Choosing Assisted Reproduction: Social, Emotional & Ethical Considerations

Rating:
Summary: An outstanding book which helped us tremendously
Review: "No other book on infertility was so helpful to my husband and me. We each read it and we discussed it together. We found the ethical discussions especially helpful and were so glad to finally find people willing to tackle them. We found the emotional discussions, especially about ending treatment and about third part alternatives, immensely helpful. This book is outstanding!"

Rating:
Summary: This is a wise book !
Review: As an infertility specialist, I'd heartily recommend this book to all infertile couples - and their doctors as well. The forte of this book is the superb way in which emotional issues have been discussed.

Rating:
Summary: unique, informative,thorough
Review: Choosing Assisted Reproduction is packed with useful information, much of which I have not seen anyplace else. Cooper and Glazer address all the psychological issues involved in assisted reproduction and especially, in third party parenting. I particularly appreciated their thorough and very helpful examination of the ethical considerations in a very complex area.

Rating:
Summary: Advance reviews and table of contents
Review: CHOOSING ASSISTED REPRODUCTION Social, Emotional and Ethical Considerations by Susan Lewis Cooper and Ellen Sarasohn Glazer Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Emotional and Ethical Considerations of Assisted Reproductive Technology-- Principles of Medical Ethics, The Separate Components of Parenthood, Unnatural Conception, Avoidance of Regret Chapter 2: In Vitro Fertilization and the Assisted Reproductive Technologies-- The ART Options, Initial Considerations, ART Statistics, The ART Process, When to End ART Treatment Chapter 3: Pregnancy after ART-- A Miraculous Conception, Pregnancy after Gamete Donation, Pregnancy Loss after ART, Chapter 4: Moving Forward: Changing Directions-- Guidance from the Mind, Guidance from the Heart, Grief, Resolution and Celebration, Chapter 5: Donor Insemination-- Setting the Stage: A Climate of Shame and Secrecy, Treatment for Male Infertility, Deciding on Donor Insemination, Known vs Unknown Donors, Known Sperm Donation, The Selection and Practice of Anonymous Sperm Donation, Attempting Pregnancy, Chapter 6: Ovum Donation-- Who Uses Donor Ova?, Potnetial OVum Donors, The Medical Process, MEdical Screening of Ovum Donors, Ethical Considerations of Ovum Donation, Known Ovum Donation, Anonymous Ovum Donation Chapter 7: Surrogacy-- Who Considers Using Surrogacy, The Development of Twentieth Century Contractual Surrogacy, Surrogacy in Practice Chapter 8: Gestational Care-- A Social and Ethical Perspective, A Legal Perspective, Gestational Care Couples, Gestational Carriers, The Gestational Care Experience Chapter 9: Embryo Adoption-- Reasons for Choosing Embryo Adoption, Ethical Issues in Embryo Adoption, Psychosocial Issues in Embryo Adoption, Availability and Practice of Embryo Adoption, Chapter 10: Telling theTruth: Why, When and How to Do So-- The Historical Context of Secrecy, Openness: An Ethically and Psychologically Sound Approach, Talking to Children about Their Origins Early Reviews of Choosing Assisted Reproduction... "Respecting and acknowledging mind-bogglingly rapid advances in the field of infertility treatment, Choosing Assisted Reproduction expands and updates core material in Susan Lewis Cooper and Ellen Sarasohn Glazer's well-regarded 1994 book Beyond Infertility, of which the starred review in Library Journal (4/1/94) said, "This work, written by two highly respected infertility counselors, presents a balanced and sensitive examination of the medical emotional , legal and ethical aspects of the 'high tech' reproductive alternatives. Part 1 discusses assisted reproductive technologies...while Part 2 addresses third-party parenting options... as well as the very latest developments in the field. The descriptions of this staggering array of treatments, plus their attendant emotional and ethical issues, make for compelling reading. Highly recommended..." Advance praise for the new book includes this... "Choosing Assisted Reproduction goes far beyond other works on this subject. Cooper and Glazer cover an impressively wide range of issues with a thorough, informed and sensitive voice. Addressing each of the available assisted reproductive technologies and all of the potential participants in them, they examine the complex and interrelated medical, psychosocial, and ethical issues involved in family building through the assisted reproductive technologies. A valuable contribution to this growing field, this is a "must read" for anyone-patient, third party contributor, or professionals-seriously considering assisted reproduction."-- Susan L. Crockin, Esq. Attorney specializing in reproductive health law. "A bold and much-needed book for patients and professionals alike. Cooper and Glazer integrate complex information and provide insightful guidance for us all. Their years of experience and research are clear to the reader. I appreciate the authors' willingness to take a stand about the future and attempt to foresee the effects of third-party reproduction on children."-- Hilary Hanafin, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist with the Center for Surrogate Parenting and Egg Donation "Midwest Book Review's Internet BookWatch for March, 1998 says... Choosing Assisted Reproduction covers all of the new reproductive technologies and reproductive assistances from third parties offering infertile people an area of treatment options and alternative paths to parenthood. Their explanations and recommendations will help these parents make decisions with knowledge and confidence. Drawing upon lessons learned from generations of families expanded by adoption and donor insemination, Cooper and Glazer offer parents and prospective parents guidance about when, how and why to talk with children about their origins. This is must reading for anyone contemplating an assisted reproduction."

Rating:
Summary: Don't start infertility treatment until you read this!
Review: I can't believe that anyone let me start the process of infertility treatment (beyond the clomid stage) without telling me to read this. I found it on my own when having to decide whether my only chance to have a child, egg donation, was right for my husband and myself. I only WISH someone had told me about it sooner. It would have helped me think about all of "this" in a not so crazy way. It's technical, but, those of us who go through infertility procedures know more about the getting pregnant process than most books and online souces give us credit for. These authors treat us like intelligent human beings.

Rating:
Summary: Choosing Assisted Reproduction is a helpful resource.
Review: I found choosing Assisted Reproduction immensely helpful. More than any of the other infertility books that I've read, it addresses the many emotional challenges of infertility. Cooper and Glazer also present medical information clearly and, unlike other books, they really look at the ethical issues involved in assisted reproduction. I recommend this book highly to anyone considering assisted reproduction- and to their families, friends, and co-workers.

Rating:
Summary: expert guidance
Review: My husband and I have been struggling with infertility for six years and have read several books on the subject. Choosing Assisted Reproduction is the most comprehensive, informative and challenging book that we have come across. We were both relieved to see that the authors raise some of the ethical questions that we are struggling with. They do so in a very sensitive way, always respecting the difficult choices that infertility patients face in this new world of baby making. I recommend this book to anyone going through infertility, as well as to their families and friends.

Rating:
Summary: This book covers everything you need to know about ART
Review: Susan Cooper and I tried to cover the social and ethical aspects of assisted reproductive technology as well as the emotional challenges. We take a careful look at what the ARTs mean to families and especially, to the offspring.

Rating:
Summary: This book is an excellent reference and guide.
Review: This book has been like a bible to my husband and I over the past year as we have gone through many stages and varities of ART. It is written so that it is easy to understand, easy to use and VERY helpful. I was thankful to have the book available to me with all the many questions that come up during ART. It was great to just open the book and get my answers, without having to call the Docotr's office again. CHOOSING ART also brought up many issues that I never thought of and supplied many viable solutions. For anyone who has gone through any ART procedures, there is never enough to read. Thank you writing this book!

Rating:
Summary: Clear, readable, compassionate, and informed!
Review: This book is packed full of useful information and it's presented in a clear, readable and very comforting way. I found Cooper and Glazer wise, compassionate and very informed. I read the book from cover to cover and then started all over again.