Written by a fertility nurse specialist and a sexual health information expert, What Every Woman Needs to Know About Fertility is the most comprehensive, practical and accessible guide to fertility awareness methods available.

This essential guide to reproduction puts you in control of your fertility by explaining how your body works, giving you the confidence to make informed decisions about your sexual and reproductive health. It answers every conceivable question about fertility awareness using detailed images, charts and a step-by-step guide to tracking your temperature and observing the bodily changes associated with ovulation, and gives clearly defined guidelines for how to plan, or avoid, a pregnancy.

Dispelling the myths around fertility awareness methods, and explaining the pros and cons of reproductive technologies such as fertility apps, this book also gives practical answers to the questions that all women ask, including:

• How reliable are Fertility Awareness Methods?
• How easy are FAMs to use?
• How can I use FAMs after having a baby?
• How can I use FAMs if I'm menopausal?

With insights into optimum health and preconception care, plus detailed practical advice to ensure the best possible conditions for pregnancy, What Every Woman Needs to Know About Fertility provides unique, comprehensive guidance and choices for all on how to plan or avoid pregnancy naturally.

One in seven couples experience problems in conceiving, and this book provides information about fertility investigations, treatments, management and dilemmas. This overview of the management of couples with fertility problems is a straightforward account of best practice in the UK today. Fertility treatments have many ethical implications and the book explains the challenges we face following new developments in assisted reproduction, cloning, surrogacy and rationing. Fertility Problems helps GPs and their teams undertake as much management as possible in primary care, and enables them to understand and explain the issues to infertile patients. The book is also useful for patients themselves. Junior doctors, nurses, counsellors and members of ethics committees will find it a valuable introduction and overview. Much of the material is based on the guidelines for clinical management produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. The author is a general practitioner and former member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

The most profound dilemma in assisted reproduction to date is the inability to recognize potentially viable embryos before their replacement into the reproductive tract. Application of increasingly advanced new technology has allowed the field of embryo evaluation to evolve rapidly and dramatically over the past five years.
Human Preimplantation Embryo Selection assembles the leaders in the field of assisted reproduction to discuss their visions of dealing with the topic of embryo selection in the light of the limitations involving the fragility of the early human embryo.
The purpose of this book is to shed light on the ever-expanding techniques that are being employed and evaluated with regard to embryo selection. A comprehensive overview may guide the ART practitioner in choice of techniques and evaluation of benefits and drawbacks.
This book will provide an up-to-date overview and reference source: an invaluable tool for assisted reproductive practice worldwide.

‘A vital, heartfelt read for anyone navigating the rough seas of infertility and pregnancy loss’ – Leah Hazard, author of Hard Pushed An insightful, moving memoir, capturing life working as a midwife in a busy NHS hospital at the same time as dealing with experiences of infertility, IVF and loss. As a young married couple, Sophie Martin and her husband spent years trying to conceive. They went through several rounds of IVF, at great expense, and even travelled overseas for treatment, never quite knowing whether they would one day have a family. Alongside this, Sophie was working hard at a job she loved: looking after expectant mothers and newborn babies as a midwife in a busy hospital, where the patients’ daily new additions were a constant reminder of Sophie’s own setbacks in pursuit of motherhood. The Infertile Midwife is a deeply personal, moving account of chasing something that you want so desperately. It also offers a much-needed look at how society treats infertility – from the language we use to the small talk we make – and the ways in which we can all do more to make things better for hopeful parents. With great warmth and honesty, Sophie shares her experiences of the bursts of hope and moments of great loss, but also the humour, love and joy that can be found in even the darkest places.

