Winner of the NCTE George Orwell Award for Distinguished Contribution to Honesty and Clarity in Public Language Although Roe v. Wade identified abortion as a constitutional right 45 years ago, it still bears stigma-a proverbial scarlet A. Millions of Americans have participated in or benefited from an abortion, but few want to reveal that they have done so. Approximately one in five pregnancies in the US ends in abortion. Why is something so common, which has been legal so long, still a source of shame and secrecy? Why is it so regularly debated by politicians, and so seldom divulged from friend to friend? This book explores the personal stigma that prevents many from sharing their abortion experiences with friends and family in private conversation, and the structural stigma that keeps it that way. In public discussion, both proponents and opponents of abortion's legality tend to focus on extraordinary cases. This tendency keeps the national debate polarized and contentious, and keeps our focus on the cases that occur the least. Professor Katie Watson focuses instead on the cases that happen the most, which she calls "ordinary abortion." Scarlet A gives the reflective reader a more accurate impression of what the majority of American abortion practice really looks like. It explains how our silence around private experience has distorted public opinion, and how including both ordinary abortion and abortion ethics could make our public exchanges more fruitful. In Scarlet A, Watson wisely and respectfully navigates one of the most divisive topics in contemporary life. This book explains the law of abortion, challenges the toxic politics that make it a public football and private secret, offers tools for more productive private exchanges, and leads the way to a more robust public discussion of abortion ethics. Scarlet A combines storytelling and statistics to bring the story of ordinary abortion out of the shadows, painting a rich, rarely seen picture of how patients and doctors currently think and act, and ultimately inviting readers to tell their own stories and draw their own conclusions.

With attention to the ways in which new reproductive technologies facilitate the gradual disembodiment of reproduction, this book reveals the paradox of women's reproductive experience in patriarchal cultures as being both, and often simultaneously, empowering and disempowering. A rich exploration of birth appropriation in the West, New Reproductive Technologies and Disembodiment investigates the assimilation of women's embodied power into patriarchal systems of symbolism, culture and politics through the inversion of women's and men's reproductive roles. Contending that new reproductive technologies represent another world historical moment, both in their forging of novel social relations and material processes of reproduction, and their manner of disembodying women in unprecedented ways - a disembodiment evident in recent visual and literary, popular and academic texts - this volume locates the roots of this disembodiment in western political discourse. A call to feminist political theory to re-remember the material dimensions of bodies and their philosophical significance, New Reproductive Technologies and Disembodiment will appeal to scholars of sociology, gender studies, political and social theory and the study of science, technology and health.

Aristotle believed semen to be the purest of all bodily secretions, a vehicle for the spirit or psyche that gives form to substance. For Proust's narrator in "Swann's Way," waking to find he has experienced a nocturnal emission, it is the product of "some misplacing of my thigh." The heavy metal band Metallica used it to adorn an album cover. Beyond its biological function, semen has been applied with surprising frequency to metaphorical and narratological purposes.
In "Images of Bliss," Murat Aydemir undertakes an original and extensive analysis of images of male orgasm and semen. In a series of detailed case studies-Aristotle's "On the Generation of Animals;" Andres Serrano's use of bodily fluids in his art; paintings by Holbein and Leonardo; Proust's "In Search of Lost Time; "hard-core pornography (both straight and gay); and key texts from the poststructuralist canon, including Lacan on the phallus, Bataille on expenditure, Barthes on bliss, and Derrida on dissemination-Aydemir traces the complex and often contradictory possibilities for imagination, description, and cognition that both the idea and the reality of semen make available. In particular, he foregrounds the significance of male ejaculation for masculine subjectivity. More often than not, Aydemir argues, the event or object of ejaculation emerges as the instance through which identity, meaning, and gender are not so much affirmed as they are relentlessly and productively questioned, complicated, and displaced.
Combining close readings of diverse works with subtle theoretical elaboration and a keen eye for the cultural ideals and anxieties attached to sexuality, "Images of Bliss" offers a convincing and longoverdue critical exploration of ejaculation in Western culture.
Murat Aydemir is assistant professor of comparative literature at the University of Amsterdam.

