There – do I have your attention?
Before I get any credit for coming up with the catchy title, let me tell you that this is the title of a new book written by Greg Wolfe – who underwent the challenges of fertility treatment with his wife. In contrast to the many available books that are written from a woman’s point of view, this has the interesting vantage point of seeing infertility from a male perspective. Although you may not think of infertility (and its treatment) as funny, this author is able to blend important information with personal anecdotes and deliver it in a guy-friendly and very readable style.
To quote a recent description:
“Greg Wolfe went through four cycles of IVF on his rocky journey to fatherhood—and now, with profound sympathy and side-splitting humor, he lays it all out for guys on similar baby-making quests. “How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup” is not your typical nuts and bolts (no pun intended) medical guide but a helpful handbook designed specifically with the male partner in mind, with answers to his most pressing questions about the infertility process.”
In addition to “How to Make Love to a Plastic Cup”, another recent book written from a guy’s perspective is “What He Can Expect When She’s Not Expecting” by Marc Sedaka. The co-author (Dr. Gregory Rosen) is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist in practice in California.
A recent description:
“Marc Sedaka stood by while he and his wife endured endless rounds of drug therapies, sixteen artificial inseminations, ten in-vitro fertilizations, three miscarriages, and, finally, a gestational surrogate (“womb for rent”) who carried their twin girls to term. He was as supportive and loving as he could be, but he really wished he’d had a book like “What He Can Expect When She’s Not Expecting” during the process. Most books about dealing with infertility are geared toward women, leaving the man to his own devices when it comes to comfort and encouragement (never a good idea).”
This blog is not a book review site.
However, I wanted to bring these books to the attention of couples going through the infertility treatment process. It is so common for guys to feel uncomfortable and awkward discussing their scenario with other friends and family. Thus, guys can feel very alone/isolated and angry about their predicament; this can further compound the stress that the couple is experiencing through their journey of treating infertility. Thus, I am excited to see more resources that are geared for men going through this process as they may feel more connected and realize that there are many other men going through the same situation.