problem.These men seemed reluctant to have donor insemination and in the US, they keep things so private with donor substance that it would be easy for a couple to get help and just pretend it's the husband's child.

This book left two occurences out that I imagine are major.First, I bet that many men don't know they are infertile until they are on a second or third wife who doesn't get pregnant.I'm guessing that many men blame their wives for childlessness without digging further.Second, something tells me that many an infertile man has his brother or male cousin do the goop-supplying if they cannot.The author only mentions a fertile man telling an infertile one, "You want me to set you up?" once.

The (female) author stated that she became interested in this subject because her husband is infertile.She never reveals whether he was accepting of her putting his business all out on Front Street.She never says how she and her husband addressed the problem.She could have let him speak for a few pages to clear up these matters.

There are very few books out there about male infertility.The ones that exist are mostly boring, scientific tomes about curing the problem.This is one of the few books that I found that allowed men to talk on this matter.I thank the author for her effort, but I would have done this book much differently.

first steps
This is such a tragic, moving story - hearing the voices of men discussing the almost undiscussable. But for me the most amazing aspect is their ability to cope - their ability to 'go with the flow' and get on with things. Of course, this book is a very tiny sample (and even the author recognises that the sample is biassed - too many sterile rather than infertile respondents compared to population statistics - perhaps that tells us something about sterile men) and necessarily the author could not interview any man with fertility problems who had made the ultimate withdrawal from an unsatisfactory world.

I know a man who is sterile and I can see synergies between him and the responses reported here, even though his cicumstance is different from all of them. Unlike the respondents here he knew before he was in a relationship - so he did not have a partner to provide support - neither did he have a partner with whom he could bury his own responses by providing her support. It affected him in different ways, but then his life did change. But, for all of these afflicted men, the continual ache in the background does remain even when parenting softens the blow to a degree.

None of the men with infertility problems in this book makes the demand on their partner that they should just accept what fate has dealt them. These men - despite qualms and uncertainties - go along with their partners and fufill their own desires as much as is possible, by following the routes of adoption and assisted fertility processes such as donor insemination (DI).

Perhaps there is another book to be written - one with a broader perspective. How do men cope, for whatever reason, with a failure to become a parent? Is it important to them? Does it have an impact on their life's 'achievement' (think about Beethoven for example)? Are men different in this to women?

Be prepared to confront uncomfortable ideas when you read this book - other people's sadness. One of the men saw that he had an 'invisible disability'. For me this might have been the most telling comment of all - perhaps everyone has invisible disabilities of one sort or another and we should respond to people with understanding and acceptance of that.

But then there was the anguish too. As one of the men said - It's terrible to have a problem, and your wife is the one who gets all the treatment and suffering for it.
... Read more

Product Description
This text provides in-depth coverage on the latest developments and the most recent available treatment modalities for infertility. New advances in the field of reproductive biology and technology are comprehensively covered. ... Read more

Product Description
Couples who learn that they suffer from secondary infertility - the inability to concieve or carry a child to term following the birth of one or more children - are ofen surprised when they find themselves caught between two worlds; that of the fertile and infertile. This work provides a resource for those experiencing secondary infertility and the professionals who treat them.Amazon.com Review
Secondary infertility is often a "hidden" issue, and couplessuffering from the inability to have another wanted child often feel caughtin the netherworld between the childless infertile and parents of largerfamilies. Harriet Fishman Simons, a clinician specializing in fertilityissues and a support group leader for RESOLVE, an advocacy group forinfertile individuals, has been involved ininfertility issues for over 20 years. In her book Wanting Another Child: Coping with Secondary Infertility, Simons discusses the plightof the secondarily infertile--the awkwardness of being among infertilecouples without children, the pain of watching other families conceiveagain. The book takes a broad-based look at an issue that is becoming morecommon as more couples rely on fertility treatments to form their families.Simons weaves personal stories with theory and sociological data. Sheincludes chapters on social and emotional issues (the effects of secondaryinfertility on the couple as well as friends, family,and coworkers), parenting during secondary infertility issues (helpingchildren cope with their parent's secondary infertility), and possibleresolutions to and strategies for coping with secondary infertility.Simons's style may be academic, but the information and message is not, andthis book is a welcome addition to a new subfield of study.--Ericka Lutz ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

