Have you recently found out you'll need fertility treatment to get pregnant?Are you currently preparing to do an IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) cycle? Or maybe you've gone through a couple of other fertility treatments that were unsuccessful, and you've now decided to do IVF?

I'm so sorry that you're having to look to science to help you to have, or increase, your family. I know it's something you never thought you would need. It's a shock and also very scary. I know, I've been there too.

It's natural to be excited and, at the same time, anxious and scared because you've undoubtedly been through so much already to get to this point. But you are not alone. Wouldn't it help you to read honest, real-life stories from those who have already been through fertility treatments, such as IUI (Intra Uterine Insemination), IVF and ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection)? All our stories may be different, but one thing's for sure, we all have the same goal; to get pregnant and bring our baby home.

When going through fertility treatments, there are physical things you will do, such as:

• Inject hormones - tough if you don't like needles
• Pop pessaries somewhere you'd rather not think about!
• Have numerous scans (hello Wanda, again!), and blood tests
• Plus, remember stats, facts, dates and so much new information.

However, there's also a part that you can't see, and you won't yet know how it's going to affect you; your emotions and mental health. Because:

• Your first cycle is exciting; you're doing something productive and everything is unknown
• You worry every minute, every day about this cycle working
• The extra hormones wreak havoc with your mood - think PMT on speed - and can physically be uncomfortable
• One minute you're positive Polly, the next minute negative Nancy appears.

In This is IVF and Other Fertility Treatments you'll read:

• That grieving when doing fertility treatment is normal
• The experience of a single mother by choice
• Secondary infertility and IVF
• When IVF doesn't work
• What three different families decided to do with their frozen embryos and
• Lots of advice on taking care of your mental health.

This is IVF and Other Fertility Treatments is required reading for:

• Someone who's never been through IVF, IUI or ICSI
• Patient facing staff who have never experienced fertility treatment themselves
• Practitioners who are supporting infertile men and women, and
• Health care professionals who are caring for men and women who are pregnant after fertility treatment.

If you're one of the above, now you'll understand how all-consuming fertility treatment is, and you'll steer clear of inadvertently saying something insensitive. Sadly, IVF does NOT guarantee a baby. You'll also learn that if someone is having fertility treatment and they do get pregnant, they'll probably be worried throughout their pregnancy because of what they've already been through; please validate their feelings.

The TTC community is here for you, offering love, support and understanding on every page. You are not alone.