{"product_id":"9780996520317","title":"Sperm Tales: An Informative Guide Through the Challenges of Infertility","description":"\u003cp\u003eSperm Tales:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eInfertility is a medical problem defined as the failure of a couple to conceive a child\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eafter one year of unprotected sexual intercourse, or the inability to carry a pregnancy to live\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebirth. According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, infertility affects about\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e6.1 million people in the United States, which is about 10 percent of the reproductive age\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epopulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSperm Tales \u003c\/em\u003eprovides the necessary step-by-step information that enables patients to\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eanticipate and prepare for the various challenges -- medically and otherwise -- that attend the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eprocess of infertility treatment. \u003cem\u003eSperm Tales \u003c\/em\u003eis written by veteran infertility expert, Lynn\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollins, whose up-to-date information and compassionate voice, will put couples at ease and\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003emay even make them laugh. At the end of her book she includes a short chapter introducing\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Spanky.” Spanky is a sperm who, years ago was given to Collins as plastic toy that now sits on\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eher desk as her clinic’s mascot. Over the course of her 12 years of working in the clinic she\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ekept a notebook documenting humorous asides uttered from the patients during the various\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ephases and indignities of treatment. Spanky’s presence on the desk, and as “the mascot” of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSperm Tales\u003c\/em\u003e, serves as a reminder that at times during the stress of treatment, humor is the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebest medicine.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOften people feel vulnerable and embarrassed when embarking infertility treatment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe goal of \u003cem\u003eSperm Tales \u003c\/em\u003eis to disarm the fear and take the reader’s hand while navigating the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eprocess. \u003cem\u003eSperm Tales \u003c\/em\u003ehelps the reader understand that those in the field who accompany them\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eon the journey have seen and heard it all when it comes to hardship and humor of the process\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand that they are there to help.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhy We Need \u003cstrong\u003eSperm Tales\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Couples are in this together, and at the same time are coming from very different and very\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eemotional places. By the time they get to this point they are discouraged, desperate, maybe\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eashamed or embarrassed and simply are reaching out.” Collins’ book offers ballast and clarity\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eabout what to expect -- and does so in a voice that is compassionate and even light-hearted at\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etime.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book is especially helpful to those who read it before infertility treatment begins\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eor those who are in the very early stages of the process. It is the author’s hope to help women\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eand men understand the nature of their bodies and the issues involved with childbearing (or\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ehoping to) in the later years of woman’s infertility.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFurther, the book is intended to help women of childbearing age gain a clear\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eunderstanding about their fertility and the potential roadblocks they will confront if they wait\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etoo long. While great strides have been made in helping women conceive later in life, the\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebook helps women of childbearing age to recognize the complication they will face if they\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003epresume too much when it comes to conceiving after the peak years.\u003cem\u003eSperm Tales \u003c\/em\u003eis meant for\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eboth for men and for women and includes current and prospective patients; their families and includes\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecurrent and prospective patients; their families and support groups; others in medical community.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lynn Collins","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47034851426544,"sku":"9780996520317","price":23.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780996520317_p0.jpg?v=1763953259","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780996520317","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}