The aim of this book is to fill the gap between the standard textbooks of obstetrics & gynecology - which do not cover (conservative) infertility treatment - and the specialized textbooks on ART - which don't address topics such as ovulation induction/IUI and the typical treatment of disorders associated with infertility, such as hyperandrogenism and endometriosis. In many countries, the management of infertility treatment is not done by IVF specialists but by general gynecologists or primary health practitioners. In most countries, specific training and/or a license is required to do 'invasive' infertility treatments, such as IVF/ICSI; however, conservative or semi-conservative treatments - such as IUI with or without ovulation induction - can be done without specific training/licensing. This concise, clinically oriented handbook is predominantly written for gynecologists, primary health practitioners, and medical students who want to improve their knowledge on this aspect of their work. Furthermore the aim is to highlight which types of disorders may be treated by conservative means and which types of disorder should be treated by invasive treatment options such as IVF/ICSI.

Coping with Infertility is an essential source of emotional support for any couple struggling with involuntary childlessness. The book offers proven techniques and real-life examples from both men and women, in order to outline common emotional reactions and remind couples that they are not alone in their ups and downs. The coping skills discussed in the book have been assembled from years of working with individuals in clinical trials and have undergone rigorous scientific testing. These state-of-the-art techniques have been shown to be effective in helping couples deal with the stress, depression, relationship problems, and grief often associated with infertility. Coping with Infertility is an easily accessible and problem-focused guide for couples to use in overcoming the emotional roadblocks of infertility.

Andrology, the science of the physiology, pathology and molecular biology of male reproduction, is a relatively new specialty that has become increasingly important with the advent of modern assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The Atlas of Clinical Andrology describes both normal and abnormal reproductive physiology, and summarizes recent research in the fields of endocrinology, immunoandrology, molecular andrology, and ART. Focusing on the cutting edge of recent knowledge and advances in clinical andrology, it incorporates the latest clinical research findings and makes them accessible to clinicians who need this essential information for the most effective application of assisted reproductive techniques.

Wedding up-to-date scientific information to an understanding of the emotional burdens and ethical dilemmas that inhere in reproductive medicine, Frozen Dreams: Psychodynamic Dimensions of Infertility and Assisted Reproduction provides an overview of the psychology of infertility patients and of the evaluative, administrative, and especially psychotherapeutic issues involved in helping them. The contributors to this volume, who include professionals from nationally prestigious reproductive programs and psychotherapists who evaluate and work clinically with infertility patients, explore the complex choices about life and death that are the daily experience of infertility specialists. In voices equally authoritative and intimate, psychotherapists and other health professionals explore the therapeutic process with patients and couples struggling with miscarriage, infertility, childlessness, the possibility of adoption, and the promise of assisted pregnancy. Among the themes that recur throughout this collection are the following: When is a patient's bitterness, anger, and psychopathology extreme enough to disqualify her as a candidate for infertility treatment? the well-being of offspring resulting from an assisted pregnancy? How does the clinician's personal diagnosis of infertility influence an ongoing psychodynamic treatment? How can a therapist help patients overcome the overwhelming grief of miscarriage? And the contributors are equally attentive to the range of issues that challenge physicians and nurses active in reproductive medicine. Intent on providing practical information that will aid decision-making in this demanding area of practice, they examine questions such as: How reproductive medicine programs should handle difficult patients who present with a sense of entitlement. How staff differences within reproductive medicine programs can be constructively addressed and resolved. Why physicians, nurses, and other program personnel experience burnout and what can be done to prevent it. Written for a large audience of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, researchers, nurses, physicians, and general readers, Frozen Dreams is a fascinating introduction to the human face of reproductive medicine. mental health professionals who work with adult patients through their childbearing years. For professionals who work inside the complex world of infertility treatment, Frozen Dreams will quickly become an essential text that is turned to repeatedly for information, guidance, reassurance, and revitalization.