This book explores the unresolved paradox at the heart of population aging, namely how to account for the fact that death rates from most non-communicable diseases rise as people age, yet aggregate death rates from such diseases have decreased overall despite an increasingly aging population. It provides a long-term historical perspective on this issue, presenting evidence that the underpinnings of modern aging extend as far back as the nineteenth century, and that aging has boosted per capita healthcare spending.  The book first outlines the three eras of the Epidemiologic Transition, taking readers from its first stage where the threat of infectious diseases loom large, through the transitional stage, and on to the modern era, where non-communicable diseases are the primary cause of death.  Next, the book examines the age-profiles of people whose childhoods coincide with the different stages of the Epidemiologic Transition. Using data from England and Wales, one of the few places that have recorded the data necessary for such an exploration, the book resolves the aging paradox by studying hidden generational change. It traverses historical time and identifies the distinct socio-economic and epidemiologic childhood conditions that may appear in it. It then compares, for instance, aging of children brought up in an earlier epidemiologic stage with aging of ones raised in a modern one.  In the process, it explores the influence of childhood development on aging. Overall, the book has a quantitative bent, engaging the reader with analytical issues that will help develop a deeper understanding of modern aging.

Human Fertility: Methods and Protocols is intended for all practitioners of reproductive medicine and ART, as well as for embryologists and reproductive, developmental, cell and molecular biologists and others in the biomedical sciences. The volume presents straight-forward manner best practice approaches for overcoming a host of fertility challenges. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Human Fertility: Methods and Protocols aids scientists in continuing to study assisted reproductive technologies.

Compassionately written by an experienced team of professionals, this book offers parents and families essential information about the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of sex development, or DSD.

DSD refers to medical conditions, usually discovered at birth, in which there is disagreement between a person's genetic sex (i.e., chromosomes) and the appearance of the person's external or internal reproductive structures. After their child is diagnosed with DSD, parents need answers to a host of questions, including

- What is DSD, why does it occur, how is it identified, and how is it treated?- Did we do something to cause our child's DSD?- Is my baby a boy or a girl?- Will my child grow up to be normal and healthy?- Does my child need surgery?

This concise book answers parents' questions in a reassuring and forthright way, giving affected individuals, their families, and their health care providers a current and evidence-based picture of DSD. It offers clear explanations of how newborns with DSD are evaluated, diagnosed, and treated; describes the different kinds of DSD; and pays close attention to both psychosocial and medical aspects of DSD. This guide also includes information about the importance of support groups and education for affected individuals and their families.

In their daily work, the authors treat, support, and educate people with DSD and their families. This resource gives parents and families access to the authors' expertise so they can reach a meaningful understanding of their child's DSD and make informed decisions about their child's health.

Forms, Souls, and Embryos allows readers coming from different backgrounds to appreciate the depth and originality with which the Neoplatonists engaged with and responded to a number of philosophical questions central to human reproduction, including: What is the causal explanation of the embryo's formation? How and to what extent are Platonic Forms involved? In what sense is a fetus 'alive,' and when does it become a human being? Where does the embryo's soul come from, and how is it connected to its body? This is the first full-length study in English of this fascinating subject, and is a must-read for anyone interested in Neoplatonism or the history of medicine and embryology.

Ultrasonography is a crucial tool in successful assisted reproduction but requires a steady hand and can often be difficult for unconfident clinicians. A comprehensive ultrasound imaging reference, this is an essential guide for trainee clinicians, ultrasonographers, and nurses working in the field of assisted reproductive technology. Providing the reader with an overview of the process and a foundation to direct their ultrasound assessment of each patient, it contains highly practical tips and tricks for obtaining the best images. Heavily illustrated with example images, the role of ultrasound in fertility treatment is explained, as well as how to identify the uterus and ovaries, measure the endometrium, count follicles and recognize pathology. The role of ultrasound in assisted reproduction is covered, including transvaginal oocyte collection, embryo transfer, early pregnancy, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy. This is an indispensable reference for clinicians new to ultrasound in assisted reproduction.

