Childless: No Choice: The Experience of Involuntary Childlessness

As many as one in five couples in some population groups can be infertile and, despite the attention attracted by technological advances and media coverage, these people often feel totally isolated, stigmatized, and misunderstood by professionals and ordinary people. Childless: No Choiceis based on original research into the emotional and social aspects of involuntary childlessness, its main component being a long-term study of the experiences of couples attending an infertility clinic. The study is further supported by a community survey and a survey of the attitudes of general practitioners. At a time of new advances in infertility treatments and new legislative controls, it is important that medical professionals addressing this issue have a full appreciation of the personal experiences and views of infertile people. James H. Monach examines in detail the causes of childlessness and the availability of choices for childless people including artificial insemination,foster parenting and adoption. This book will be invaluable to doctors, sociologists, social workers, psychologists, health administrators and anyone who works with childless couples, as well as childless couples themselves.