Book Description

New reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization, have been the subject of intense public discussion and debate worldwide. In addition to difficult ethical, moral, personal and political questions, new technologies of assisted conception also raise novel socio-cultural dilemmas. How are parenthood, kinship and procreation being redefined in the context of new reproductive technologies? Has reproductive choice become part of consumer culture?

Embodied Progress offers a unique perspective on these and other cultural dimensions of assisted conception techniques. Based on ethnographic research in Britain, this study foregrounds the experiences of women and couples who undergo uvf, while also asking how such experiences may be variously understood. ... Read more

Book Description

It's a girl. And a boy! Jack and Sarah Marsh are having their babies. But only after years of anguish, frustration, and disappointment. Until very recently, Sarah and Jack were infertile.

So ends the long-but fruitful-tale of our fictional couple.The Journey to Fertility describes in clear, compassionate detail the process experienced by some of the one in five couples whose infertility leads them to in vitro fertilization (IVF).The tour takes you from initial evaluation through the necessary pre-IVF treatments to the ultimate in advanced reproductive techniques-IVF and its relatives.

But The Journey to Fertility offers more than facts.Here couples will find support, counsel, and encouragement that will help smooth the bumps they encounter along their own personal road to parenthood.

The Journey to Fertility should be read by all couples considering IVF-to pave the way for a smooth trip-and by those who know such a couple-to enhance their understanding of what women and men longing to have children must endure. ... Read more

Book Description

"Finally! Such a comprehensive resource for survivors has been long overdue." —Michelle Melin, M.P.P., Director of Patient Services Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

"An excellent, well-researched book that responds to the needs of survivors." —Anna Meadows, M.D. Director, Division of Oncology and Children's Cancer Research Center Children's Hospital of Phildadelphia.

Now as never before cancer survivors are discovering their potential for renewed sexuality, which many may never have thought possible. In this comprehensive new book, the leading authority in the field carefully and reassuringly explains your options and gives you the accurate, up-to-date information you need to take advantage of them. Now you can make the decisions that are best for you based on recent medical advances and the newest perspectives. This unique guide covers:

• The kinds of sexual problems both men and women are likely to face after treatment —and state-of-the-art solutions
• The most effective infertility treatments
• How to assess the risks of pregnancy
• The latest information on body image, low sex drive, performance anxieties, medications, sex aids, and reconstructive surgery
• Special topics such as sex after breast or prostate cancer, and the specific problems facing gays, singles, and survivors of childhood cancers.

Reviews (1)

A must-read for all cancer patients
I recommend this book to all cancer patients. If the shock of a cancer diagnosis doesn't reak havoc on your sex life, the treatments probably will. This book offers lots of suggestions for maintaining and/or improving intimacy and sex during and after cancer. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Robin Cook, master of bestselling medical thrillers, answers the "What'sthe worst thing that could happen?" question in this plot-twisting novel inwhich villains with no sense of ethics or social responsibility get their greedyhands on the newest cloning technology. It starts when a couple of Harvardgraduate students answer the Wingate Clinic's ad for egg donors. The womenfigure on financing a year in Venice and the down payment on a Boston condo withthe extraordinary sum they're promised. But a year later, the heroines feel theemotional need to seek out the children they've made possible for infertilecouples. So they disguise themselves and seek jobs at the clinic in order toaccess the identifying information. The clinic, as it turns out, has plenty ofsecrets to protect, so it's hard to believe that a pair of computer neophytescould bypass its security. But they do, and the author is an adept enough writerto finesse this detail.

As in past books, Cook is much better at the technical details of medicalresearch than he is at characterization, but he definitely knows how to plot athriller. This one keeps you turning the pages until the final denouement,though the last chapter ends abruptly, leaving the reader to wonder whether heran out of steam or is just setting up a sequel in which he'll recycle thevillains in a new scheme with a new pair of victims. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Reviews (142)

One of the most ineptly written books of all time
Simply put, this book should never have been published. (It ranks up--uhh, I mean DOWN--there with Patricia Cornwell's "Isle of Dogs" as an example of how a "name" author can churn out drek and and get it published. I realize that they have "quotas" of so many books per year they have to write, so quality is of little concern.) The dialogue lumbers and is completely unrealistic, for starters. "I guess we'll have to spoon," says one young woman when the two heroines get in a small car trunk. I stopped counting the number of times that one woman "rolled her eyes for the other's benefit." Just awful, awful, awful. And the more than abrupt ending leads one to think that we'll be faced with "Shock, Part II." Thank god I got this book from the public library and didn't spend any money. Sorry, Dr. Cook....I used to love your books, but no more. You--and your editor--should be ashamed for foisting this inane drivel upon your readers.