Externally the vertebrate body plan presents a bilateral symmetry in relation to the midline. However, inside the body the distribution of the visceral organs follows a very particular pattern that is not symmetrical in relation to the midline.

The last 10 years have seen remarkable advances in our understanding of how the internal asymmetries typical of the vertebrate body are established and controlled. The use of different development models has permitted to uncover fascinating ways of creating asymmetry, like the activity of the nodal cilia. A host of studies has also unravelled the involvement of many genes in the left right patterning pathway.

Based on this knowledge the genetic basis of human laterality defects are beginning to be revealed. It is a major challenge now to understand how all these genes control left right development as well as the complex set of interactions established between them.

Since 1989, more than 165,000 children have been adopted by American parents. Every indication suggests that this number will increase in the years to come. Many of these children arrive with complex medical and behavioural problems. These children require specialized medical attention to help them get well and adjust to their new lives and surroundings. The Handbook of International Adoption Medicine presents an overview of the medical and developmental issues that affect internationally adopted children, offering guidelines for families and physicians before, during, and after adoption. Laurie Miller has comprehensively researched these topics and also draws from over fifteen years of experience in international adoption and orphanages throughout the world. This book shows how to advise families prior to an international adoption, how to perform an effective initial screening assessment of the newly arrived child, how to manage common behaviour problems, and how to recognize and manage developmental and other more long-term problems as they emerge. Sections cover such subjects as the risks of prenatal exposures, problems in growth and development, infectious diseases, and other medical conditions such as inherited disorders, uncertain age, and precocious puberty. This information has never been available in one place, making the book an invaluable resource for families and professionals in the field of international adoption.

A lift-the-flap book showing milestones in a baby's development during pregnancy and the mother's experiences as it grows.

Adopts an "issues approach" to teaching introductory biology Up-to-date on relevant topics like climate change, CRISPR, new hominids, and new cancer therapies Suitable for both a majors and non-majors course More succinct for ease in teaching and more affordable for students A large suite of student resources, such as questions to enable self-testing, simulations of key processes to aid learning, web links to encourage further reading Instructor resources to use in teaching, such as PowerPoint slides with figures from the book, activity and assignment ideas, and comprehensive lesson plans

The Male Reproductive System chart presents an overview of the structure and function of male reproductive anatomy. The primary image illustrates the overall structure, including the penis and testicles. Diagrams lay-out the process of spermiogenesis and the movement of sperm. Heavy gauge 3ml lamination with sealed edges and two metal eyelets for hanging makes chart highly durable. Write-on/wipe-off with dry erase marker (not included).

Why are women biologically driven to find Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome?Can more sex help ensure a safe pregnancy?What effect does pornography have on a man's fertility?

Dr. Sharon Moalem, author of the New York Times bestseller Survival of the Sickest, takes us on a trip from prehistory to the forefront of cutting-edge medical research--and through a bedroom or two--to tell the story of how human sexuality has developed over time. How Sex Works challenges common perceptions about our bodies as it provides answers to such provocative questions as: Can the birth control pill influence the type of men women are attracted to? Why do hourglass-shaped women tend to be especially fertile? When are women most likely to cheat? Can twins have different fathers?

From the composition and function of human sex organs to the fascinating biochemistry behind sexual attraction, How Sex Works is an entertaining, comprehensive exploration of culture, biology, and history that takes us far beyond our common understanding of sex.

Why do women live longer than men? Does ownership of paired X chromosomes confer more prolonged survival on females, or is the gender difference in life-expectancy a cumulative consequence of differing life experiences for women and men? The areas of gender differences in aging, functional capacity, and the response to physical activity have often been the basis for speculation rather than informed judgment. Gender, Physical Activity, and Aging draws upon the sound knowledge base of leading investigators to provide objective, evidence-based evaluations of particular facets of the aging process. Focusing on gender differences, it examines the rate of aging, loss of functional capacity, disability, and the quality of life among the elderly and presents evidence of potential modification through physical activity and lifestyle.

