Infertility Survival Handbook [Paperback]

Elizabeth Swire-Falker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 2004

After seven years of tests and more tests, treatments and more treatments, Elizabeth Swire-Falker understands what it means to struggle with infertility. In this frank, reassuring, and thoroughly researched handbook, she shares her own personal experience and offers insight into what challenges to expect along the way-from getting support to finding the right doctor xto dealing with insurance. She helps readers:

€ Navigate the maze of infertility tests and treatments
€ Handle the financial strain and marital stress that accompany the treatments € Formulate questions to ask doctors and nurses and learn to be their own advocate for good medical care € Understand the options:

-IUIs
-IVF
-traditional adoption
-embryo adoption
-donor eggs
-gestational surrogacy
-the virtues of living child-free

Swire-Falker will tell readers straight-as only a best girlfriend will. This is the only guide anyone will need for navigating such a difficult course.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

People often ask me why I decided to write this book and why I chose to be so honest and straight-forward about what it’s like to be infertile. The answer is simple: I was confused by the information I found on infertility treatment and I felt tremendously isolated and alone. I was walking to my car after an acupuncture session one day and I was angry (why me?), frustrated (for every step forward it seemed we were taking two steps backward), confused (was the acupuncture really a waste of time and money?). But most of all I was scared – was I ever going to have the baby I dreamed of and longed for?

I wandered into a bookstore hoping to find "the one book" that could help me deal with my pain and confusion. Book after book was written by physicians who seemed to know nothing about what infertility was like for the patient (clearly these men had all impregnated their wives on the first try). They may have explained what a Hysterosalpinogram involved, but none of the books told me how absolutely horrific it was to live through or why it’s so important to have it done.

And so it began: endless research and a decision to go so painfully public with my own story that my family is still trying to recover (sorry guys!). I chose to be honest because I knew that if I was open about my experience then someone reading the book might not feel so isolated. The research I did for the book made me empowered – no longer fearful or confused, I was able to take power back and gain some control over my life. There was so much I didn’t know, so much that was unsaid about being infertile; I chose to change that. No one should feel alone and confused as they wander down the street aching for a baby. (And by the way, acupuncture does work. Research now proves that undergoing acupuncture during an IVF cycle increases pregnancy rates!)

About the Author

Elizabeth Swire-Falker spent seven years trying to conceive. She gave up her career-as a lawyer in health advocacy-in the process when she found she couldn't struggle with infertility and maintain a high-powered job at the same time. The years were filled with injections and blood tests and hormones and in vitro fertilizations, implantations, and miscarriages, and return trips to the assisted reproductive technology lab.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Riverhead Trade; Riverhead ed edition (April 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573223816
• ISBN-13: 978-1573223812
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (47 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Infertility

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHERE was this book 3 years ago?!!!!!!, April 21, 2004

By 

A Reader (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infertility Survival Handbook (Paperback)

INFERTILITY SUCKS is right! My dh & I wasted so much time and money trying to have our first child. My gyno said she was an inferitlity specialist - HA! Misinformation at every turn. Run around from insurance company, which we had to argue with to even get meds covered. Marriage nearly went in the tank before we took a break, got some counseling and then did some research - we would've saved tons of $$ and 2+ years if we had this book! I found the section for men particularly well written. A friend told me to get this book since we are trying for #2. A big THANK YOU TO the Author! READ THIS BOOK FIRST IF NEED HELP TO GET PREGNANT!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BOOK!, April 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Infertility Survival Handbook (Paperback)

As someone who has walked the road of infertility, I can say that this book ranks number one in my opinion. Infertility is a hard path and this book validates the fear, uncertainty, and sorrow of infertility. Most importantly though the book offers a great resource for the different options and struggles that may meet the infertility patient on the road to parenthood. Ms. Swire-Falker tells it like no one before her. She is there with you each step of the way and offers advice and guidance and most importantly understanding. Only a great author can make the infertility patient smile and laugh at some of the worst that infertility has to offer. Hats off to Ms. Swire-Falker for offering such a book to the legions of infertility patients nationwide.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for anyone going thru the infertility process., July 27, 2004

By 

Donna Cushlanis "Proud Mom of IVF triplets" (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Infertility Survival Handbook (Paperback)

This book is real. Blunt. To the point. It is all the information that you need and given to you in real world terms. The author doesn't hold anything back and that is what a person on the infertility rollercoaster needs. If you buy this book, you won't need to buy any others on this subject. My only disappointment is that this book wasn't available years ago when I started my infertility ride.