A new low for Robin Cook
I've read most of Robin Cook's earlier novels and enjoyed them immensely, despite his tendency to send protagonists on foolish, "Nancy Drew"-style amateur investigations. This one, sadly, is far below Cook's usual standard. If a lesser-known writer had produced this, it would never have been published.

Shock - ingly Bad!
The title Cook gave this novel was "Shock". The title should have been "Laverne & Shirley Meet Dr. Frankenstein". If this novel was translated to the screen without major dialog modifications, I suggest it be done as a comedic farce. The female lead characters are at once Ph.D. candidates yet devoid of any common sense, planning ability or street smarts. At no time was this reader ever concerned about either heroine [the gene pool would have improved without these two ditzes in it]. The "menacing" staff at Wingate were uniformly two-dimensional and about as scary as last year's Halloween costumes. To make up for the stringy and fragile plot, Cook bores the reader incessantly with long-winded descriptions of barely relevant scene, building and equipment details. {A Reader's Digest condensed version of this novel would contain half the words without degrading this story.} I hadn't read a Cook novel for years and the contrast between this one and, for example, Coma is striking. Cook needs a new editor who will prod him to write well again or suggest he take a sabbatical or try a new career.

Shockingly bad !
This is quite possibly the worst book that I've ever read. The dialogue is 1930's English schoolgirl stuff--eg. "my word" said bt a grown, educated woman in her 20's, plus many other equally inane phrases. The story involves crooked doctors at a private clinic cloning babies from donor ovaries, sometimes harvested illegally--eeugh!! I have another book by Robin Cook, waiting to be read-"Yector". I can only hooe that Dr. Cook was having a few bad days when he wrote "Shock".

Shock-ingly awful
I have been a huge fan of Cook for a long time, but I probably won't pick up his next book. Shock was an absoultely appaling novel.

There are so many things wrong with this book that it is difficult to know where to begin. I guess perhaps the compelte implausibility of the plot would be a start. I can't believe Cook thought anyone would buy this story. I have worked in human resource positions, and there are very few laboratories or clinics that would hire new employees without verifying Social Security numbers (I would say none do, but I'm sure I could be proven wrong). The ridiculous nature of the story simply continues from there.

My second huge complaint is the dialogue, especially between the two graduate students at the center of the novel. I don't know any graduate students who talk in the stilted, superficial way these two characters do. What ever happened to spontaneity? Slang? CONJUNCTIONS???? The dialogue is horrid! I can't remember the last time I read something so uncreative.

Finally, is the buzz I hear about a sequel true? God forbid! If a publisher has agreed to a sequel to this book, I won't feel sorry if they go under in the future. Editors and publishers are supposed to protect us from drivel like this, not inflict it upon us.

DON'T read this book. Read one of Cook's earlier works, like Coma or Fever, even Toxin for that matter. You'll be much better off. ... Read more

Book Description

This contemporary account of male fertility provides a much-needed bridge between those seeking to understand the subject from an evolutionary and biological perspective, and those with clinical responsibility for the investigation and treatment of male infertility. Accordingly, the first half of the book deals with evolutionary aspects of male reproduction and sperm competition, sperm production and delivery in man and other animals, spermatogenesis and epididymal function, sperm transport in the female tract, and the apparent decline in human sperm count. The second part of the book puts greater emphasis on clinical problems and opens with a discussion of ICSI, including its value and limitations.This is followed by a review of modern developments in the genetics of male infertility and proceeds to a further chapter on the role of surgical procedures in the treatment of male infertility. The contributors provide a critical review of semen analysis and a full description of the molecular techniques now being used in preimplantation diagnosis and in the study of mitochondrial inheritance. This volume, written by an international team of authors, illustrates the breadth of vision needed to tackle the problem of male infertility. ... Read more