The ONLY textbook available on marine mammal physiology, a core topic in Marine Science undergrad teaching Builds on the unique overall theme 'How would you design a marine mammal?' which focuses on what an undergrad student would actually want to know. What would they ask? So rather than "What are the biochemical differences between marine and terrestrial mammals?" the book addresses "How can marine mammals dive for such a long time?" or "How do they stay warm in such cold water?" Organises the Table of Contents into common 'real' student questions. The book thus centres around the point of view of the student. This makes it accessible and student-focused. Consistency across all chapters Provides consistent Power Point slides that teachers can use when they don't know the field well AND that students can use as study guides. Offers Study Questions and future thinking/implications questions. A Driving Question for each chapter is highlighted in a box. A concluding chapter ties up loose ends and consolidates the driving questions from the individual chapters. Contains the contributions of well-respected, prominent scientists in the field. Author bios for each chapter showcase diversity in contributor pool. Focuses on physiological adaptations of marine mammals and connects them with the ecological context, including anthropogenic impacts. Discusses differences that might exist by type of marine mammal, development questions, and behavioral issues.

"Will the future confront us with human GMOs? Greely provocatively declares yes, and, while clearly explaining the science, spells out the ethical, political, and practical ramifications."-Paul Berg, Nobel Laureate and recipient of the National Medal of Science Within twenty, maybe forty, years most people in developed countries will stop having sex for the purpose of reproduction. Instead, prospective parents will be told as much as they wish to know about the genetic makeup of dozens of embryos, and they will pick one or two for implantation, gestation, and birth. And it will be safe, lawful, and free. In this work of prophetic scholarship, Henry T. Greely explains the revolutionary biological technologies that make this future a seeming inevitability and sets out the deep ethical and legal challenges humanity faces as a result. "Readers looking for a more in-depth analysis of human genome modifications and reproductive technologies and their legal and ethical implications should strongly consider picking up Greely's The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction... [It has] the potential to empower readers to make informed decisions about the implementation of advancements in genetics technologies." -Dov Greenbaum, Science "[Greely] provides an extraordinarily sophisticated analysis of the practical, political, legal, and ethical implications of the new world of human reproduction. His book is a model of highly informed, rigorous, thought-provoking speculation about an immensely important topic." -Glenn C. Altschuler, Psychology Today

Understanding immunology is increasingly important in obstetrics and gynecology. This book explores the role of immunological processes in reproduction. It presents immunologic concepts and illustrates important points with examples familiar to the clinician. It is organized into four sections: fundamentals of the immune system; the immunological paradox of pregnancy; clinical applications of immunology in obstetric and gynecologic practice, and immunopathology in obstetric and gynecologic practice. Written mainly for practicing obstetricians and gynecologists, the research results cited in the book are confined to human experimentation.

This book explores the issues that surround medically assisted reproduction. It addresses the place of destiny, including how to think about individual destinies in an age of increasingly accessible gene sequencing paired with a growing link between procreation and prediction.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have become a significant part of human reproduction, with already one in 50 children worldwide being born through ART and the demand steadily increasing. To accommodate the various kinds of infertility problems, new methods have been developed to increase IVF and ART success rates and it has also become possible to treat sperm, eggs, and embryos in culture to improve reproductive success, to increase the health state of an embryo, and to prevent disease in the developing child. Human Reproduction: Updates and New Horizons focuses on recent developments and new approaches to study egg and sperm cells and embryo development, as well as addressing the increasing demand for IVF and ART to overcome infertility problems of various kinds that are encountered by an increasing number of couples worldwide. The book includes 10 chapters written by experts in their specific fields to provide information on sperm selection techniques and their relevance to ART; In vitro maturation of human oocytes: current practices and future promises; Molecular biology of endometriosis; Novel immunological aspects for the treatment of age-induced ovarian and testicular infertility, other functional diseases, and early and advanced cancer immunotherapy; Mitochondrial manipulation for infertility treatment and disease prevention; Novel imaging techniques to assess gametes and preimplantation embryos; Clinical application of methods to select in vitro fertilized embryos; New horizons/developments in time-lapse morphokinetic analysis of mammalian embryos; The non-human primate model for early human development; Cytoskeletal functions, defects, and dysfunctions affecting human fertilization and embryo development. This book will appeal to a large interdisciplinary audience, including researchers from both the basic science and medical communities. It will be a valuable reference for IVF clinicians, patients and prospective patients who are considering ART procedures, embryologists, cell biologists and students in the field of reproduction.

