The Book

TTC is a guidebook for anyone trying to conceive, which starts at the beginning, taking readers from the stage of recognising fertility signs and timing intercourse, to looking for help, finding a fertility clinic, right through to IVF and beyond. It’s full of facts and figures, advice on websites, where to buy HPTs etc, what to expect from medical professionals, how to choose a fertility clinic, how to cope with infertility, IVF, miscarriage, other people etc. I’ve offered my opinion where I thought it might be helpful and there are personal accounts and opinions from loads of other women (and one man!) who have experienced the topic in question.

It is opinionated, as I am, but I think that anyone who has had to battle infertility while at the same time having to battle with the medical profession and the general public will agree that there are some things that need to be said. I hope the book will be of some help to those that read it and I hope you like it!

Contents

FOREWORD BY DR JOHN WATERSTONE

  1. GETTING READY
    • Introduction
    • Preparing your body
    • Nutrition
    • Stopping contraception
    • Factors affecting sperm quality
  2. IT’S ALL ABOUT TIMING
    • Introduction
    • The menstrual cycle explained
    • Follicular phase
    • Luteal phase
    • Menstrual-cycle summary
    • Anovulatory and irregular cycles
    • Fertility signs
    • The two-week wait
    • One line or two?
  3. CHARTING YOUR FERTILITY SIGNS
    • Introduction
    • Charting your temperature
    • Recording your fertility signs
    • Identifying problems on your chart
  4. THE INTERNET: FROM AF TO BFP
    • Introduction
    • Looking for information online
    • Seeking help from others
    • Irish TTC websites
    • UK and US TTC websites
    • TTC blogs
  5. WHEN NATURE IS NOT ENOUGH
    • Introduction
    • The human fecundity rate
    • When to look for help
    • Where to turn for help
    • Systematic investigations
    • What next?
    • Dealing with waiting periods
    • Alternative therapies
    • Financial considerations
  6. DEFINING INFERTILITY
    • Introduction
    • Common medical conditions – for women
    • Endometriosis
    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome
    • Other ovulation problems
    • Diminished ovarian reserve
    • Uterine abnormalities
    • Blocked fallopian tubes
    • Common medical conditions – for men
    • Poor sperm quality and quantity
    • Unexplained infertility – for both partners
  7. ASSISTED REPRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES
    • Introduction
    • Ovulation induction
    • Clomid
    • Glucophage
    • Injectable gonadotropins
    • IUI: Intrauterine Insemination
    • IVF: In Vitro Fertilisation
    • IVF with ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)
    • 8 SURVIVING INFERTILITY
    • Introduction
    • Dealing with a failed cycle
    • Putting yourself first
    • Coping with important dates
    • Coping with festive occasions
    • Getting help
    • Men and infertility
    • Talking to family and friends
    • Taking the first steps
    • Advice for family and friends
    • So how can you help?
    • Looking after each other
  8. DEALING WITH MISCARRIAGE
    • Introduction
    • Type of loss
    • Recurrent miscarriage
    • Miscarriage causes, investigations and treatments
    • Physical management of miscarriage
    • D&C versus natural miscarriage
    • Dealing with your baby’s remains
    • Saying goodbye to your baby
    • Coping with the emotional trauma
    • Mourning your baby
    • Men and miscarriage
    • Coping with other people’s reactions
    • Coping with special dates
    • Remembering your baby
    • Dealing with recurrent miscarriage
    • Dealing with pregnancy loss and infertility
    • Trying again
  9. A FINAL WORD