The hands-on guide that addresses the common barriers to achieving pregnancy and offers tips to maximize your potential for fertility For millions of people, starting a family is a lifelong dream. However, many face challenges in welcoming children into the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 12% of women in the US from ages 15 to 44 have difficulty getting pregnant or staying pregnant. A variety of factors exist that can contribute to infertility, such as ovulation disorders, uterine abnormalities, congenital defects, and a host of environmental and lifestyle considerations. But infertility is not just a female problem. For approximately 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor, while in 8% of couples, a male factor is the only identifiable cause. Fortunately, there are many treatment options that offer hope. Getting Pregnant For Dummies discusses the difficulties related to infertility and offers up-to-date advice on the current methods and treatments to assist in conception. This easy-to-read guide will help you understand why infertility occurs, its contributing risk factors, and the steps to take to increase the chances of giving birth. From in vitro fertilization (IVF) to third party reproduction (donor sperm or eggs and gestational surrogacy) to lifestyle changes to understanding genetic information to insurance, legal and medication considerations, this bookcovers all the information you need to navigate your way to the best possible results. Packed with the latest information and new developments in medical technology, this book: Helps readers find real-life solutions to getting pregnant Covers the latest information on treatments for infertility for both women and men Offers advice on choosing the option best suited for an individual’s unique situation Explains the different types and possible causes of infertility issues Provides insight to genetic testing information Provides suggestions for lifestyle changes that help prepare for conception Getting Pregnant For Dummies is an indispensable guide for every woman trying to conceive and for men experiencing infertility issues.

Are you having problems becoming pregnant? You’re not alone; over 7.2 million Americans are facing the same challenges of infertility. Though some non-experts say that it’s all a matter of relaxation or taking medication, you need clear, straightforward, and trustworthy answers from healthcare professionals without feeling insulted, humiliated, or scared. Written with compassion as well as professional knowledge, Infertility for Dummies combines comfort and expertise to walk you through your journey to becoming pregnant. This plain-English guide explains how infertility affects both men and women, while covering the latest treatments. It covers all key areas, including: Determining if you are infertile Maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner Making healthy pre-conception lifestyle changes Understanding the male and female anatomy Techniques for timing your conception Different ways to diagnose infertility Dealing with early pregnancy loss Finding the right doctor Different types of alternative insemination New advances and concerns in infertility Improving your chances of conceiving Infertility for Dummies includes strategies for dealing with family and friends — what to expect from them, how to deal with inappropriate comments, and understanding that they are just trying to help. This book also provides the names and profiles of fertility medications and where you can find them.

Created especially for the Australian customer! A guide to the medical, emotional, legal and financial aspects of IVF and life after treatment Are you trying for a baby but suspect you may have an infertility problem and need IVF to conceive? IVF & Beyond For Dummies gives you clear advice on the causes of infertility, getting ready for IVF, the steps involved in treatment and managing the ups and downs of this difficult time. This comprehensive guide also prepares you for life post-IVF. Find out why you can't fall pregnant -- learn about the causes of infertility and what it takes to get a diagnosis Improve your chances of IVF success -- change your lifestyle to boost your fertility Understand IVF step-by-step -- get detailed, easy-to-follow explanations of what happens in a treatment cycle Navigate the system -- educate yourself about the legal and financial realities of IVF Take charge -- be empowered to make informed decisions about your IVF treatment Manage treatment stress -- discover strategies for surviving the emotional turmoil of IVF Help a friend -- get advice on how to support a loved one who's undergoing IVF Enjoy life after IVF -- find out what's special about being pregnant, giving birth and parenting after IVF

Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it. People do it too—have babies, that is—but sometimes they need a little help getting there. Often the problem is simple and can be handled without medical intervention. Unfortunately, in many cases it’s more complicated and can lead to a long, costly, and emotionally trying treatment process. Each year, more than 6 million people become fertility patients in the United States, alone. And they’re just the ones who can afford treatments which can cost as much as $20,000—with no guarantee of success. Ready for a baby but having a hard time conceiving? In this friendly guide, fertility patient, Jackie Meyers-Thompson and fertility expert Sharon Perkins use humor, heartache, and the real-life experiences of actual patients to cover the complete fertility story. In jargon-free language, they clue you in on the essentials of human reproduction and what can impede it. And they tell you what you need to know to: Take control of your fertility Optimize you chances of conceiving Know why you’re not conceiving Understand your treatment options Find the right doctor and work with him or her Navigate the confusing world of fertility treatments From basic life-style changes to in vitro fertilization, Fertility For Dummies covers all the basic and high-tech fertility choices available. You’ll discover what you need to know about: The female anatomy, the logistics of getting pregnant, and behaviors you should or shouldn’t change before trying to conceive Fine-tuning conception efforts using methods to predict ovulation, best sexual behaviors, diet, vitamins and supplements, and more Tests for diagnosing fertility problems and understanding the effects of various diseases on fertility Choosing a specialist and choosing a treatment, including intrauterine insemination and fertility injections In vitro fertilization, what to expect physically, emotionally, and financially Third-party reproduction—working with sperm donors, egg donors, embryo adoption, and surrogates Relax, discover your fertility options, and let Fertility For Dummies be your guide to having a baby.

This book explores the arguments, appeals, and narratives that have defined the meaning of infertility in the modern history of the United States and Europe. Throughout the last century, the inability of women to conceive children has been explained by discrepant views: that women are individually culpable for their own reproductive health problems, or that they require the intervention of medical experts to correct abnormalities. Using doctor-patient correspondence, oral histories, and contemporaneous popular and scientific news coverage, Robin Jensen parses the often thin rhetorical divide between moralization and medicalization, revealing how dominating explanations for infertility have emerged from seemingly competing narratives. Her longitudinal account illustrates the ways in which old arguments and appeals do not disappear in the light of new information, but instead reemerge at subsequent, often seemingly disconnected moments to combine and contend with new assertions. Tracing the transformation of language surrounding infertility from “barrenness” to “(in)fertility,” this rhetorical analysis both explicates how language was and is used to establish the concept of infertility and shows the implications these rhetorical constructions continue to have for individuals and the societies in which they live.

Discusses common causes of infertility, how infertility is diagnosed, treatment options, how to select a fertility clinic, and what to do if treatments fail.

This friendly guide combines professional and personal advice on every aspect of fertility and infertility. From deciding when to seek help and what help to seek, to the emotional, fi nancial, and medical considerations of fertility treatments, you'll be reassured every step of the way with all the support and specialist advice you need to increase your chances of a healthy and happy pregnancy.