Men often feel a wee bit sidelined during assisted reproduction. Even if the problem is on their side (low sperm count/mobility and so on), it's the woman who undergoes all the treatment, and for some reason it's the women who get all the support too. You rarely hear a man's side of IVF and infertility, and that's why this book is so refreshing.
It follows the author and his wife through their experiences from start to finish. Interestingly, while this book is intended as an insight into an emotional journey, where it comes into its own is as a way to learn about the physical processes involved in the medical side of IVF. It acts as a primer in what to expect, and it's written in a humorous, conversational style that makes it more fun to read and much easier to digest than some of the drier, more medical "textbook" style books and pamphlets that might be recommended to you.
Perhaps as a woman I expected a depth of emotional understanding and expression that some might consider rare in a man, but I would have liked the book to go deeper into the emotional impact of IVF. While the author does touch on it, weaving his feelings lightly into the narrative, when he does so it's coated in a layer of wit and self-deprecation which serves almost as a buffer to prevent the reader from understanding how it really felt for him. So while it's a brave stab (and certainly the only one I've ever come across) at demystifying the male mind during such a stressful time, it falls somewhat short of the mark in that respect - for me, at least, it may of course be perfect for another reader, particularly a male one who may recognise pointers to his own feelings with which he can identify but which I, as a woman going through IVF with my own accompanying set of emotions, cannot.
However, if you want a quick, easy, entertaining and engaging read to help you understand the processes of IVF, and know what to expect when it's time for you or your partner to start sniffing crazy medication or injecting in the belly twice a day, this is ideal for you. It may be particularly useful for male partners, or perhaps to read as a couple and to use as a jumping-off point for difficult conversations.