Worldwide, approximately 500,000 in vitro fertilization cycles are performed every year. Although the best possible result is a healthy child, the technology carries a number of varying risks and complications leading to a trade-off between the efficacy of these treatments and their quality and safety. Drawing on contributions from international experts with academic and clinical backgrounds, Assisted Reproductive Technologies: Quality and Safety presents an analysis of the medical risks and complications involved in reproductive medicine. Putting the intricacies of reproductive health in the spotlight, the book describes side-effects, risks, and complications related to ART treatments. It discusses ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, demonstrates the impact of judicious elective single embryo transfer, and focuses heavily on multiple pregnancy as the major risk factor of ART. The editors highlight the relatively less likely, but important risks of oncogenic complications, bleeding at the time of ovum retrieval, and the even smaller but still existing risk for maternal mortality. They include discussions of non-medical factors that can have a major impact on people's lives such as psychological, sexual, financial, moral, ethical, and philosophical dilemmas. In today's litigious climate, modern management of any clinic is all about minimizing risks and complications. Thoroughly addressing quality and safety issues in ART, this book provides succinct, up-to-date information on quality care in reproductive medicine.

Sperm morphology evaluation by strict criteria is the gold-standard used by IVF and andrology units around the world. It is based on an approach to sperm morphology evaluation that utilizes optimal preparation methods, evaluation procedures, and criteria for a morphological normal spermatozoon based on biological evidence. Featuring fresh perspectives from the founders of the Tygerberg strict criteria, Atlas of Human Sperm Morphology Evaluation provides state-of-the-art information on crucial aspects of male factor infertility. The atlas consists of an introductory teaching manual that gives readers the ability to train and test their diagnostic capabilities and enables laboratories to implement quality control measures. Together with a team of internationally renowned experts in the field of human reproduction, the editors explore every avenue you need to know to successfully evaluate and manage male factor infertility. An accompanying interactive CD-ROM training program, STRICT 1-2-3(R) is available from the editors. STRICT 1-2-3(R) has been developed alongside the atlas to provide not only a complete theoretical background on sperm morphology, but also self-training facilities. Laboratory directors and technicians will now be able to set up their own internal quality control program for sperm morphology evaluation.

An original graphic novel based on the IVF stories of its husband-and-wife authors and the 1-in-50 couples around the world like them. Conrad and Joanne met in their final year of university and have been virtually inseparable since then. For a while, it felt like they had all the time in the world. Yet now, when they are finally ready to have kids, they find that getting pregnant isn't always so easy. Ahead of them lies a difficult, expensive, and emotional journey into the world of assisted fertility, where each 'successful' implantation is followed by a two-week wait to see if the pregnancy takes. Join Joanne and Conrad, their friends, their family, their coworkers, and a stream of expert medical practitioners as they experience the highs and the lows, the tears and the laughter in this sensitive but unflinching portrayal of the hope and heartbreak offered to so many by modern medicine.

It is over two decades since the first test-tube baby was born. During this period a new belief that all infertile women can now have babies has become widely accepted; indeed, infertile couples may feel great pressure to seek a medical solution. However, the psychological and social effects of the changing experiences of infertility remain confusing, both for those who experience infertility and for wider society. In this book, a distinguished range of contributors, including novelist Hilary Mantel and Germaine Greer, examine the experience of infertility from both male and female perspectives, the psychological aspects of infertility diagnosis and treatment, and the often radical and unexpected effects on kinship.
Drawing from a wide range of theoretical backgrounds including Jungian, analytical, and compelling personal reflections, this book aims to unravel the implications of advancing reproductive technology for our understanding of ourselves and our families.

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If you had a dependable method for determining the healthiest and most viable conceptus from a cohort of growing preembryos, replacing more than a single one in order to achieve good pregnancy rates would be moot. Sometime in the not-so-distant future, this may be a reality. Taking a step towards that future, An Atlas of Human Blastocysts vividly illustrates the typical and atypical morphology of mammalian blastocysts. The atlas demonstrates that extended culture of blastocysts is now achieveable in the laboratory and points us toward the day when it will be possible to choose between a number of healthy hatched blastocysts.

