Overcoming Infertility: A Compassionate Resource for Getting Pregnant ("Scientific American" Library) (Paperback)

by Robert Jansen M.D. (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From The Washington Post
A surefooted, thoughtful and indeed, compassionate book on the myriad aspects of infertility and its treatment...Jansen proves an excellent, trustworthy guide.

Review
Over 5 million people of childbearing age in the United States experience infertility, or one out of every six couples. For those having problems getting pregnant, Overcoming Infertility is the best guide to state-of-the-art human fertility treatments available today.

Dr. Robert Jansen, an internationally-known fertility expert, presents an uniquely holistic view of infertility, exploring how those affected by infertility can best overcome it by relating to their partner, to their physician, to society, and to their own psychology and biology. Beginning with an in-depth look at the mechanics of a successful conception, Dr. Jansen examines the possible reasons for an unsuccessful one, and explains the testing methods for discovering such problems. Dr. Jansen then offers the possible remedies made available by today's technology, such as hormone treatment, microsurgery, IVF and GIFT procedures, as well as surrogacy and sperm and egg donation. Finally, Dr. Jansen weighs the physical and psychological costs and benefits of each treatment. Foreword by Alan DeCherney, M.D., President of the American Fertility Society. 23 illustrations. -- Book Description --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 474 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716733021
• ISBN-13: 978-0716733027
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,041,714 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the only technical manual to infertility you really need, September 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Overcoming Infertility: A Compassionate Resource for Getting Pregnant ("Scientific American" Library) (Hardcover)

As of now (1998-1999) this is the best encyclopedia around of all the various medical causes of infertility and how they are addressed. It doesn't hesitate to spell out what's still uncertain, what's theory, and what's been debunked. I would say if you were going to buy only two books about infertility, you should make this your ``mechanic's guide'' and add Debby Peoples et al.'s ``What to Expect When You're Experiencing Infertility'' for discussion of the very real emotional costs of infertility. Depending on your circumstances, you can later add Ellen Glazer's ``The Long-Awaited Stork'' and Patricia Johnston's ``Adopting After Infertility'' and you will have read the four best books around for getting you through the flames. Frankly, most other books are either out of date, too general or not sufficiently sensitive to the emotional pain of infertility.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you Prof. Jansen for sharing your knowledge with us, September 15, 1999

By A Customer

Prof. Robert Jansen's book is both educational and motivating. It arms the reader with an understanding of the complexities involved with infertility. Using every day language he gives infertile people the strength to take control of their own lives, seek help, ask questions and make informed decisions.

After 4 years of trying to get pregnant, it was this book that inspired my husband and I to investigate the reasons why it was not happening. The easy to comprehend biology lessons and explanations of tests and procedures enabled us to make the most of the 10 minute consultations with specialists and prevented that sense of "total brain overload" that one usually gets after visiting medical practitioners.

For the past year Prof. Jansen's book has been my companion. There isn't a flat surface in my house that it hasn't rested upon. It has taken us step by step through 1 cycle of IVF. In the dead of the night when IVF staff could not be contacted it has helped ease the sense of fear and helplessness that the lack of knowledge and uncertainty inflict on you when you are tired and at your most vulnerable.

How did infertile people retain their sanity prior to the release of this marvellous book. In an age where there is an abundance of information on every topic imaginable, it astounds and frustrates me that there is so little "quality" information on the subject of infertility. Thank you Dr Jansen, it is a book that should be read by all who have been touched by infertility in one way or another and in particular members of the medical profession who we as patients so openly look to for guidance and information.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good technical info, but not your best bet, April 12, 2001

By	Carol S. (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Overcoming Infertility: A Compassionate Resource for Getting Pregnant ("Scientific American" Library) (Hardcover)

This is a comprehensive guide to the medical or technical aspects of infertility. It contains lots of helpful information about the mechanics of getting pregnant and explains in some detail what can prevent pregnancy from happening. It also discusses various forms of treatment, including IVF, GIFT and ZIFT. What prevents this book from being a top-notch fertility resource: (1) some of the information is already out-of-date due to advances in the field (for example, there's no discussion of Antagon, commonly used with injectable fertility meds and IVF, because Antagon was still being developed at the time the book went to print); (2) the author runs an Australian infertility clinic, and his take on the fertility process is somewhat different from his American counterparts (although he does occasionally mention what is commonly done in the US and Britain); (3) a somewhat cumbersome style - e.g. valuable information is taken out of the main text and put into boxes; extremely technical information is mixed in with the practical stuff a patient needs to know. There is lots of valuable information in the book, but you'll need to supplement it with your own research and other reading.