...combines the views of both patients and professionals, in order to give clear and concise advice. (Ledbury Reporter, Friday 15th June 2007)
The book combines their professional and patient perspectives to give expert, clear and concise advice to anybody planning a baby. (Hereford Journal, Wednesday 20th June 2007)
Jill Anthony-Ackery BA (Hons) is the Communications Manager at Midland Fertility Services. Jill is a relatively recent entrant to the world of fertility treatment, with responsibility for the communications and marketing of MFS since 2003, initially as a consultant public relations director and then as a member of the clinic staff since 2004. Her qualifications for such a role? A degree in art and film history (!) and 18 years' experience managing the reputations of client companies from a small UK trade association to international cosmetics, steel, and photographic equipment manufacturers. Oh! and also two years of ICSI treatment at MFS, during which she and her husband Gwyn conceived twins, suffered a miscarriage at around 12 weeks, then had an unsuccessful frozen embryo transfer, followed by a second full cycle, resulting in the birth of their daughter Connie in 2002.
When she returned to work in 2003, she combined her almost evangelical zeal about those miracle workers at MFS with her professional experience and patient perspective - and got paid for doing so! It's a dream job where she continues to be inspired daily by the team and patients.
Jill has written countless articles in a range of newspapers, consumer magazines, and trade publications from many industry sectors. She was also the original editor and a contributor to Beyond the Lens, the business bible for professional photographers. In 2006, her work at MFS won a gold award from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and she works closely with national and regional press, television, and radio to satisfy the unquenchable media interest in assisted conception.
Jackie Meyers-Thompson is managing partner of Coppock-Meyers Public Relations/For Your Information Communications, and a 'professional' fertility patient.
Sharon Perkins is the nurse coordinator for the Cooper Center for In Vitro Fertilization in Marlton, New Jersey, one of the largest infertility centres in the United States. She previously worked in labour and delivery and neonatal intensive care.
Introduction 1
Part I: Making Babies as Nature Intended 5
Chapter 1: In the Beginning 7
Chapter 2: Taking Baby Steps 21
Part II: Planning a Pregnancy 43
Chapter 3: We're Trying! We're Trying! (to Get Pregnant) 45
Chapter 4: You, Your Fertility, and Your GP 71
Chapter 5: Great Expectations But: Early Pregnancy Loss 81
Part III: Tests and Investigations 95
Chapter 6: Moving on Up: Seeing a Specialist 97
Chapter 7: Finding the Female Problem: Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3 .107
Chapter 8: It's a Man Thing: When Tests Reveal Sperm Problems 133
Part IV: Eureka! Possible Solutions 145
Chapter 9: Doing Your Homework: Researching Fertility Clinics and Funding Treatment 147
Chapter 10: All The 'I's: Introducing IUI, IVF, and ICSI 165
Chapter 11: Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand: Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) 177
Chapter 12: Making Test-Tube Babies: IVF 189
Chapter 13: ICSI: It Only Takes One Good Sperm! 207
Chapter 14: 'Babies on Ice': Egg Freezing and Fertility Treatment 211
Chapter 15: Giving, Receiving, and Sharing: Egg Donor Treatments 219
Chapter 16: Creating an Embryo: Amazing Teamwork in the Lab 227
Part V: Post-First Cycle: How You May Feel and What You Can Do 241
Chapter 17: Waiting and Hoping: Surviving the Two-Week Wait after Embryo Transfer 243
Chapter 18: What's in Your Freezer? Frozen Embryo Transfers 261
Chapter 19: If at First You Don't Succeed: Trying IVF More than Once 269
Part VI: Different Strokes for Different Folks: Options for Non-Traditional Families 281
Chapter 20: Third-Party Reproduction: You and You and Me and Baby Make Four! 283
Chapter 21: Safe Options for Same-Sex Couples and Single Mums 295
Chapter 22: Ready-Made Families and Other Choices 305
Chapter 23: New Advances and Ethical Dilemmas 317
Part VII: The Part of Tens 333
Chapter 24: Ten Tips to Get You Through Treatment (and Keep You Sane!) 335
Chapter 25: Ten (Okay, Seven) Groups of Fertility Medications and Where to Find Them 339
Index 345