Taking Charge of Infertility [Hardcover]

Patricia Irwin Johnston (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

According to recent statistics, one in five American couples are faced with infertility. Johnson, who is the publisher of Perspectives Press, an infertility and adoption publishing house founded in 1982, here provides a handbook to assist with the negotiation of emotional and psychological issues that accompany infertility and to help couples to communicate realistically and effectively at a difficult time. Johnson stresses the need for accurate information to make sound decisions when faced with infertility. The cornerstone of his book is control; too often, she says, infertile couples cede the reins to the medical specialists. The author urges them to reassume it when making decisions about treatment options, family building options (surrogacy, donor insemination and adoption) and others. Herself infertile, Johnson knows the loss many feel when denied biological parenthood. She recognizes the devastating emotional aftershocks that often rattle partners after a diagnosis of infertility. The author discusses the loss of sexual privacy and spontaneity that can occur as partners pursue parenthood and the importance of taking stock. Throughout each chapter, scattered among suggestions about drug therapies and strategizing, are brief profiles of couples who face fertility problems. The real-life stories--some of which end in births and some of which don't--add strength to the author's grounded approach to a difficult issue. These pages offer solace and, even more importantly, guidance.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 270 pages
• Publisher: Perspectives Pr (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0944934072
• ISBN-13: 978-0944934074
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,546,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Patricia Irwin Johnston, MS, is an infertility and adoption educator and advocate with over 30 years of experience as both a volunteer (with local and national advocacy groups in the field) and as professional (publisher at Perspectives Press, Inc.) in the field of challenged family building. She is the author of several award-winning books (the most recent, Adopting: Sound Choices, Strong Families won the 2009 IPBA Benjamin Franklin Award as best self-help book and a 2010 Mom's Choices Award) and has herself been given several awards, including being named a 2007 Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption. A member of an extended family directly touched through five generations by adoptions, Pat and her husband live in Indianapolis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good reference for those with trouble conceiving, January 25, 2006

By 

Sarah N. Horton "WI reader" (Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Taking Charge of Infertility (Paperback)

Patricia Irwin Jonhston offers with this book a resource for those with trouble conceiving. Ms. Johnston wrote this book after her struggles with infertility and after adopting children of her own. During her struggle with infertility, she found very few references for those not in the medical profession, so she set out to create one of her own. A great part of this book are the references at the end of each chapter-she gives lots of good tips for organizations and other books that can help a person dig deeper into their problem. Topics covered in this book are: how and when to find a doctor, what testing might be needed, infertility myths, help with the decision to adopt or stop infertility treatment and much more. It is comprehensive, though not indepth on all topics. I would recommend this, as a fellow infertility patient, as a great place to start. If you are looking for information on a specific topic, you may not find it in this book, but it will probably give you help with where to go next.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book!!!!, September 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Taking Charge of Infertility (Paperback)

This book is excellent for women who are just starting to have trouble concieving. It gives detailed descriptions of what your body should be doing naturally during each cycle and what you can do to tell if something could be wrong, for instance, if you are ovulating each cycle or not.

2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worst book on infertility on the market, December 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Taking Charge of Infertility (Paperback)

Hands down this book sucked. $ave your money.