Books, Podcasts, and Online Resources

The trailblazing fertility program at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center has pioneered many of the procedures that are now standard practices in fertility centers around the world. If you can’t get to New York for a consultation with Dr. Zev Rosenwaks and Dr. Marc Goldstein, A Baby At Last! puts the doctors’ expertise down on paper, offering all the information you need on the latest fertility treatments in order to make informed decisions. In this comprehensive, practical, and up-to-date handbook for diagnosing and treating infertility in both men and women, you’ll get invaluable advice on when to seek help; finding the right doctors, and knowing the tough questions you need to ask; what tests to have for him and her, when to have them, and why; and whether or not you’re a candidate for advanced treatments, including IVF, ICSI, and beyond. Covering everything from the latest technologies to the emotional hurdles associated with infertility, Drs. Rosenwaks and Goldstein share the knowledge and expertise that make the pregnancy success rates for Weill Cornell patients among the highest in the world. Here, as never before, is a book that can help you, too, bring home a baby at last! For more information, follow this link.

Barren Grace is a novel inspired by the author’s own experience with infertility, a difficult but transformational journey of several years. While trying to come to terms with the fact that she would never have biological children, Nikolina longed to find solace in a novel that would make her feel less alone while also giving her hope for a way forward. Unable to find such a book, she decided to write it. The result is an entertaining and moving story of two strong women—one at the threshold of adulthood, another of middle age—negotiating passion, family, and career, and discovering a few things along the way, most notably—themselves. For more information, follow this link.

Conception – A Fertility Doctor’s Memoir describes the history of IVF and the world it made from someone who has been practicing since its earliest days. It will appeal to anyone who has considered IVF in the past 40 years, and those who wonder if they will ever need it in the future. It will also likely appeal to those who have reservations about assisted reproduction and how it has so dramatically moved a fundamental human act out of the bedroom and into the lab, even as it has stoked our fears about designer babies. Conception will help people to understand the headlines we read every day about egg-freezing technology and the way in which celebrities over 45 get pregnant. (Hint: they use donor eggs.)

What lies ahead is thrilling to contemplate and even a little bit frightening. But when we have context for these discussions, readers will be able to make the choices that are best for them. For more information, follow this link.

Detours is an unprecedented collection of inspirational infertility journeys that offers hope, against all odds, for those struggling with infertility. Never before have eleven friends come together to create a book that is more than mere stories on paper. Detours is a published support group for those who are also facing their own overwhelmingly difficult quest for parenthood. You will hear and feel each author’s fears and frustrations as they begin and end a journey none of them imagined. The path of infertility can be littered with horrendous disappointments and unbelievable happiness. These friends, who met through RESOLVE of San Diego, cover the gambit of assisted reproductive technologies and will be your guides as you navigate roadblocks and setbacks of infertility. Celebrate with them as they rejoice their solutions and share what they wish they had known when they were going through infertility treatment. A portion of the proceeds from the sales of Detours will be donated to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. For more information, follow this link.

After building a successful career, Paula and her husband wanted to dearly to have a child, but seven years of infertility led Paula to specialists to help her reach her dream of becoming a mother.

During the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, Paula experienced many highs and lows, but in what was one of the darkest times in her life, Paula held firmly to her faith in God to move forward. She pressed into his whispers, and found the help to overcome and dream again despite disappointment.

Follow this link to purchase a copy. 

Proceeds from this book benefit Fertility Walk Hope Fund, a non-profit organization providing grants to those who need fertility treatment but have no insurance coverage and are financially restricted. Tamara’s goal of this book was to help envision the journey of infertility as a walk. The trail one follows through infertility is not an easy one. We stumble and fall, meander at times, and occasionally skip with joy. The chapters in this book are meant to serve as your walking tools and they guide you through the process with easy-to-comprehend explanations and many ultrasound images to explain the menstrual cycle, treatment options, and procedures. Abnormal findings such as a cyst or fibroid are reviewed as well as all of those questions that arise when a cycle IS successful. As your walking partner, Tamara’s ultimate intention for you is to find HOPE… For more information, and to purchase the book, visit http://www.bit.ly/FertilityWalkOnAmazon

Happy Together is a heartwarming book to help introduce the concept of egg donation to a young child. A story told through clear language and cheerful illustrations, readers will join Mommy and Daddy bear on the journey to fulfill their greatest wish of becoming parents. With help from a doctor, an egg from a special lady called a donor and Daddy’s seed, a baby grew in Mommy’s tummy and was welcomed with great joy. Happy Together will comfort children with the assurance of being very much wanted and loved. For more information follow this link or visit https://www.happytogetherchildrensbook.com/

I Dreamed of You, the story of an egg donor, tells the story of how the mom and child came to be together. It allows the parent a way to open up this critical conversation and embrace all the love, caring, nurturing, and desire she provided to her child from contemplation to birth and beyond. Three short, beautifully illustrated chapters take the reader through the journey. It takes so much love, caring, perseverance, and resolve to build your family through donor conception. It takes so much love to tell your child how they came to be. This book can help the parent in becoming comfortable and more secure in telling their story. It is recommended as a first storybook and available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin; after all, infertility knows no bounds.

