When we made the decision to move onto IVF I got tunnel vision and suddenly felt as if I had to know everything there was about the process, about other women’s experiences, and about infertility in general. In addition to seeking out information on the internet and joining forums, I also read as many books as I could get my hands on. I sought out books written in a style that wouldn’t thrust me into a further pit of despair; I was looking for humor or stories written from the trenches and found some that really did help.
I, like a lot of other infertile women, first read Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It was a great basic guide to fertility and the signs to be aware of and how to best prepare to conceive, but it was not exactly what I was looking for once I already knew that we would need more invasive help. I wanted to hear from someone who experienced IVF and could talk about the good, the bad and the ugly. I searched out IVF specific books and found IVF – The Wayward Stork by Lea L. McCarthy. It proclaimed to tell me “what to expect, who to expect it from, and surviving it all,” and it really did. It quenched my desire to know more about the true ins and outs of IVF and I recommend it as a must-read for someone who wants a firsthand account of the experience of fertility treatment.
There were a few others that I would be remiss not to mention. Each helped in their own way and if you, like me, are an avid reader books like these on the subject of IVF or infertility in general truly do make you feel as though you are participating in some small way in the whole process over which you have no control. Some other books that I recommend include:
Waiting for Daisy – by Peggy Orenstein. An account of fertility trials and tribulations that you can really relate to. Reading this you finally feel as though someone else understands what you are going through.
Infertility Sucks – by Beverly Barna. A great option when you need a good laugh and want a different perspective.
The Conception Chronicles – by Patty Doyle Debano, Courtney Menzel, and Shelly Sutphen. Another funny one, with many poignant and familiar words this book discusses infertility and treatment more generally, and is excellent for people at all stages of infertility.
Those are just a few of some of the outstanding books in what is surely a burgeoning market. In this “sisterhood” that we never wanted to join there a lot of members and there is surely a book written by one that is just right for you.
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