Guest Author - A. Maria Hester, M.D.

The Fertility Sourcebook, 3rd edition, is a great guide to help women through the maze of fertility issues. It explores a wide variety of issues that pertain to fertility, including social and environmental issues, past and current infections that may impact one’s ability to conceive, and a myriad of other important topics. It even explores important issues that impact men’s’ fertility.

This book is a very thorough guide that explains the many issues that can impact a couple’s fertility. Due to the many stresses of the world in which we live, more and more women opt to put off getting pregnant until their late 30s or their 40s. This decision, while undoubtedly the right decision in many cases, often results in a woman finding herself amazingly successful, professionally speaking, yet despite this success she feels very empty, longing for much more – a baby to love and nurture, a family to call her own. Unfortunately, as we grow older our ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby to term declines significantly. The Fertility Sourcebook gives tips on increasing your chances of becoming pregnant. It elucidates how diet, exercise, bad habits, and even personal hygiene can impact fertility.

For those who find themselves unable to conceive, despite ‘doing all the right things,’ there are fertility drugs and procedures which have assisted many couples in their dream of having a family. Different classes of drugs and their adverse effects are explained. In addition, the author explains what to expect with various types of fertility procedures.

I highly recommend this book for all women who are considering becoming pregnant at any time in the future, even if it is not for several years to come. By knowing what habits increase and decrease your chances of getting pregnant now you will be in a better position to conceive and deliver a healthy, happy addition to your family in the future.