Get A Life: His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF Paperback – 2 July 2015

Although I have to say there is a lot of useful information in this book, and some genuine chuckles over their accounts of their IVF experience, this pair are writing from the self-assured perspective of having achieved a baby. Some of their comments come across as downright callous - describing the conference room of sad 40 year olds and their self-satisfaction that they were not too old yet. They of all people should know that their success was down to luck as much as anything and that sadly there are many couples - even of their age! - who go for many years without conceiving through IVF and some may never manage this through no fault of their own. It is this lack of empathy for other couples’ journeys which makes me give a low rating for this book. It’s just not a sensitive reflection of what the experience is for many people.

I found this book full of gender stereotypes, ageism and not at all helpful for me and my partner embarking on IVF.It got to a point where it was simply too cringeworthy to carry on. The male sections particularly are not representative of all men having fertility treatment. There's an air of "OK guys, I know you're not really interested in all this stuff, but hear me out...."Why on earth would men be reading it in the first place if they didn't care? There is just a "laddishness" to the male sections which I suppose some may find relatable, but me and my partner both found a bit tacky.It's also strangely offensive generally towards people having fertility treatment, particularly anyone over 40.The authors seem somewhat smug in their age and their unexplained infertility (so it's not their fault), which I find to be just an extremely odd approach for writing a book like this.It doesn't seem to have occurred to them that their audience will include people in all kinds of situations, including older people and people who have particular reasons for infertility which they may be feeling inadequate about.It feels like this is only really aimed at couples who are in the exact same position as the writers. They lack empathy and frankly we found it quite offensive.

When you start IVF you want to read everything and feel in control (in a completely uncontrollable situation) and this book really does help you feel that way. Plus (SPOILER) it ends well so you know, that could be you too. It sets it out quite clearly but every clinic and every process is different so this may not be that like yours, however it's near enough to help. The list of questions to ask at the first consultant appointment are very useful. My husband also read it and really enjoyed it - but both stopped reading the mans point of view, and the 'professional' consultant note is generally a tiny paragraph and totally pointless. We can't work out if the guy is trying to be really blokey and appeal to guys to get them to read it or he's just that guy but we found it kind of annoying and patronising - for example 'Up until this stage you will probably have just been showing a passing interest in IVF, mostly to avoid arguments and to appear all nice and supportive to your partner' hmmm. Maybe your partner is that guy but mine isn't so we just read her parts which were great.(We also read It Starts With the Egg which, depending on what kind of person you are, will either make you feel in control and you'll start refusing to pick up receipts and will spend £100pm on supplements without a blood test first, or will make you feel in a total panic and make you throw it out and eat some cake. Either way, interesting to read)

The media could not be loaded.  I absolutely loved this book and finished it within days of its delivery!! Having already failed at IUI we are at the very beginning of our COVID postponed IVF process ourselves. It’s a devastating time for anyone going through IVF but the added complication of a worldwide pandemic means that men are not allowed to attend the appointments and therefore it’s lonelier than it already was. This book gave me a great insight into how HE is feeling and vice verse (he’s half way through as well). It’s brought us closer and given us a great insight into the entire ‘journey’. If you read any IVF book, this is the one!!

Great for light reading and a bit of a laugh. Some more informative parts. Nice personal perspectives from both partners (male and female partners in this book) but as my partner wasn’t interesting in reading the male perspective, I only got 50% use from it.Keep in mind that each IVF journey is different so this is their journey and yours may or may not be similar. I found IVF a breeze and others I talk to hated it from start to finish. The book is more of a comfort to know that other normal people also have to go through the annoyance of infertility. Infertility does not discriminate and this book shows that.

This book was recommended to me so I had high expectations and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightestAnyone going through the process of IVF knows what a scary and serious place that is, this book made me laugh, something I didn’t think would be possible when reading such serious topics!It’s so well written it such a relatable way!I also love that is has both male and female perspectives which I think is incredibly important.It also makes sense of a lot, it simplifies the process and it’s great to know what to expect! It also made us think of certain things we wouldn’t have thought of otherwise!Anyone thinking of this book don’t hesitate! since reading I’ve recommended to a few girls and they’ve also loved it!

It’s a nice anecdote to give you a vague feel for the IVF process, but their experience ended up being completely and utterly different to mine. I was hoping to feel clued up a little by reading this but it didn’t prepare me at all for what actually happened. So by all means definitely buy as a little window into someone else’s experience, it was great for offering insight into the overall process. but don’t use it to work out how yours might go!