Based on the "Guide to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990," this volume reviews the regulation of assisted conception including complex moral issues such as abortion, embryo research and cloning. It offers a comprehensive guide to the 1990 legislation as well as important legal and technical developments since that time.

The options in antenatal and neonatal care are legion. Preferences still tend to be subjective. In spite of much publicity that has raised public expectation, an up-to-date thorough evaluation of antenatal and neonatal screening was lacking. This book sets out screening approaches in a quantitative manner and will enable choices to be based on objective evidence of efficacy and, where appropriate, safety. Technical advances have sometimes been introduced uncritically and without adequate assessment. It has been assumed, perhaps naively, that the early detection of abnormality will invariably be a good thing. In this book, there is no such assumption that new tests or technical procedures are useful. They are only considered as a legitimate medical option if they can and have been shown to lead to improvements in outcome. Each disorder is defined and the screening procedure which is designed to identify the disorder critically evaluated. Priority is given to the screening of disorders which lend themselves to effective intervention and practical guidance is provided on how screening should be conducted. Most chapters include a discussion of problem areas and research needs. There are 23 chapters from leading experts from Europe and North America. The book bridges different disciplines concerned with screening and thereby improves the understanding of the subject and will improve delivery of preventive medical services. The book is directed at obstetricians, public health doctors, paediatricians and fetal medicine doctors, epidemiologists, geneticists, health care providers and administrators.

Penile implants have been an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) for more than 40 years. However, there is now a growing interest in this treatment option, as the number of procedures is expected to increase in the future. This book offers a reference guide for all those practitioners interested in understanding and/or performing this procedure. It will also benefit those in medical education who want to obtain specialized and high-quality knowledge regarding the complexities involved in penile implant surgery. Although the basic description of penile implant surgery is well documented in the literature, a detailed and comprehensive guide with a special focus on the most challenging and controversial aspects is lacking. The few books available on the topic provide a broad overview of prosthetic surgery in general, mainly discuss basic principles, and fail to provide a more detailed perspective. This comprehensive book discusses various aspects of penile implant surgery, ranging from indications to long-term complications. It addresses the most common and serious challenges regarding penile implants, which are rarely discussed elsewhere. The respective chapters were written by internationally respected experts on the controversies of penile prosthetic surgery. The book is intended for all those who plan to specialize in penile implant surgery, which include, but are not limited to, residents and fully trained urologists, as well as fellows and practitioners in sexual medicine and reconstructive urology.

How to decelerate loss of global biodiversity is one of the greatest challenges of our generation. Reproductive technologies have enormous potential to assist the recovery of species by enhancing reproductive output, facilitating genetic management, and supporting reintroduction of threatened species. Of particular value are cryopreservation technologies coupled with the establishment of global gene banks to conserve, in perpetuity, the remaining extant genetic diversity of threatened amphibians. Reproductive Technologies and Biobanking for the Conservation of Amphibians brings together leading experts in the field to provide a comprehensive overview of current best practices, summarise technological advancements, and present a framework for facilitating the integration of reproductive technologies and biobanking into conservation breeding programs for threatened amphibians. It is an invaluable reference for the next generation of conservation practitioners: captive breeding facilities, researchers, and policy-makers involved with biodiversity conservation

This is the second volume in an annual series reviewing important areas and advances in obstetric ultrasound, with wide-ranging reviews as well as chapters that look at chosen topics in more depth. This volume again draws together outstanding contributions from radiologists, obstetricians, and scientists to provide full coverage of clinical problems of particular current interest, such as extopic pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis of neural tube defects, fetal cardiac arrhythmias, and non-immune hydrops, while also covering litigations, equipment, and randomized trails of obstetric ultrasound.