Childless

As many as one in five couples in some population groups might be involuntarily childless and, despite the attention attracted by technological advances and media coverage, people often feel themselves to be totally isolated, stigmatised, and misunderstood by many professionals and ordinary people. Childless: No Choice is based on original research into the emotional and social aspects of involuntary childlessness, the main component being a long-term study of the experiences of couples attending an infertility clinic, supported by a community survey and a study of the attitudes of general practitioners. At a time of rapidly developing treatments for infertility and new legislative controls, it is important that all those professionally involved have a full appreciation of the experiences and views of infertile people themselves. While there is enormous attention in the media given to getting pregnant and to childbirth, there is an almost total neglect of the possibility that for some people these `natural' functions may not happen. James H. Monach examines in detail the causes of childlessness and the availability of choices for childless people including artificial insemination, fostering and adoption. This book will be invaluable to doctors, sociologists, social workers, psychologists, health administrators and to anyone who works with childless couples, as well as to childless couples themselves.

James H. Monach

Acknowledgements. List of Tables. 1. Childless: The Context 2. Understanding Childlessness 3. Pronatalism 4. Childlessness in Community and Clinic 5. Acknowledging Childlessness 6. Experiencing Childlessness 7. Undergoing Childlessness 8. Resolving Childlessness 9. The Present and the Future Appendix I Glossary of Terms Appendix II Normal Reproduction Appendix III Investigation of Infertility Appendix IV Fertility Problems - Summary of Problems, Causes aand Treatment Bibliography Author Index Subject Index