Book Description

Updated and expanded by nearly fifty percent, this comprehensive new edition builds on its successful and popular predecessor, while retaining the practical features that made the first edition such an essential guide to IVF. The new edition describes the most recent additions to the range of current assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinical treatments, including the use of testicular and epididymal sperm, blastocyst stage transfer, and new perspectives in cryobiology and cryopreservation techniques. The authors have incorporated the very latest laboratory techniques and protocols, with an even greater emphasis on quality control to provide an indispensable and practical account of the latest IVF techniques. The introductory chapters covering the scientific background that underpins effective laboratory practice have been substantially expanded to include the most recent information available from research in mammalian systems into the molecular biology of oogenesis, oocyte maturation, and early embryo metabolism. This new edition distills a wealth of practical and scientific detail for the benefit of all IVF practitioners. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Early studies in Avalos,Mexico with Kay Elder
I have seen this title and recall fondly early studies in Mexico, including some unpublished ones with her brother Frank.Since I am currently in England I would be delighted to contact the author and renew old aquaintances. E-mail maruk@waitrose.com ... Read more

Book Description

Prepare for pregnancy, naturally

The Fertility Plan is a uniquely effective guide to boosting your fertility without relying on drug therapies or invasive surgical procedures. With its simple, five-stage holistic program, The Fertility Plan encourages you to develop fertility awareness and play an active, responsible role in your journey toward parenthood. Whether you're finding it difficult to conceive on your own, or you're looking for a safe, reliable way to ensure a healthy pregnancy, you can enhance your chances with:

* A specific nine-month, countdown-to-conception plan that will bring you and your partner to peak mental and physical condition

* Natural self-diagnosis methods for understanding both male and female fertility levels, including how to judge sperm quality and monitor egg production

* Information on identifying and eliminating hazards to reproductive and fetal health

* Instructions on how to use yoga, massage, homeopathy, and other natural treatments to boost fertility and keep your spirits high

* A sound nutritional program for maintaining health before and during pregnancy

Fully illustrated and designed with dozens of user-friendly checklists, charts, and diagrams, The Fertility Plan provides the guidance you need to achieve the healthy pregnancy you want. ... Read more

Book Description

This is an enlarged, updated, color-illustrated new edition of the definitive clinical reference on in vitro fertilization and assisted reproduction. It contains 37 chapters by top-ranked specialists from around the world covering every aspect of investigation and therapeutic options as taught and practiced at the world-famous Bourn Hall Clinic. Large format, double-column pages. Includes bibliographic references, procedures, protocols and information sheets, and index. ... Read more

Book Description

Documenting the daily efforts of African Americans to protect their community against highly oppressive conditions, this ground-breaking volume chronicles the unique experiences of black women that place them at higher risk for morbidity and mortality -- especially during pregnancy. Stress and Resilience: The Social Context of Reproduction in Central Harlem examines the processes through which economic circumstances, environmental issues, and social conditions create situations that expose African American women to stress and chronic strain. Detailing the individual and community assets and strategies used to address these conditions, this volume provides a model methodology for translating research into public health and social action.Based on interactive community partnered research, Stress and Resilience: The Social Context of Reproduction in Central Harlem

+Facilitates more exact hypotheses about the relationship between risk factors, protective factors and reproductive health; +Furnishes a better understanding of chronic disease patterns and suggests more effective interventions to reduce rates of infant mortality; +Incorporates the voices of the community and of women themselves through their own words and actions; +Sheds light on epidemiologic research and intervention protocols; + Examines the social context in which reproductive behaviors are practiced; +Provides a holistic framework in which to understand infant mortality; +And more.Filling a large gap in the literature on the social context of reproduction this important monograph offers indispensable information for public health researchers, program planners, anthropologists, sociologists, urban planners, medical providers, policy makers, and private funders. ... Read more

