Miscarriage: Why it Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks--A Doctor's Guide to the Facts (Paperback)

~ Henry Lerner (Author), Alice Domar (Author) "LAURA AND TOM HAD BEEN TRYING TO CONCEIVE FOR TWO years..." (more)
Key Phrases: miscarriage evaluation, miscarriage workup, luteum deficiency, United States, Alice Domar (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For people who want the facts, Lerner's book may be just short of fascinating." -- New England Psychologist October, 2003

"Simply put, this is the best book on miscarriage available." -- Robert L. Barbieri, M.D., Chairman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Product Description

Whether it happens in the first trimester or later on in pregnancy, a miscarriage is an emotionally traumatic event. It may also be a physically daunting experience, resulting in the need for surgical intervention. In the aftermath of a miscarriage there are almost always unanswered questions: Why did it happen? Did I do anything to cause my miscarriage? Will I have a miscarriage the next time I get pregnant? Most important of all, You will want to know, "What can I do to best prevent miscarrying again?"

This compassionate and authoritative guide fills the information void. From the causes of miscarriage -- chromosomal, illness-related, immunologic -- to the diagnostic tests and surgical procedures now available to help prevent you from miscarrying again, Dr. Henry Lerner has compiled the most current medical information on why miscarriages do and don't happen, and explains the best methods for recovering and preparing to conceive again. He also includes reassuring and practical advice from an expert in women's reproductive psychology on coping with the disappointment and depression that often accompany the loss of your pregnancy, and the anxiety that may come with your next positive pregnancy test.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1 edition (March 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738206342
• ISBN-13: 978-0738206349
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #269,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment, August 20, 2003

By	"ewhov" (Houston, Texas United States) - See all my reviews

If you have had only one miscarriage and just want a good biology lesson on the different ways miscarriage can occur, this book may be for you. However, I do not recommend this book to anyone who has suffered two or more miscarriages and is seeking advice on what to do about it. After my second, my main concern was trying to at least have an educated guess as to whether they were caused by chromosomal abnormalities or some other cause which potentially needs to be treated before trying again. This book did not give me the answers I was looking for and instead left me more frustrated and confused than ever. Additionally, after reading several books and every article I could find on miscarriage in magazines and on the internet, it seems to me that many of Dr. Lerner's opinions are in the minority. He flatly recommends that women not seek testing until they have suffered three losses in a row. However, many doctors and the American College of Obstetritians and Gynecologists (ACOG) now recommend doing so after two, especially if the woman is in her 30's or 40's. I also do not think Dr. Lerner explained that there can be certain circumstances of your pregnancy and first trimester miscarriage that point to the likelihood that it was not chromosomal abnormality - I had to learn this from other sources (examples are occurring later in the trimester and normal fetus and hearbeat shown on ultrasound before miscarrying). He also flatly says that stress does not cause miscarriages because he has seen no study proving this to his satisfaction (he uses this reasoning for a lot of his opinions but does not explain how difficult it is to prove anything in this area). I have read of numerous studies (and also acknowledged by the ACOG) that indicate that stress can in fact cause or at least contribute to miscarriage. After seeing so much information that contradicts many of Dr. Lerner's opinions, I just don't have much confidence in what he has to say. Another fault I find is that while he acknowledges progesterone deficiency can cause early miscarriages, he is against the use of progesterone supplements but does not address whether he thinks there is a possible solution for this problem, again leaving me frustrated.

My recommendation is that if you read this book, at least don't stop there - read everything you can about miscarriages from reputable sources and don't take this doctor's word as the gospel. While there doesn't seem to be any complete certainty in this subject area, by becoming as informed as possible and using your own common sense you can figure out some of the answers you need in order to go on.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IF YOU NEED A BOOK ON MISCARRIAGE..THIS IS THE ONE!!, October 20, 2003

By	cheryl kiser (Weston, MA United States) - See all my reviews

Books on miscarriage by in large are very difficult to read because it is hard to get past the pain of why you are reading them. This book is an exception. It is the only book I have read on the topic which actually put me at ease, was reassuring,compassionate and very informative. It is clear that Dr. Lerner cares about his reader through his intelligent communication of medical information with great sensitivity to the topic and his reader.
If you need to read a book on this topic then you need to read this one. It's all you will need!

19 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE answer book about miscarriages, May 27, 2003

By	MyParenTime.com "myparentimesfamily" (USA) - See all my reviews

When I was asked to review this book, I didn't give it a second thought. I myself have a personal connection with this subject. When my daughter was almost 3 years old, after being pregnant for the first time since she was born, I had a miscarriage.

There are so many questions surrounding the reasons for miscarriages - what causes them; can they be prevented; is there a way to lower the risks of having another...? Answers to these and other compelling questions are best discussed in the book, "Miscarriage: Why It Happens and How Best to Reduce Your Risks," by Henry M. Lerner, M.D. I thought I had known all there was to know about miscarriages, but this book truly opened my eyes and gave me much more information.

Miscarriages are a common occurrence, happening in 1 out of 5 pregnancies, and for a number of reasons. Some of what this book discusses: what exactly is a miscarriage; reasons miscarriages occur; the role of infections and the environment in causing miscarriages. It discusses past and current research studies and its results, and even answered a few myths I had believed to be true (see pg 53 for timing sex for a boy or girl; and pg 120 for microwave oven exposure).

MyParenTime highly recommends this book -- besides personally answering some questions I had about my own miscarriage, this informative book touched upon so many areas and explained the topic of miscarriage in terms we can all understand. To anyone who has experienced the devastation of a miscarriage, and to those just looking for information...this book has it all.