Spermatogenesis involves the coordination of a number of signaling pathways, which culminate into production of sperm. Its failure results in male factor infertility, which can be due to hormonal, environmental, genetic or other unknown factors. This book includes chapters on most of the signaling pathways known to contribute to spermatogenesis. Latest research in germ cell signaling like the role of small RNAs in spermatogenesis is also discussed. This book aims to serve as a reference for both clinicians and researchers, explaining possible causes of infertility and exploring various treatment methods for management through the basic understanding of the role of molecular signaling. Key Features Discusses the signaling pathways that contribute to successful spermatogenesis Covers comprehensive information about Spermatogenesis at one place Explores the vital aspects of male fertility and infertility Explains the epigenetic regulation of germ cell development and fertility Highlights the translational opportunities in molecular signaling in testis

ONE OF PEOPLE MAGAZINE'S BEST SUMMER READS 2022 5* 'A jaw-dropping memoir' - THE TELEGRAPH 'One of the maddest memoirs you'll read this year... a beautiful, warm, funny book.' -The Times 'Extraordinary' -The Guardian 'A wholly absorbing page-turner that everyone will want to read. You should probably buy two.' -Kirkus Starred Review 'A riveting debut.' -People Magazine 'By turns hilarious, wrenching, and achingly tender.' -Susan Orlean, New York Times bestselling author 'A remarkable and wise book, two memoirs braided together with such tendresse that readers will come to believe the ironic title in earnest' -LA TIMES 'Riveting and hilariously funny' - The Times For most of her life, Chrysta Bilton was one member of a small, if dysfunctional, family of four. There was her sister, Kaitlyn, her hedonistic, glamorous, gay mum Debra, and Jeffrey, who Debra hand-picked, in an LA hairdressers, to be the father of her children. During Chrysta's unstable childhood, Debra struggled to keep the family afloat and Jeffrey wandered in and out of their lives. Then, in her twenties, Chrysta discovered that her father had secretly donated his sperm over 500 times - and that she had at least 35 other siblings. A Normal Family is a captivating coming-of-age memoir about Chrysta's reckoning with the secrets both parents had carefully kept from her. Heartfelt, warm and funny, it's a story of embracing the family we have, in all the forms we find it.

A critical analysis of white, working class North Americans' motivations and experiences when traveling to Central Europe for donor egg IVF Each year, more and more Americans travel out of the country seeking low cost medical treatments abroad, including fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). As the lower middle classes of the United States have been priced out of an expensive privatized "baby business," the Czech Republic has emerged as a central hub of fertility tourism, offering a plentitude of blonde-haired, blue-eyed egg donors at a fraction of the price. Fertility Holidays presents a critical analysis of white, working class North Americans' motivations and experiences when traveling to Central Europe for donor egg IVF. Within this diaspora, patients become consumers, urged on by the representation of a white Europe and an empathetic health care system, which seems nonexistent at home. As the volume traces these American fertility journeys halfway around the world, it uncovers layers of contradiction embedded in global reproductive medicine. Speier reveals the extent to which reproductive travel heightens the hope ingrained in reproductive technologies, especially when the procedures are framed as "holidays." The pitch of combining a vacation with their treatment promises couples a stress-free IVF cycle; yet, in truth, they may become tangled in fraught situations as they endure an emotionally wrought cycle of IVF in a strange place. Offering an intimate, first-hand account of North Americans' journeys to the Czech Republic for IVF, Fertility Holidays exposes reproductive travel as a form of consumption which is motivated by complex layers of desire for white babies, a European vacation, better health care, and technological success.

The first book to take an integrative approach to the treatment of male infertility issues, this easily digestible guide uses graphics and visual aids to help explain key concepts in diagnosis, anatomy and treatment from a Western and Chinese medicine perspective. Dr Olivia Pojer, a Western medical doctor and Chinese medicine practitioner, uses a dual approach to the largely unexplored treatment of male infertility. The book covers common causes of the topic, the microbiome of the testes, and how to encourage better sperm production. It also includes chapters on nutraceuticals and laser therapy, as well as herbal formulas and acupuncture protocols to implement in clinical practice, along with Chinese medical lifestyle and nutrition. Addressing the so-called male factor in reproduction and its underrepresentation in treatment, this book provides a complete overview for acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners treating male infertility issues.

