Planning Parenthood

Rebecca A. Clark, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and coauthor, with Dr. Hayes, of A Woman's Guide to Living with HIV Infection, also published by Johns Hopkins. Gloria Richard-Davis, M.D., FACOG, is chair and professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Meharry Medical College, associate director of the Center for Women's Health Research, and a board certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. Jill Hayes, Ph.D., is a clinical neuropsychologist in private practice and an adjunct associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Michelle Murphy, J.D., is in private practice. Katherine Pucheu Theall, Ph.D., is an assistant professor at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center's School of Public Health.

• Preface: About This BookPart I: What Are the Pathways to Parenthood?1. The Fertility Workup2. Early Fertility Assistance: Hormone Stimulation and Intrauterine Insemination3. Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Using Your Own Eggs or Sperm4. Using Donor Sperm5. Using Donor Eggs and Embryos6. Using a Surrogate7. Domestic and International Adoptions8. Which Options Are Available to You? The Requirements for Each Pathway9. Considerations for Nontraditional FamiliesPart II: Balancing the Risks and Benefits for Each Pathway10. Your Influence on Genetics and the Fetal and Infant Environments11. Pregnancy and Medical Risks for Mother and Child12. Mental Health Risks for the Child13. Emotional Costs: What You Might Experience14. Time Costs: How Long before You Become a Parent?15. Hassle Costs: Travel, Appointments, Forms, and Documents16. Financial Costs: Which Options Are Affordable?17. Legal Considerations18. Final ThoughtsAcknowledgmentsAppendixesA. Summary of Your Influence on Genetic Background and Fetal and Infant EnvironmentsB. Environmental Influence, by Child's Age and Type of AdoptionC. Summary of Pregnancy and Medical RisksD. Summary of Mental Health RisksE. Summary of Emotional RisksF. Summary of Time from Start of Process to Conception (Fertility Assistance) or Becoming a Parent (Adoption)G. Summary of HasslesH. Summary of Financial CostsI. Summary of Legal ConsiderationsGlossarySelected ReferencesIndex

An informative guide... this panoramic view of the many routes to parenthood is both practical and encouraging. Publishers Weekly 2009 Personal stories of parents' experiences blend with insights to make for a powerful presentation of options. Midwest Book Review 2009 A comprehensive book... a much-needed resource in the infertility literature. PsycCRITIQUES 2010