Mayo Clinic Guide to Fertility and Conception

by Mayo Clinic

Deciding to start or build a family is a life-changing decision, and, once the choice is made, there's a whole new set of unknowns -- including how challenging the journey will be. For the first time, fertility experts at Mayo Clinic offer an essential guide for those who want to have a baby. With color photographs and graphics throughout, this user-friendly yet comprehensive book provides answers and explanations on nearly every aspect of achieving a successful lifestyle and nutrition; the intricacies of natural conception; common fertility problems; the latest medical treatments (including intrauterine insemination,IVF, and donors); and information on special situations (including fertility preservation, chosen single parenthood, same-sex couples, and more).

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2014

Reviews

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bleh, I read so many fertility books and then got pregnant the first time we tried. I got this one but preferred others better.

(I also recommend a small weaning table -- sleep deprivation made me write this? what???)

[Shawna P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of all things for fertility.

[Sheila Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review by a Catholic:

This book was super informative, and I'm very glad I read the three fourths that I did. I skipped over a few parts here and there (which probably added up to about a quarter of the book), because I knew they were sharing things considered entirely unethical from a Catholic worldview.

The book was broken into a few main sections. I found the section on healthy life choices to be in optimal shape for conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy helpful. The section talking about the actual biological process of conception was super informative, well structured, and provided helpful/valuable information (though of course PG-13 by the nature of it's content). The book shared some great information on NFP tracking methods as well. I gained a lot of knowledge.

The second half of the book was focused on struggles with infertility and responding to this. I read it from a Catholic mindset always asking "is this something deemed ethical and approved by the Catholic Church?" I find my faith being a guide map for what can and cannot ethically be done helpful; it actually makes the process of discernment in the area of infertility treatment way simpler and for that reason less stressful.

I skipped various chapters or smaller sections within the book if I knew they were only going to share information not valuable to me (on procedures and practices I consider unethical/non-options).

[Samantha Garner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a solid overview of what's what in reproduction. If you're new to trying to conceive, this will be a great start for you, a place to get the basics. It is interesting and with clear, concise explanations. Diagrams and images help clarify. Further, I liked the almost bullet-pointed set up of the text, making it easy to read quickly and to jump around it the book as needed for one's personal situation.

However, there were no revelations for me, no fresh insights. The book focuses entirely on the proven, the sure, the mainstream, so if you have unexplained infertility the book will not especially help, if you're otherwise healthy.

[Adrienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made it easier for the average reader and wonderful photos too. It also provides brief medical information and potential options for someone trying to have a child. Most of this I am fully aware of and have had these conversations with my OBGYN; however, for the IVF and fertility options after the diagnosis and medical analysis, you have to go to a fertility clinic or doctor, not necessarily your OB-GYN.

Easy, quick read.

Leisure read 2018

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really useful and thorough book. Heavy on the research-based information, less so on the functional, daily living tips. But I appreciated and expected it to be science heavy. It did do an excellent job of briefly laying out dietary recommendations, lifestyle choices that can help or hinder, and what to look for in a prenatal vitamin. Tons of info on ART and navigating miscarriages too, if that's of interest. The specifics on how pregnancy happens biologically were wild. Did you know your ovaries aren't connected to your tubes and that little finger-like structures grabs a follicle, containing an egg, over from the ovary to the tube? Because I didn't.

[Gen L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough and easy to understand. The chapters about ART were particularly interesting.

[Skkea1986 · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book for prepare to get pregnancy and recommend to all