We’re proud to announce that The Fertility Book: Your definitive guide to achieving a healthy pregnancy has now been released and is published by Penguin Random House.

The Fertility Book is a comprehensive guide for those trying to conceive or those looking to have a family in the future, with up to date and evidence-based advice from two leading fertility experts

Leading NHS consultant and fertility expert Professor Adam Balen has decades of experience helping couples on their journey to conception and beyond. Grace Dugdale is a reproductive biologist and nutrition scientist who works closely with Adam offering detailed assessments and sound advice on lifestyle and nutritional health to couples trying for a pregnancy. Now in their first book for a general readership, they have created a unique companion to reproductive health for all couples looking to conceive, explaining all the factors at play from genetics to lifestyle. Taking an honest look at the evidence for both conventional and alternative approaches, equipping you with the knowledge to improve your chances of a natural conception and with an understanding of how to create the best environment for a healthy pregnancy. And if you do decide to seek help through assisted conception, this book will be with you every step of the way, explaining what treatments are available and how to approach them, so that you can come to an informed decision about what is right for you.

The Fertility Book is busting the myths around fertility including those such as:

• Diet and lifestyle can only affect egg quality in the 3 months before ovulation”
•  “Male fertility doesn’t decline with age”
• “Sperm health doesn’t affect the health of the pregnancy or the health of the baby”
• “You can’t get pregnant on your period”
• “Folic acid or a pregnancy multivitamin is all you need to worry about when trying to conceive”
• “It’s normal to have very painful or very heavy periods”
• “If my periods are regular, I just need to keep trying and we don’t need to see a doctor if we’re not conceiving”

This book will be the companion every couple needs to plan for a healthy pregnancy covering:

Preconception care, planning for a healthy pregnancy

Maximise your chances of conception before you see a doctor by quickly identifying any impediments to achieving pregnancy. Including a guide to effective lifestyle changes for both partners such as how to optimise nutrition and sleep health, plus weight management and stress management.

What to do when you need medical help

Struggles to conceive can put a great deal of pressure on couples, this guide will allow you to take control of sexual and reproductive health for both partners and make informed decisions that are best for you. Covering everything from understanding the results of hormone and semen testing to IVF, surrogacy, PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), Endometriosis and POI (Primary Ovarian Insufficiency).

Also covered:

Recurrent Miscarriage
Genetic Testing
Building Modern Families e.g Parents with a Disability, Single Parenting, LGBTQ+ Parenting New Technologies and Alternative Therapies
Fertility Preservation

What the experts say

Knowledge is power and in the disempowering situation of struggling to conceive this book is an absolute game changer. Whether you’re brand new to the whole business of conception (!) or you’ve struggled for a while this book is a beacon of clear, detailed information. It is an amazing resource and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is even considered having a go at conceiving!

(You’re welcome to reword to suit your needs but really I am so genuinely impressed with it. I think people absolutely crave detailed information in this situation and you’ve done a beautiful job).

Dr Xand van Tulleken

TV Presenter & Honorary Associate Professor University College London

‘This unique, patient-centred book provides high quality clinical and scientific information, but with an emphasis on a holistic approach that seeks to empower readers. Comprehensive and authoritative, it is written in an easy, accessible style that makes it a pleasure to read and understand. I am sure it will be of tremendous use to men and women who wish to protect and understand their fertility and improve their chances of a healthy pregnancy. Should they come to need fertility treatment, this is an excellent guide on how they can negotiate their way through the complex world of IVF and related treatments. Everyone concerned about their fertility should read it – and so should the clinicians looking after them!’

Dr Raj Mathur, MBBS, MD, FRCOG,  Chair of the British Fertility Society

Inability to conceive a pregnancy is tremendously stressful for many couples. It is not unusual for people to stay up all night scouring the internet for helpful information that will solve the inability to have a baby. Whilst there is no shortage of information, it is difficult to separate out what is credible and evidence-based information from wishful theories and anecdotes. This is where this book makes a unique contribution, by synthesising and presenting credible evidence to inform one’s fertility journey. If you are struggling to have a baby, make time for this book. It will help you.

Professor Arri Coomarasamy, MBChB, MD, FRCOG, FMedSci

Director of the Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research. University of Birmingham

From the science of normal reproduction and the impact of lifestyle and nutrition, to the what can go wrong, and the constellation of treatment options it is no wonder that so many people, and indeed healthcare professionals, have difficulty understanding fertility. This book, expertly crafted by Adam and Grace, experts in their field, has all most need to optimise their fertility. Most importantly however this book clearly explains the science in ways that should help couples feel knowledgeable and empowered when it comes to making what could be some of the most important decisions of their lives.

Dr Edward Morris MD, FRCOG, President of The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists  

Balen and Dugdale have managed to distil a huge amount of complex, and sometimes contradictory, information about fertility into an easily accessible read. Chapters 10 and 13 will be of particular help to men who are often overlooked in the fertility journey. I highly recommended this book

Professor Allan Pacey MBE, PhD, FRCPath, FRCOG, Professor of Andrology and Head of the Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Sheffield University. Past Chair of the BFS.

I absolutely love this book … I have learnt so much. It is a real “easy to read” book and covers such a broad range. I also think this book is also ideal for “non-medical” professionals to read to gain an understanding of the medical side of fertility treatments and for family members of those experiencing fertility issues. It is a comprehensive resource and guide combining factual evidence-based information, current research together with patient case studies. This book focuses on both women and men throughout, covering the wide range of fertility treatment options whilst simultaneously explaining a full spectrum of the factors which can enhance fertility ranging from improving pre-conception care to ending fertility treatment  – The authors provide practical steps which can become habitual with minimal effort. Essential reading.

Angela Pericleous-Smith, Chair British Infertility Counselling Association (BICA)

The Fertility Book is a comprehensive and reliable source of information for those with fertility problems and an essential read in a time when medical fictions spread faster than medical facts.

Sarah Norcross, Director of the Progress Educational Trust

Support from the leaders of patient organisations

“An utterly brilliant book. Fully comprehensive and reader-friendly. It should be a set text for all women (and men!). I wish it had been around when I was on my own fertility journey.”

Jessica Hepburn, Founder of Fertility Fest and Author of The Pursuit of Motherhood and 21 Miles: swimming in search of the meaning of motherhood

Having such high quality and up to date information on reproductive health all available in one place is really important for women’s health and well-being.

Shaista Gohir OBE, RCOG Women’s Voices Lead / Chair, RCOG Women’s Network, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists  

The Fertility Book is a thorough and comprehensive guide to the issues which can cause fertility problems, and helps readers navigate a pathway through the tests and treatment they may face.

Kate Brian, Fertility Network UK

Taking care of your own health is really powerful but that needs evidence-based, reputable sources of information, and the help of medicine and science when necessary. The Fertility Book is all of that. It’s is an extremely comprehensive, easy to understand guide to healthily preparing for the road to conception, whether natural or assisted.

Catherine Nestor, former Vice-Chair, RCOG Women’s Network

This book is an invaluable resource for those on their fertility journey. An essential read!

Caroline Andrews and Rachel Hawkes, Secretary and Chair of Verity, The PCOS patient representative organisation.