For more information, follow this link.

Through personal narrative, poetry, and visual art, stories of infertility that are far more nuanced than statistics, insurance diagnostic codes, and treatment plans, are brought to light. These works highlight the varied perspectives of individuals who have lived with infertility and include perspectives from women, men, nonbinary and transgender individuals, heterosexual couples, single parents by choice, and lesbian and queer-identified couples. From diagnosis and treatment, adoption, or living childfree, to miscarriage and pregnancy loss, editors, writers, and artists explore the range of experiences with infertility and their psychological, physical, and emotional impacts in all aspects of life. This carefully curated anthology reveals that infertility cannot be reduced to a singular narrative; instead, it is an assemblage of multiple embodied moments. Infertilities, A Curation invites readers to consider how creative practices such as art and writing can aid in efforts to heal individual traumas and more broadly as means of advocacy. For more information, follow this link.

Let’s face it – family-building is hard. Much harder than you ever thought. You feel alone. Isolated. Misunderstood. There are those well-meaning people who just say the wrong words. You know the ones: Just relax. Stop thinking about it. Give it time. It’ll happen. This coloring book was created to support you and shift your thoughts because, yes, the mind-body connection is a real thing. Give yourself permission to surround yourself with positive quotes and mantras that serve you all while releasing stress and tapping into your inner child through the art of coloring. For more information follow this link.

Let’s Talk About Egg Donation was written by, for, and about families built through egg and embryo donation. It takes the reader on a journey–from infertility diagnosis, to pregnancy, to how to talk to your child about egg donation.

Let’s Talk About Egg Donation tells true stories of real families who are parenting via egg and embryo donation. Their stories are woven throughout the book to craft an informative, easy-to-read narrative that focuses on positive language choices. This is the first book written by parents through egg donation that gives you age-appropriate scripts for how to take the scary out of talking to your kids about the special way in which they were conceived. For more information follow this link.

This is the author's journey with infertility and the life lessons she learned throughout the process. Just because a woman can't conceive doens't mean she is useless or isn't worth happiness and love. People will keep on judging without even seeing the struggles, problems you're facing. The author has experienced the same. Women must know how worthy they are. Her values as a woman is irrelevant to the capabilities of her reproductive organs. At many cases infertility leads to separation, divorce, feelings of grief, depression, frustration and emotional distress. It's through the author's faith that she found the purpose in the pain that comes with infertility. Life can and will go on after infertility. The narration is absolutely gripping and smoothly maintained throughout. Anyone going through the same must definitely read this book, it will motivate you and make you feel better. Life is tough, but so are you.
For more background and purchase: www.nobabynoshame.com

Not Broken is a comprehensive, evidence-based but easy-to-read guide for anyone who wants to understand all aspects of miscarriage and recurrent pregnancy loss. Whether you are a patient struggling with miscarriages or a medical provider caring for patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, you will learn something from this resource. Dr. Shahine explains not only a typical Western medicine approach to evaluation and treatment for miscarriage but also includes Eastern approaches to care, lifestyle factors that will decrease your risk of miscarriage, and the emotional impact of recurrent pregnancy loss. You will finish this book feeling more empowered to be an advocate for your care and more hopeful than ever to continue towards your family goals. For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, follow this link

Levels of stress are unbearable levels and both individuals and couples can feel destabilized. With On Fertile Ground: Healing Infertility in hand, you will learn how to turn the tables on this unwanted change and ride the infertility wave rather than be swamped by it. Author Helen Adrienne, psychotherapist, equips readers with the weapons to win battles against the consequences of infertility. Easy-to-learn mind/body exercises are at the end of each chapter, some of which have a statistically significant association with pregnancy. Stories of former patients support the effectiveness of mind/body interventions, and show readers that it is possible to “gain from the pain.” On Fertile Ground goes beyond typical self-help books by showing how to navigate through the normal resistance to change. This is a growth-from-adversity book, a managing-stress book and a get-back-in-control book that is comprehensive and provides relief. Visit Helen’s web site www.helenadrienne.com for more tips on managing infertility. For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, follow this link.

Do you feel like a failure because you cannot conceive or carry a baby to full term?
Do you feel unworthy due to infertility?
Are you ready to transform from a mindset of defeat and low self-esteem to one of victory, freedom, and peace?

My name is Frances Jones. I’m a loving wife, successful career woman, and friend to many. I’ve been blessed to add tremendous value into the world; but struggled with infertility. I suffered often in silence from this taboo conversation.

I saw myself as damaged goods and was constantly tormented with negative thoughts and emotions. The worst part- I didn’t know how to stop this vicious cycle of negativity. One day a miracle happened: I had an awakening.

Journey with me as I share how God removed the crippling pain, heartache, and toxic thoughts associated with infertility. Learn how I regained control over my life and my self-esteem. For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, follow this link.

“Knowledge has to make friends with luck and mystery in order to bring a healthy baby into the world.” For many women, the road to motherhood is disappointing and lonely. The doctors, the shots, the uncertainty, the money, the poker face for getting through everyday life in a world that doesn’t know and can’t understand. In this intimate memoir, Callie Micks shares her story of hope, heartache, and healing in the face of unexplained infertility. For more information or purchase a copy of the book, follow this link. 

