I just finished reading this book, The Couple's Guide to In Vitro Fertilization, and I must say, I was very impressed by the scope of the book, as well as its user-friendly tone and approach.
This book will answer just about any infertility/IVF question that you can think of, and also answer many questions that you didn't know you had. In fact, it even has several lists of questions for you to ask your doctor, clinic, etc., so you don’t have to waste precious moments brainstorming.
I found it very thorough, concise and immensely helpful. If large tomes filled to the brim with doctor-speak scare you, have no fear! This book is small enough to travel anywhere with you (like to the reproductive endocrinologist, or to your RESOLVE meeting) yet packs a punch with its witty descriptions and true-life experiences.
Chapters cover IVF Facts; Is IVF the right choice for you?; Emotional Support; Fertility Treatment Funding; Choosing the best practice for you; If you need specialized treatment; Preparing for the IVF cycle; and What to do if your first cycle fails.
From this book, I learned that only 21% of infertile women seek medical care to determine the cause of their infertility and/or treat it, research shows that the levels of depression faced by infertile people are as high as those dealing with life-threatening illnesses, less than 20% of all IVF patients have substantial (financial) coverage, and less than one-twelfth of all couples who could benefit from IVF actually seek out treatment. What does that tell me? Well, for starters, it says that a book of this nature is greatly needed to help couples facing the mountain of infertility.
This book covers all of the fertility drugs associated with IVF, all of the pre-IVF work-up testing, several different varieties of the IVF cycle, and multiple questionnaires, checklists and things-to-consider.
The book also contains a glossary of infertility-related terms, a comprehensive list of online resources and many interesting facts and charts to help you better understand the entire ordeal of assisted reproduction.
Scattered throughout the book are real-couple experiences, helpful advice and tips, plus the author's own trials and tribulations with IVF.
The author, Liza Charlesworth, has had the pleasure (and discomfort) of seeing both sides of the IVF outcome. She went through two unsuccessful IVF cycles before being successful at her third attempt. She speaks from her own experiences, breaking down every minute detail about the entire IVF process into easy-to-digest bites.
I highly recommend this book to anyone even remotely considering IVF or another Assisted Reproduction procedure. After all, the best way to win your battles is to be prepared for them!