Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation [Hardcover]

Elen Sarasohn Glazer (Author), Evelina Weidman Sterling (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2005

Increasingly, friends, family members or physicians are asking, Have you thought about egg donation? It is asked of women who have lost ovaries (or ovarian function) to cancer treatment, women born without ovaries or having lost them to surgery, women unable to attempt pregnancy until over 30, young women being diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, and gay couples, more and more of whom are considering parenthood.

Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation is a comprehensive book for people considering parenthood through donated ova, and those supporting them. It takes readers through the decision-making process, focusing on questions they are likely to be asking themselves, including: Are we candidates for egg donation? Will it work? How much does it cost? How do we find a donor? How do we talk about our decision with others? How will we tell our children? Ethical questions related to egg donation are also examined: Can a donor truly have informed consent Is it ethically correct for donors to receive payment, and, if so, is the payment for 'time and effort' or for their eggs?

In simple, clear, informative, and sensitive language, the book addresses feelings that arise for individuals and couples facing egg donation decisions and provides information, understanding and guidance for prospective families and the professionals who support them in their the journey.

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...chocked full of information and resources... covers medical, ethical and psychological aspects completely than anything previously available. -- Carole LieberWilkins, M.A., Marriage and Family Therapist, Los Angeles

...indispensable resource for all involved: married couples, singles, gay/lesbian couples; donors/gestational carriers; medical personnel; friends and family -- Patricia Mahlstedt, Ed.D, Psychologist, Private Practice, Houston, Texas Patricia Mahlstedt, Ed.D Psychologist, Private Practice Houston, Texas

In very basic language and terminology, Glazer and Sterling guide the reader through the maze of feelings and considerations -- Andrea Mechanick Braverman, Ph.D., Director of Psychological Services, Pennsylvania Reproductive Associates of the Women's Institute

factual and humane must read for professionals focusing efforts on application and refinement of ovum donation procedures. -- Luigi Mastroianni, Jr., M.D., The William Goodell Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center

From the Inside Flap

Increasingly, friends, family members, or physicians are asking , "Have you thought about egg donation?" It is asked of women who have lost ovaries (or ovarian function) to cancer treatment, women born without ovaries or having lost them to surgery, women unable to attempt pregnancy until they were over 30, young women being diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, and gay couples, more and more of whom are considering parenthood through collaborative reproduction.

Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation is the first comprehensive book for people considering parenthood through donated ova. It takes readers through the decision making process, focusing on questions they are likely to be asking themselves, including: "Are we candidates for egg donation?" "Will it work?" "How much does it cost?" "How do we find a donor?" "Should we ask a family member or work with a stranger?" "How do we talk about our decision with others?" "How will we tell our children?" Ethical questions related to egg donation are also examined: "Can a donor truly have informed consent?" "Is it ethically correct for donors to receive payment, and, if so, is the payment for ‘time and effort’ or for their eggs?" Perhaps the thorniest question of all is "How old is too old?"

For readers facing the unfamiliar new terrain of ovum donation, Ellen Sarasohn Glazer and Evelina Weidman Sterling are wise and compassionate guides. In simple, clear, informative, and sensitive language, they address feelings that arise for individuals and couples facing egg donation decisions. Drawing from different and complementary areas of expertise-Glazer is a counselor and infertility coach, Sterling a public health specialist and medical ethicist-they provide readers with information and understanding

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Perspectives Press (IN); 1st edition (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944934323
• ISBN-13: 978-0944934326
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #720,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Read if over 40!, October 14, 2007

By 

L. Vaughn "Not Impressed" (Henderson, Nevada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation (Hardcover)

After seeing all the 5 star ratings for this book, I did my best to find some redeeming value in this diatribe. I felt that I was constantly slapped in the face with the authors views that wanting to have a baby over the age of 40 was selfish and unfair to the child. I'd like to inform the narrow minded authors that at age 40 I'm a much better parent than I would ever have been in my 20's and 30's. I have just as much energy and a lot more patience! Not to mention that my parents at 65 are no where near the geriatric burdens that the authors predict for my children in the future. Parenting is challenging at any age, and to assume that someone under the age of 40 is any more prepared for the task is absurd. I want my money back!

47 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Snarky Comments Against Older Mothers, April 24, 2006

By 

Roxanne Jones "Roxie" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation (Hardcover)

I was really looking forward to reading this book. However, I was really disappointed and disturbed by the bias that the authors have against older mothers. At times you hear a running theme about how older parents "will be feel out of the loop at school activities and functions" and how a radiologist friend snarked how these older moms are getting mammograms with young children in tow. Just who do they think egg donor recipients are? Are only younger women in their 30's the only ones who deserve to get egg donation. I thought they would be more objective.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Astonished by the 5* reviews for this! Very derogatory for those over 40, September 24, 2009

By 

blumuun - See all my reviews

This review is from: Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation (Hardcover)

I checked out this book from the library since it seemed to be so well-reviewed and there wasn't, at that time, a lot of books like it. Thank goodness I did not waste my money on it! I will admit I did not read the entire book once I ran into the authors' negativity toward older (i.e. over 40) parents. If you are over 40, please just do not read this book. I will refrain from being completely unleashed in my opinion here, as that wouldn't really help anyone and probably just increase my own anger and negativity. And I'm sure you, like me, already have enough weighing you down what with probably trying to conceive on your own or with help and your own eggs for some time but failing - before investigating the use of donor eggs. This book will only make you feel worse. It is unfortunate that the author even feels the need to opine on the age issue, as it is obviously a completely subjective topic. Within reason, of course - I mean I think most people would agree that perhaps over 70 would be "on the old side" to be having a pregnancy :-) Many, if not the majority, of women seeking to use DE are probably over 40 - that is a leading reason for looking into this option in the first place, it is assumed that over-40 eggs are not optimally viable. I hope that the author reads some of this criticism and realizes the immense disservice to the women struggling to have a child and may find themselves to be over 40. And I truly hope that neither the author nor anyone close to her faces the pain of being in that position; she just may find that her views are not so solid on this topic after all.