Multidisciplinary collection of essays on the relationship of infertility and the "historic" STIs--gonorrhea, chlamydia, and syphilis--producing surprising new insights in studies from across the globe and spanning millennia. A multidisciplinary group of prominent scholars investigates the historical relationship between sexually transmitted infections and infertility. Untreated gonorrhea and chlamydia cause infertility in a proportion of women and men. Unlike the much-feared venereal disease of syphilis--"the pox"--gonorrhea and chlamydia are often symptomless, leaving victims unaware of the threat to their fertility. Science did not unmask the causal microorganisms until thelate nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Their effects on fertility in human history remain mysterious. This is the first volume to address the subject across more than two thousand years of human history. Following asynoptic editorial introduction, part 1 explores the enigmas of evidence from ancient and early modern medical sources. Part 2 addresses fundamental questions about when exactly these diseases first became human afflictions, withnew contributions from bioarcheology, genomics, and the history of medicine, producing surprising new insights. Part 3 presents studies of infertility and its sociocultural consequences in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Africa, Oceania, and Australia. Part 4 examines the quite different ways the infertility threat from STIs was perceived--by scientists, the public, and government--in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Germany, France, and Britain, concluding with a pioneering empirical estimate of the infertility impact in Britain. Simon Szreter is Professor of History and Public Policy, University of Cambridge, and Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge.

Written and edited by leading, internationally recognized clinicians and scientists in reproductive medicine and related fields, this unique text is a practical and comprehensive review of the clinical and scientific significance of unexplained male and female infertility and its management. The book is divided into thematic sections to ensure the most useful presentation of topics, opening with definitions and epidemiology of unexplained infertility, including discussion of the WHO's cutoff values for human semen characteristics and its ramifications. Sections covering male and female reproductive pathophysiology follow respectively, covering biological, genetic and environmental causative factors, with a subsequent section on evaluative techniques for male and female patients. Expectant, medical and surgical treatment strategies comprise the fifth section of the book, where active interventions and outcomes of each treatment modality are carefully considered. The final section discusses assisted reproductive techniques to manage unexplained infertility, such as intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization, as well as future perspectives. Thoughtful and enlightening, Unexplained Infertility: Pathophysiology, Evaluation and Treatment will be an invaluable resource for all clinicians and scientists working in the fields of reproductive medicine and infertility.

This unique text provides a comprehensive yet concise review of the various environmental factors and lifestyle choices which impact male fertility, with special emphasis on the mechanisms that contribute to decreased sperm production and impaired function. Internationally recognized scientists and clinicians, leaders in the field of infertility, gather their insights and discuss how to prevent, address and cure male infertility caused by factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, medication and drug use, obesity, dietary and exercise habits, sexually transmitted infections, psychological stress and occupational exposure to chemicals and radiation. Written in an easy to follow, informal yet scientific style, Male Infertility offers invaluable clinical guidelines for physicians and infertility experts and new data and research of great interest to basic scientists, andrologists and embryologists.