shared emotions, but no solutions....
I checked out this book from the library with high hopes of finding answers to my various questions about secondary infertility, but was v. disappointed that it was no more than a collection of experiences sent to the author by a wide variety of people who are living with this infertility.OK so there's a whole community out there who are experiencing similar emotions and questions; what I am looking for are some guidelines and helpful suggestions.The author fails to provide good advice or useful decision-making tools to those dealing with this issue.Although a subject such as secondary infertility has a very large audience, perusing this book made me no wiser in answering questions I have about the situation.2 pts. for dealing with a topic important to many of us, -3 for not shedding light on my questtions.I failed to see the value-add from the author other than making the reader aware that there are many other people out there grappling with the same issues and emotions.Don't waste your time with this book.

Why is this out of print?
I found this book so helpful in making me realize I wasn't alone in this strange mixture of feelings.While I found it helpful to be part of a support group for others suffering from infertility, I also found it difficult at times to relate to those suffering from primary infertility, and I did not want to seem ungrateful for the wonderful child I had when so many people had no child at all.I have passed this book along to several other people and have suggested it to others online -- I only wish it were still in print!

Highly Recommend - it REALLY helped me!!!
Where was this book when I REALLY needed it!!! They need to reprint this because there are so many people who could benifit from this book. I have dealt with my secondary infertility for 8 years from childbirth complications. I have never really felt like I "fit in" with the infertile childless and the people who could have more kids.I recommend this book with 5 stars+++. It may bring on some tears but that is part of the process of coming to terms and the grieving process. You will read about how other ladies have dealt with other peoples pregancies, caught between two worlds of the fertile and infertile, how families do not really give the support you hoped for and knowing they still love you, the second child you had in your mind and heart will never be and you have to mourn for that child, validating your idea of what is a family, adoption as an option, and accepting an only child family. It really helped me out a lot to realise I am not alone and validate my feelings that I have had the past 8 years. If you are a good friend or family member dealing with secondary infertility get this and read it then pass it on to your friend. She/he will feel so good that you cared enough to give it.It was written by a RESOLVE counselor. It is an EXCELLENT book for husbands to read because they see this differently in a lot of ways and this book will help them see the wives point of view. I highly recommend it. Please reprint it!!

An Excellent Read for Those Coping, or if You Know Someone
I had no expectations when I opened this book, having read a number of books on infertility. What a pleasant surprise to discover that Ms. Fishman Simons knows the subject of secondary infertility so well and provides in her book just what couples experiencing this very much ignored problem need for guidance. While reading it was emotionally difficult at times, I found many perspectives that matched what I had felt and some insightful comments on how to get past secondary infertility. I highly recommend this book to anyone coping with secondary infertility, certainly as a beginning to "recovery," and to family and friends of the secondary infertile couple.

An Excellent Read for Those Coping, or if You Know Someone
I had no expectations when I opened this book, having read a number of books on infertility. What a pleasant surprise to discover that Ms. Fishman Simons knows the subject of secondary infertility so well and provides in her book just what couples experiencing this very much ignored problem need for guidance. While reading it was emotionally difficult at times, I found many perspectives that matched what I had felt and some insightful comments on how to get past secondary infertility. I highly recommend this book to anyone coping with secondary infertility, certainly as a beginning to "recovery," and to family and friends of the secondary infertile couple. ... Read more

Product Description
Men, Women and Infertility: Intervention and TreatmentTechniques is a book for medical and psychological professionals whichgives concrete strategies to help patients deal with the stresses ofinfertility: the invasive medical treatments, the guilt, depression,shame, pessimism, anxiety, relationship and sexual problems, andassaults to self esteeem and sexual self esteem.Cognitive behavioraland imagery techniques are shown through case studies.There is achapter on helping pregnant women patients with a prior history ofmiscarriage to manage their anxiety during subsequent pregnancies.There are two chapters on sexuality, looking at sexual trauma and atgender differences in how men and women react to sexuality duringinfertility. ... Read more