Conquering Infertility

September 9, 2002
Focusing on a topic the author covered more briefly in Healing Mind, Healthy Women, Domar, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard, with freelance writer Kelly, provides here a well-written and supportive self-help manual for women who have been unable to sustain a pregnancy. The stresses that accompany infertility can impact negatively on a woman's relationship with her husband, family members, friends and colleagues. Domar strongly recommends and fully describes such relaxation techniques as yoga, meditation, journal writing and guided imagery as useful ways to cope with infertility treatments, feelings of failure, and obsessive envy of women who are mothers. She also details how to overcome sexual and emotional tensions that spring up between married couples around this issue. Drawing on case studies and recent research indicating that the depression resulting from infertility can actually hinder attempts to become pregnant, the author advocates a positive approach based on self-nurturing that will improve an infertile woman's outlook on life. Domar also discusses when it may be time to abandon expensive and painful infertility treatments and, depending on the individuals involved, explore using donor eggs or sperm, pursue adoption or come to a decision to remain childless. 7-city author tour.