Book Description

In the Arab world, motherhood is glorified, childlessness is socially unacceptable, and adoption is religiously prohibited. How then do couples handle infertility? Global Science, Local Babies examines in vitro fertilization among affluent couples in Egypt, and the implications for Arab and global society. Marcia Inhorn's beautifully written work shows how the transfer of IVF technology from Euro-American points of origin to Egypt reshapes the use of this science and how it is reshaping cultural ideas in Egypt. This book also offers a fascinating, eye-opening analysis of how Egyptians view the West-a timely contribution to the current conversation about the modern Islamic world and the West. ... Read more

Book Description

New developments in reproductive technology have made headlines since the birth of the world's first in vitro fertilization baby in 1978.But is embryo experimentation ethically acceptable? What is the moral status of the early human embryo? And how should a democratic society deal with so controversial an issue, where conflicting views are based on differing religious and philosophical positions? These controversial questions are the subject of this book, which, as a current compendium of ideas and arguments on the subject, makes an original contribution of major importance to this debate. Peter Singer is the author of many books, including Practical Ethics (CUP, 1979), Marx (Hill & Wang, 1980), and Should the Baby Live? (co-authored with Helga Kuhse, Oxford U.P., 1986). ... Read more

Book Description

This ground-breaking atlas of oocyte ultrastructure forms a practical guide to assisted reproduction. Extensively illustrated with transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images, it contains chapters on oocyte maturation, fertilization, fertilization failure, pitfalls and technical problems of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, and failed fertilization in vitro to explain the principles and evaluation of TEM images. A large chapter of TEM images of the ultrastructure of human oocytes illustrates fertilization failures after ICSI and IVF and the ultrastructure of germinal vesicle oocytes and metaphase I oocytes. It also contains detailed information about abnormal metaphase II oocytes with sections on autolysis, multi-vacuolated mature oocyte, refractile body, and fragmented oocyte. The concluding chapter describes materials and methods for single-cell transmission electron microscopy of the human oocyte. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Yawn
Page-turner? Sure, if your idea of fun is slogging through the encyclopedia. This is a weird book that feels like payback for the Villa Park, California, fertility doctor who claimed to be ignorant of his colleagues' misdeeds. In fact, maybe it was that same doctor who gives this book a five-star rating?

A true horror story
A detailed and accurate story of what can go wrong in modern nedicine. An account of the irresponsibility and impunity of large state institution's administrations and how a crime and a scapegoat can be created to satisfy public clamor, giving a false, erroneous sense of justice. ... Read more

Book Description

One of the most significant occurrences of this century has been the drastic decline in many countries of tragically high death and birth rates. In this collection, leading demographers, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians examine the causes of this transition and the reasons why many other countries have not followed suit. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide to micromanipulation techniques, for assisted conception in a clinical setting, includes detailed descriptions of all common micromanipulation systems currently in use in IVF laboratories. In explaining how to optimize their successful use, the volume covers state-of-the-art techniques including ICSI, and procedures such as assisted hatching and the blastomere biopsy (for PGD). Valuable information on troubleshooting mechanical and technical difficulties is provided to help professionals ranging from technicians to consultant obstetricians master the techniques. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a guide to infertility using the principles of Natural Family Planning to enhance the chances of conception.It also contains information on the medical infertility workup.The Fertility Question is a good companion on this difficult journey.Includes examples of temperature charting and a chapter of questions and answers. ... Read more

Book Description

This handbook provides both a theoretical and practical guide to techniques currently used in assisted reproduction.The emphasis has been placed on the practical application of technologies. Each chapter provides precise background information and a detailed account of procedures employed.Handbook of InVitro Fertilization, Second Edition, brings together for the first time, leaders in every field of clinical in vitrofertilization (IVF), with contributors from America, Australia, and Europe.Topics covered include: endocrinology, oocyte retrieval and maturation, IVF, ICSI, embryo culture, assisted hatching, embryo biopsy and preimplantation diagnosis, assessment of viability, cryopreservation, gamete and embryo ultrastructure, and uterine receptivity.This book is valuable to clinicians, scientists, IVF technicians, researchers, and all students of life sciences. ... Read more