Part of a new series on reproductive medicine, this book is a complete guide to the diagnosis and management of infertility. Beginning with an overview of infertility in both women and men, the next chapters discuss assessment and ultrasound. The following chapters cover numerous causes of infertility, and their diagnosis and treatment, examining both medical and lifestyle issues. The book presents the latest advances in the field and each chapter includes key points and references for further reading. Clinical photographs, diagrams and tables further enhance the comprehensive text. Other titles in the series include: Practical Guide in Reproductive Surgery, Practical Guide in Assisted Reproductive Technology and Practical Guide in Andrology and Embryology. Key points Comprehensive guide to diagnosis and management of infertility Part of new series on reproductive medicine Covers numerous causes of infertility, and their diagnosis and treatment Chapters include key points and detailed references for further reading

Microsurgery for Fertility Specialists is an invaluable resource for physicians who specialize in the surgical treatment of male and female infertility. This practical text explains the basics of microsurgery and provides detailed operative descriptions of surgical procedures such as vasectomy reversal, sperm retrieval, tubal reanastomosis, and penile surgery. An exceptional cadre of reproductive specialists shares valuable knowledge of the current state of microsurgery, its role in infertility procedures, and the latest advances in the field --including some non-infertility microsurgical techniques. The book is an essential educational guide for those with a more advanced knowledge of microsurgical practice as it includes chapters that will help them mentor residents and fellows, and inspire future generations of reproductive surgeons.

'The world is not neatly divided into two camps of women, those who wanted to reproduce and did, and those who didn't want to, and didn't. So many of us are caught here, in between, neither one thing nor the other, drifting towards a receding horizon, in our own camp . . .' When Miranda Ward and her husband decided to have a baby, they were optimistic. There was no reason not to be: they were both young, they were both healthy. But five years, three miscarriages and one ectopic pregnancy later, Ward finds herself still dealing with the ongoing aftermath of that decision: the waiting, the doubting, the despairing, the hoping. ADRIFT is a memoir about the unique place of almost-motherhood. Some people pass through it without even noticing; others languish there, held safe, held prisoner, by the walls of not-knowing - for as long as there is still a question mark, an open ending, there is a chance of escape. Inspired by her childhood on the California coast, Ward turns to the water, seeking solace in a landscape of a different kind - the swimming pool. Hoping to make sense of the uncertainty, she begins to ask questions of geography on the most intimate scale. How do we learn to feel at home in our own bodies, even when they disobey? How can we find our way, even when we feel adrift? What language do we have for the spaces in between? Charting a journey through territory at once deeply personal and widely shared, Ward offers a searing, lyrical and radically honest narrative of fertility and motherhood that is less often told.

This concise, truncated version of Nagy, Varghese and Agarwal's Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization is comprised of select clinical chapters for a portable, affordable and up-to-date resource. Gamete Assessment, Selection and Micromanipulation in ART covers a variety of topics, including: - Human oocyte evaluation - Sperm evaluation and selection - Micromanipulators and micromanipulation - Biopsy procedures on oocytes and embryos - Molecular insights in IVF Practical for both clinicians and researchers alike, Gamete Assessment, Selection and Micromanipulation in ART brings together all of the need-to-know information about these important topics in reproductive medicine.

The Birth Space is a doula's guide to conception, pregnancy, birth and postpartum that highlights choice and rights in the perinatal space. In this beautiful book, trained and experienced doula Gabrielle Nancarrow offers comprehensive information about the birthing landscape that will empower you to choose the right birth for you - whether that be an obstetric, midwife or home birth. The Birth Space shows us how to prepare our minds and bodies for pregnancy and labour, from conscious conception through to postpartum and into matrescence. Gabrielle helps us understand what to expect during this period and translates the medical terminology so we are informed. She also provides remedies for common ailments, shares insights from other birth specialists, and is a constant spiritual guide from conception and beyond...talk about continuity of care! Filled with moving photography by Ilsa Wynne-Hoelscher Kidd (@ilsa_whk), Lisa Sorgini @lisa.sorgini, and Hayden Trace (@feelinghomeagain) as well as intimate real-life stories from contributors covering pregnancy loss, IVF, same-sex conception, home births, caesareans and more, The Birth Space is the essential companion for anyone who is seeking guidance as they enter this new chapter of their life 'In The Birth Space ... you will find the information and support that will take you from conception through matrescence, with deeper calm, confidence and power.' Aviva Romm, MD