5 Books to Read to Help You Through Infertility

When You Want to Laugh

When it feels like you can’t even muster a smile anymore, reading uplifting books related to infertility can lighten your mood. They won’t solve your problems, but they’ll change your mindset to some degree and remind you that you’re not alone.

We’re Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union

We’re Going to Need More Wine is a collection of essays from Gabrielle Union’s personal experiences. She’s been through too many miscarriages to even count. She narrates her journey throughout this book.

Union tackles pregnancy loss, her parents’ divorce, bullying, skin color struggles, beauty standards, and many other things most people will relate to. All the while, she remains honest and funny, keeping things lighthearted despite their heaviness.

“Crash and Burn Marriage,” “Warning: Famous Vaginas Get Itchy, Too,” and “Black Girl Blues” are some of her best essays in the book, but you’ll have to read the book yourself to judge. 

Union’s book will suit you best if you’re after a read that’ll make you nod your head in agreement with her thoughts and have you laugh at the brighter side of situations.

Mommy Man: How I Went From Mild-Mannered Geek to Gay Superdad by Jerry Mahoney

Jerry Mahoney narrates his and his partner’s journey to starting a family. Since they’re a same-sex couple, they opted for surrogacy. Jerry calls himself Mommy Man and weaves hilarious tales out of their experiences. 

Starting a family is hard, and creating one through a non-traditional method is more problematic. People may find you weird for doing it, or you may be straight-out isolated and singled out. It can be an emotionally draining journey, but that doesn’t mean you should let other people’s opinions bring out the worst in you.

Jerry talks about how they entered the unknown when they chose to have a surrogate and what it means to eventually become a Mommy Man by “borrowing a stranger’s lady parts.” He remains honest throughout the book but always remains hopeful and humorous.  

Suppose you’re after a book that showcases the importance of kindness and the ability to have a positive outlook when life throws challenges at you. In that case, you’ll love Jerry Mahoney’s Mommy Man.

When You Want to Cry

When you’re about to cry, the best thing to do is to simply let it out. It’s okay to cry, especially when the fertility treatments aren’t going well. Silent Sorority and Not Pregnant are great books if all you want to do right now is cry.

Silent Sorority: A (Barren) Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found by Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos

There’s a possibility that you’re looking for books to help you through infertility because you’ve had fertility treatments before, and they failed to help you conceive. Silent Sorority tackles the despair and angst of someone unable to conceive through natural and scientific methods and how she eventually comes to terms with that.

Tsigdinos is angry over the failed treatments after being hyped over the possibility of having a child someday. She does everything she could to have a child, yet even her best hadn’t been good enough.

She falls into despair and enters a dark world, and this is her story of eventually pulling herself up. She gets busy, she gets lost, and she gets found. She grieves, she lashes, she wails and shows you her pain.

Suppose you’re after a book that’s just plain honest with all the sufferings an infertile lady had to go through. In that case, Silent Sorority by Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos is for you. It’ll make you cry, but it’ll also show you that you can and will be able to get past infertility and come to terms with continuing on with life.

Not Pregnant by Cathie Quillet & Dr. Shannon Sutherland 

Not Pregnant is an enjoyable read that offers motivation and some inspiration to anyone affected by infertility. Quillet makes you realize you’re not alone, and the pain you’re feeling had been felt by many people in similar situations to some degree.

You can cry as you struggle, and that’s alright. Not Pregnant shows you the negative emotions you may be feeling due to infertility are valid. You have every right to feel them and just let yourself be.

It also tackles topics such as handling people’s ignorance about infertility, hormonal changes, miscarriages, sex and marriage, and moving on with life.

If you’re after a good cry and a book that’ll say “yes, you’re normal and you have the right to feel bad things aren’t going well,” then Not Pregnant is for you.

When You Want a Distraction

What Makes a Baby by Cory Silverberg (Author) and Fiona Smyth (Illustrator)

What Makes a Baby is an entertaining read for people of all ages. It’s a gender-neutral picture book that explains how babies are made, and it doesn’t cover just the traditional baby-making method.

Silverberg tells the stories of natural conception, surrogacy, IVF pregnancies, and adoption. He follows it up with how babies are born in numerous ways and then showcases different parents, such as single parents, queer parents, and trans and nonbinary parents.

If you need something to distract you that still talks about babies, What Makes a Baby is for you.

Another Thing to Help You Through Infertility

If you’re reading this, there’s a high chance you’re already undergoing fertility treatments. It’s a lonely journey to go through, even with a partner. You’ll find yourself wishing for miracles countless times.

Cry Courier can be part of your fertility support team if you opt for IVF or surrogacy. We can guarantee your eggs, sperms, or embryos will be handled and transported with care, tracked accordingly, and delivered on time. 

With us, you don’t have to worry about possible hitches as your precious cargo makes its way to your chosen fertility clinic. You’ll be able to focus more on other essential things, such as maintaining a positive outlook, doing some necessary self-care routines, and bonding with your loved ones.