In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T. of Making Babies  by Geoffrey Sher, Virginia Marriage Davis, Jean Stoess Purchase at:  Amazon.com  Format: Paperback, 1st ed., 222pp. ISBN: 0816038279 Publisher: Facts on File, Incorporated  Pub. Date: April 1998  Edition Desc: Updated

Description from Amazon.com

From Booklist 

This clearly written technical handbook guides couples who are trying to conceive in determining whether they are eligible for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and in selecting the program that will help them achieve the best results. It describes in detail the anatomy and physiology of conception and the steps required for realizing it in the IVF procedure. In addition to providing accurate information, the practitioner authors address emotional, financial, physical, and moral-religious issues involved in the decision to conceive with medical assistance. Despite its experimental reputation and persistent high cost, IVF is an appropriate option for many of the estimated 3.3 million infertile couples in the U.S. today, so this specialized manual speaks to a rather large audience of potential users. Kathryn Carpenter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Booklist, September 1, 1995 

Clearly written...IVF is an appropriate option for many of the estimated 3.3 million infertile couples in the U.S. today, so this specialized manual speaks to a rather large audience --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Book Description 

Based on firsthand experience gathered at Pacific Fertility Medical Centers in California, one of the most successful IVF programs in the country, In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T* of Making Babies provides the most up-to-date, thorough overview on this increasingly common procedure.

Candid and jargon-free, the book guides readers through a maze of scientific fact and fiction.

Coverage includes: New! Breakthrough techniques and in vitro options for older women Couple eligibility Program selection The IVF procedure Ways to reduce the cost of IVF A new treatment for male infertility Alternatives to IVF.

In Vitro Fertilization comes from direct experience. The authors, among them an in vitro clinic coordinator and a clinic founder, have seen the emotional extremes of the process and the tremendous financial commitment it demands. Yet, until In Vitro Fertilization there has not been a comprehensive source of information that helps couples understand the options and recent advances of IVF. Here is an important first step on the road from in vitro fertilization to family. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Author 

Approximately 40,000 babies are born through in vitro fertilization in the United States. 3,600 come from us alonethat's a lot of babies (Dr. Geoffrey Sher, founder of the Pacific fertility center, featured in the October 26, 1997 edition of The New York Times Magazine). --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews

Great for the confused IVF newbie..., August 23, 2001 
Reviewer: Jennifer (see more about me) from Las Vegas I looked at every IVF book around and chose this one to help me through the IVF process. Things are explained in a way your fertility doctor would (or should) explain them, in a consise and easy-to-follow manner. What I like most about the book is that it only covers IVF, not all high-tech treatments. I highly recommend this book to those starting out on the road to IVF treatments.

Very informative and organized, February 9, 2001 
Reviewer: A reader from New Jersey, USA We are a couple just starting the IVF process. While we read numerous web pages online, there was no clear, concise reference book that walks you through all the steps.

"The Art of Making Babies" provides a detailed overview of each step in the process from the initial meeting with your physician to what to expect in the final stages. The book has answered many of our questions. In addition, the book also provides questions you should ask when looking for an IVF facility or entering a particular stage of the process.

Highly recommended.

This book is informative, organized, and well written., February 7, 1999 
Reviewer: A reader from Roseville, California This book provides individuals undergoing any type of assisted reproduction with a guide to help them in decision making by thoroughly informing them at their own pace. Now entering our second cycle of in vitro fertilization, I find myself reading certain chapters in the book for the third and fourth time. Each experience is different. Although a patient must rely heavily on the expertise of their physician, reproduction in this manner is an incredibly complex occurrence, creating many questions that this book accurately answers. I've come to depend on it greatly and find that it has become almost a constant sight on my reading table. I have found that much of the writing that has been done about in vitro fetilization was done so for the physician and clinician as the reader. This is a thorough, as well as current, explanation of what a patient can expect, and should look for when entering a program for assisted reproduction. - Kristie Greiss --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Description from BarnesandNoble.com

Annotation 

"...an examination into the growth of infertility in the United States and an exploration of in vitro fertilization options...a thorough reference about this often controversial procedure."

From the Publisher

In Vitro Fertilization is a comprehensive guide to this increasingly common and successful practice for the 3.3 million couples in the United States seeking alternative means of conception. It discusses everything you need to know about IVF, including how to find and choose the best in vitro programs, what to expect as you go through the process, and what your chances are of achieving a successful pregnancy. The book is designed to prepare couples for the complex and emotional process of IVF, and it has been specially updated to cover the latest developments in the field. No one considering IVF should overlook this indispensable reference.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS

Kerith (godsmackka@home.com), September 5, 2000,
A MUST!!
IVF is scary and it is always best to be informed before ANY procedure, this book goes beyond that. A must for every couple that is thinking about or going through IVF. It calmed and answered my questions.

James (KW61293@aol.com), 34 yr old male-, April 26, 2000,
The Absolute Best Book on IVF anyone can get!!!!
Take it from me,my wife and I tried for 6 years to concieve before trying IVF,This book tells you exactly what to expect.Very informative&worth the money.Do yourself a favor and buy this book before you try IVF .The best money you ever spend.

Table of Contents

Foreword

Preface

Ch. 1 The Growing Dilemma of Infertility   1

Ch. 2 The Anatomy and Physiology of Reproduction   6

Ch. 3 Natural Conception and IVF: Two Pathways to Pregnancy   29

Ch. 4 IVF Step 1: Preparation for Treatment   39

Ch. 5 IVF Step 2: Induction of Ovulation   49

Ch. 6 IVF Step 3: Egg Retrieval   64

Ch. 7 IVF Step 4: Embryo Transfer   76

Ch. 8 Who Are Most Likely to Be Successful IVF Candidates?   86

Ch. 9 Is IVF the Most Appropriate Option?   102

Ch. 10 Shaping Realistic Expectations about IVF   121

Ch. 11 How to Find the Right IVF Program   134

Ch. 12 GIFT and Other Alternatives to IVF   145

Ch. 13 Third-Party Parenting: Other Options for Couples with Intractable Infertility   155

Ch. 14 Ethical Implications of Fertility Technology   168

Ch. 15 Putting the IVF House in Order   182

Glossary   194

Index   216