What a great book -- gave me the answers I needed before and during the IVF cycle.

I'm just sorry I didn't find this book sooner. It would have helped me through the past 2 years. I love the fact that the author inserted humor throughout the book. It made it an easy quick read.

Lots of great information for the first time IVF'er. I sat down with a highlighter and several bookmarks - great read!

Great read for both me and my hubby. Well written and broken into chapters so you can read and re-read each one as you enter that step.

This book was very helpful when I was going through IVF. I loved being able to look up questions I may have. I'm glad I bought it.

Gave me really good information. I was pretty clueless when I picked up this book. Explained everything to me in simple terms. Loved that it has a glossary in the back to reference. Wouldn't read this if I was already familiar with the process though.

Liza does a good job walking you through the process but she fails to mention that not everyone feels/ reacts the same for each step. I found the HSG test to be extremely painful and had a horrible reaction to the progestrone shots. I wish everyone the best of luck with IVF and just remember everyone's body is different.

I wish I would of found this book first! It's an easy read with so much valuable information. It covers everything from IVF lingo to sample cycles AND gives great commentary from women and men who have survived & succeeded with IVF. I couldn't put it down & constantly found myself sharing interesting info from the book with my husband. You won't be disappointed with this one!!!
Best of luck to you!

The book is filled with good definitions about the winding road that is IVF-fertility treatment is packed with acronyms, abbreviations, and science, and the author does do a good job of explaining what all of the acronyms and abbreviations are. The book flows well and has wit, but the constant underlying message is one of success! IVF succeeds! Just keep your legs in the air/take to bed rest/keep thinking smiley happy positive thoughts and it always works! As someone who's been through a few rounds of IVF and ongoing still, it's not that easy for most people. IVF is hard enough without infusing constant messages of false hope-I feel the author is irresponsible in suggesting that IVF can be otherwise.

I am the kind of person who researches and reads EVERYTHING when they are faced with an issue or problem. Needless to say, I have purchased a multitude of IVF books, and this one is one of my favorites. It goes through the IVF process step-by-step, shares sample protocols, and explains ALL the medicines. In fact, I found myself going back and re-reading several parts of the book while in the midst of the IVF process. It's simply a must-have!

I am the kind of person who researches and reads EVERYTHING when they are faced with an issue or problem. Needless to say, I have purchased a multitude of IVF books, and this one is one of my favorites. It goes through the IVF process step-by-step, shares sample protocols, and explains ALL the medicines. In fact, I found myself going back and re-reading several parts of the book while in the midst of the IVF process. It's simply a must-have!

The Couple's Guide to In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Liza Charlesworth
Publisher: De Capo Press
ISBN: 0-7382-0897-3

IVF for most people is a private event that they will learn as they go through each cycle on their personal road to parenthood. This is that journey's guidebook. It is written very matter-of-factly with simple language even with technical terminology.

Written as a step by step "how to manual" of sorts, what it lacks in that personal touch it makes up for in sheer volume of information. It weighs in at 300 pages (at a bargain price of $16.95) and has 10 chapters with charts, graphs, sample calendars, resource guide, and a glossary of terminology.

For a "IVF for Dummies" type of book, I'd recommend this for its wealth of knowledge. I know I'm glad to have it in my arsenal of books when I understand this complex and nerve wracking procedure for myself. I believe most people will be able to use this guide and benefit from it. A great resource.

I found this book to be a bit boring and repetitve of all the info I have found on the web and through my doctors. It definitely appealed more to the emotional side, which is needed so much in this field, but I was looking for concrete suggestions on maximizing my chances with IVF and I didn't really find that in the book. It's a helpful read if you are just beginning the process and need some solid basic information, but not as helpful if you are already well informed.

When I found out we needed IVF in order to become parents, I didn't know much about it, didn't know anyone who had been through it, didn't live near any ART clinics, and was scared spitless... until I read this wonderful book. The author gives you sample schedules, explanations of typical procedures and medications, and many stories of what other people have been through. It is all in plain English, like you're talking to your best friend, but explains complicated terminology, and provides a great balance of being hopeful and yet logical/practical/cautious. We are now saving up for our first cycle and I feel very good about the process to come.

This book was a great read with a lot of useful information, which I found very helpful. Unfortunately the only down side to the book for me was it was primarily written for couples in USA only and as I do not live there I was unable to relate certain aspects to my own treatment, such as choosing a clinic and the financial side. Over all though some good information.information.

After reading all these reviews, I bought the book thinking I was buying THE infertility book must-have. It's OK. Not great, not bad, but not what the hype here led me to believe. I'll keep it in the library, but I'll be more careful about buying based on reviews here.

Couples hopeful of becoming parents should thank their lucky stars that this book is available. Ms Charlesworth's study is clearly written, insightful, and enormously informative. It appears to cover any question which might come up relative to achieving pregnancy through in vitro means. Readers should feel one step closer to the often hectic but fulfilling world of bottles, diapers, and gurgly smiles and to all the stages of parenthood which follow.

I'm a grandmother watching her daughters, daughters-in-law and their close friends handling issues of infertility. I knew no one in my own generation who went through such things, and this book was a God-send in helping me to get up to speed with what is happening now.
The tone is friendly, open, realistic and full of facts. I especially liked it that the author had gone through IVF herself. I learned a lot!! IVF is far from simple or easy, and a book like this would be such a help in keeping it in good perspective through all the demanding steps.
Rosemary Yaecker, Southbury, Connecticut

Liza Charlesworth has done a service to infertile couples everywhere. As a mental health professional who treats infertile couples, I am compelled to say that this book gives a careful, thoughtful account of the pros and cons of IVF, with many helpful suggestions for self-advocacy for those pursuing the procedure. IT IS A VERY EMPOWERING, ENCOURAGING, INFORMATIVE VOLUME! I recommend it most highly. Although Ms. Charlesworth and her husband are themselves an "IVF Success Story", Ms. Charlesworth nonetheless has no "ax to grind"; that is she does a wonderful job encouraging others to make an independent decision as to whether IVF is truly right for THEM. Thank you, Ms. Charlesworth, for your engagingly written and deeply helpful book!

This book was extremely helpful at a time when I was really struggling. Even though some of the topics were tough, somehow I always managed to feel upbeat and enjoy reading this book. It provided me with so much more knowledge about IVF! Liza was very honest about the pros and cons of IVF, and everything she talked about was very clear and easy to understand. I really connected with the book and the author. I cannot say "thank you" enough!