Product Description

Writing with sympathy and clarity on infertility McGrail addresses the issues of both successful and unsuccessful treatment, and lists alternatives to IVF for the childless couple.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #263093 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Few of those who are lucky enough to conceive children naturally can have any idea of the sadness and anxiety infertility can cause. Anna McGrail deals with this painful subject with understanding and sensitivity and it comes as no surprise to learn that she has experienced the sorrow of miscarriages and fertility problems at first hand. The author's own story, which had the very happy ending of two healthy children, will offer hope to couples starting out on what can often be a long and painful journey, in the quest for a baby.

This book manages to find the ideal balance between detail and simplicity, starting with the basic physiology of reproduction and suggesting reasons why conception may not be occurring. Also explained are the tests likely to be carried out and the treatments currently available to tackle the problem. Using quotes from couples who have experienced different types of infertility problems themselves, McGrail goes on to consider options open to those who have no success in starting a family of their own. She realistically discusses adoption, surrogacy and taking the decision to accept and adapt to a life without children. In an area in which new techniques are constantly becoming available, you may have a fight on your hands to get the best treatment you can, as it varies tremendously from region to region. For these reasons, it is important to find a book such as this where the information is so up-to-date and comprehensive.

If you or someone close to you is having difficulty conceiving, it is important to learn all you can about the subject as preparation for the months, or even years, ahead. This is the ideal book to give you that knowledge. It also provides an exhaustive list of Web sites and publications dealing with associated topics. Definitely one for your bookshelf! --Carole Butterworth

Customer Reviews

It tells it like it is
I am so glad I found this book. It 's written from the point of view of someone who knows what she's talking about when it comes to what you should be doing and what you might want to do next, and someone who knows how people who want to become parents really feel. There are so many stories from different women, that it made me feel much less alone in what I am going through. I thought no one in the world had ever felt like I did, and it's worth buying for that alone. I don't know what the future will be, but this book has helped me to deal with it, whatever it is.

An unpatronising and sympathetic explanation of infertility
This book gives a sufficiently detailed explanation of the different causes of infertility, but also gives quotes of people going through similar experiences. For anyone going through infertility it is worth reading, even just to make you realise you are not alone!