Each year a new group of couples decides they’re ready to have a baby. One thing they all share: the desire to have a healthy baby as quickly as possible. They’ve done their thinking, they’ve made their plans, and they want to get pregnant NOW. Fortunately for them, renowned fertility specialist Christopher Williams, M.D., has updated his popular guide, The Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally, to include all the later findings. Since the first edition was published in 2001, there have been significant changes in fertility research and recommendations to maximize the odds during each cycle. The revised edition includes an updated introduction, revised and reader-friendly figures, current statistics, an examination of new products, up-to-date nutritional information, new developments in all studies covered in the original book, the latest resource and reading information, and a new chapter preparing readers for the first appointment with a fertility doctor.

For more information or to purchase a copy of the book, follow this link.

Give yourself the best-possible odds for getting pregnant and having a baby with this concise, expert, and encouraging companion as your guide!

In the only general guide to infertility written by a medical doctor who specializes in the subject, Mark Trolice, MD—who is board-certified in both OB/GYN and REI (Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility)—shares the practical knowledge he has gained from working in infertility medicine for years, with many hundreds of patients, along with the warmth and wisdom he has acquired from getting to know prospective parents from all kind of backgrounds. For more information follow this link.

Tia Chapinski and Daniella Virijevic wrote The Infertility Doula just for you. Their infertility struggles have spanned years and the entire continent of North America, and they’re here to share the friendly advice they’ve collected in their experiences. In this book, Tia and Daniella break down essential tips for dealing with IUI, IVF, specialized doctors, and fertility medications, pregnancy tests and the two-week wait, female and male factor infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and the real costs of infertility, and adoption, donor embryos, surrogacy, and living child-free

But you don’t have to take just their word for it. Inside, you’ll find stories from other people just like you who are struggling down the path of fertility, reminding you that you are not alone. Whenever you feel the hopeless urge to run away from it all, The Infertility Doula will be here to help you find strength for your fight to conceive. For more information, follow this link.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment is a complex process that can involve multiple medical teams and points of contact, and it is a significant financial investment. The cost for treatment includes numerous medications, appointments, daily tests, and procedures. Predictably, IVF is the theme of endless books, websites, blog posts, and articles. Based on her personal experiences with IVF, author Monica Bivas created this journal to help you organize the process, handle stress better, and bring focus and clarity to your personal IVF journey. She created The IVF Planner both as an information guide and for you to write your own story. She touches on everything from the basics of the process to financing to a support network and more. Bivas communicates that the IVF journey, no matter the end result—negative, positive, or even cancelled cycles—takes strength, takes courage, and teaches you to be disciplined. Though expensive and challenging, it’s a journey to be proud of. For more information, and to purchase the book, visit Amazon here.

A mother’s story of courage and perseverance

Unstoppable:Forging The Path To Motherhood In The Early Days Of IVF is a gripping story of courage by the mother of one of the world’s first “test-tube babies.” The author faces not only her personal battle of infertility but trudges alone through the uncharted terrain of medical experimentation. She takes calculated risks while carefully navigating waves of rigid cultural and religious resistance. This powerful memoir reads like a novel, and tells of a resolute, heroic young woman who makes medical history and works to change public opinion about IVF. Unstoppable offers a unique and relatable message of hope and encouragement to each woman fighting infertility and for those who love her. For more information, follow this link.

For people struggling with infertility and/or pregnancy loss, wanting a baby is a craving unlike any other. The intensity of their longing is matched only by the complexity of the emotional, physical, financial, and psychological maze they must navigate. Unsung Lullabies is a compassionate companion for anyone coping with infertility that addresses these difficult issues. Written by three psychologists, who have each experienced their own struggles with infertility, Unsung Lullabies provides tools to help individuals and couples reduce their sense of helplessness and isolation; identify their partner’s coping style which may be vastly different from their own; listen to their “unsung lullabies” – their conscious and unconscious dreams about creating a family; and mourn the multiple losses of infertility and move on. Follow this link to purchase a copy.

Waiting in Hope gives women an uplifting, accessible resource to comfort, guide, and strengthen them through the journey of infertility. Featuring 31 reflections that address specific aspects of waiting and hoping, each chapter weaves personal narrative, Scripture, and prayers to encourage women longing for a child. Follow this link to purchase a copy.

There is far too much silence surrounding miscarriage. Books can help start the conversation. This beautifully illustrated inclusive story helps recipients as young as three years of age. Written by an experienced physician, Why is Mommy Crying -explaining early pregnancy loss to young children comforts in the context of family and the larger universe. The young protagonist, Max, uses his imagination, and accompanied by his stuffed animal, Mink, begins to understand what has made his mother sad. His imagery and ideas offer a gentle springboard to discuss with children and the adults who love them broader concepts surrounding grief and recovery, including religion. This book offers comfort, consolation and reassurance to children, parents, extended family, and friends. Themes are age appropriate and universal. This non-denominational book is free of religion-specific iconography. Follow this link to purchase a copy.