About 3 steps to fertility

Why the three steps?

Recently there has been an enormous amount of literature written on the field of infertility. Even TV documentaries and chat shows are featuring women telling their heartfelt story as people are becoming more aware of the rise of infertility cases in the UK.

If you have been unsuccessful in conceiving a baby it is difficult to know where to start. This is the problem I faced six years ago. Gynaecologists, midwives or naturopaths write most of the books on infertility. Their information is based on the world of infertility from their perspective, how to treat a couple. None are written by someone with infertility and has tried to make sense of it all! It is difficult to get inside the mind of a couple faced with infertility, to know what they expect, how they feel and how they will react. Guilt, frustration, depression, anxiety, failure, longing, jealousy, denial, anger, loneliness are but a few of the emotions that infertile couples experience at some point. How can they begin to understand us?
three steps
I had collated endless piles of information over the years and decided it was time to write about infertility from our perspective. Interpret the medical information and provide the right amount of sympathy, encouragement and support to answer the question we all desperately want to know – what can I do to increase my chances of having a baby? The idea for ‘3 steps to fertility’ was born.

When collating all my research, it became apparent that it fell naturally into three piles; information about the body and causes of infertility; the process of testing infertility and finally all the treatment options, complementary and conventional – the largest and most diverse pile!

I have tried all the treatments myself and would not include them in this book if I did not feel each one had its merits. It is up to you to choose the one that you feel comfortable with. As I have said before, doctors are quick to recommend drug induced treatments, often justly so, but for others it may be their last choice. So what are the three steps?

Step 1

Gain a full understanding of the male and female body, the cycles involved in conception and the reasons for infertility.

Question it answers
  • What are the main causes?
  • How does age affect fertility?
  • What psychological factors affect fertility?
  • What can go wrong?
  • Am I ready for pregnancy?
  • Complete a lifestyle questionnaire to find out.

Step 2

Find out what the problem is by completing the necessary fertility tests at the appropriate time.

Question it answers
  • What are the male and female tests for infertility?
  • How can I establish if my body had the right vitamins and minerals for conception?
  • Am I full of toxins?

Step 3

Choose the conventional or complementary treatment that will improve your chances of having a baby.

Question it answers
  • Do I need to ‘detox’, or alter my diet and lifestyle?
  • Which vitamins and minerals are essential for conception?
  • Can hypnotherapy, reflexology, acupuncture and herbal medicine help me? How?
  • How do I choose a clinic?
  • What do the rank tables mean?
  • What drug-induced treatments are available?
  • How do they work?
  • Will they work for me?
  • Are there other options? Adoption? Surrogacy?

My aim is to help as many couples as possible increase their chances of having a baby. I feel that if you follow the three steps to fertility, you and your partner will be on the right path. This book was written by someone who completed the uphill struggle and has you in mind every step of the way.