Title: The Infertility Answer Book Author: Brette McWhorter Sember, Attorney at Law Publisher: Sphinx Publishing Publish Date: 2005 Pages: 276 Genres:: Self-Help, How-To Guide, Non-Fiction Reviewer: J. Henry

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Brette McWhorter Sember is not only an accomplished family attorney, author of more than 20 books on parenting and child issues, but is also a mother of two who’s had experience with fertility issues. Some books on infertility may provide information from first-person perspective to inform the reader of what trials and tribulations may come to pass. The Infertility Answer Book is not in the same class. McWhorter Sember provides information mainly from a legal background, constantly reminding the reader to look into state laws if they are experiencing infertility issues and want to look into assisted reproduction.

Prospective parent(s), those who are getting treatment for infertility or looking into adoption, are referred to as “intended” parent(s) throughout the Infertility Answer Book. Essentially, when it comes to infertility, there’s a lot to consider and fortunately there are a lot of options available for intended parents both heterosexual and homosexual. McWhorters Sember splits this reference book into two sections: Assisted Reproduction and Adoption. In some cases, the author repeats the laws (such as the birth mother’s husband is automatically considered the father of the child whether he is the biological father or not) and will seem repetitive to someone who will go on to read both sections, but is nonetheless useful information to have.

The scenarios provided give the reader a lot to consider in the pursuit of a growing family. Things that may not have been considered, such as statistical odds on a positive outcome for treatment, legal ramifications and possibility of going into debt, may not have been factors initially realized as actual possibilities. Having an idea of potential outcomes, costs, as well as the time and effort involved in the pursuit (or pursuits) of having a child help the reader come to the conclusion that this is something one is truly prepared for.

The reader is given information from the perspective of an intended parent mainly but also for possible surrogate mothers, and donors of eggs or sperm of their roles in the process of assisted reproduction. McWhorter Sember also provides information to potential donors as to the compensation they would receive and some of the risks involved, particularly for females looking to donate their eggs. The rights of those involved, in particular the intended parent(s), are conveyed in regards to possible outcomes and complications with assisted reproduction methods. She also makes sure to provide website information bubbles in each chapter for state legislation sites, groups that specialize in areas, like lactation, or government forms that can be obtained online. In addition, there are many questionnaires available at the end of most of the chapters filled with questions you should ask agency representatives, surrogate mothers, lawyers, doctors, social workers, and any other professional personnel an intended parent will have to encounter.

McWhorter Sember stresses knowing your rights for any outcomes and where a judge may rule if you find yourself in a situation where a birth parent may want to revoke an adoption or if you and your partner divorce yet have cryogenically frozen sperm. There’s an array of options, many quite costly, for couples or a single parent to consider when having a child.

Methods, such as embryo donation, second parent & international adoption, nuclear transfers, cryopreservation and insemination, are explained in short chapters that relay an overview of the most significant information. It’s up to medical officials to detail the specifications of treatment and in the Infertility Answer Book, McWhorter Sember sticks to what she knows. Her language is not daunting or overly sympathetic. McWhorter Sember stresses that the reader needs to “find the path with which you are most comfortable” in all facets of assisted reproduction and adoption. The Infertility Answer Book is meant to serve as a strong legal guide for intended parents, but it is also a solid reference for basic information in regards to the array of scientific possibilities for those dealing with infertility.