Professor Joyce Harper
Your Fertile Years
What you need to know to make informed choices.
The only guide you’ll ever need to understand how your body works, from the menstrual cycle to the menopause: no myths, no misinformation, no scare stories – just scientific evidence that shines a light on the facts you need to know.
About the book
How well do you really know your body?
How easy do you think it will be for you to get pregnant – or NOT to get pregnant? You’ve probably never been educated about your reproductive years – perhaps you learnt everything you know from friends, or from the media, or online. You might be ready for a baby now; or, like so many women, you might want to delay the birth of your first child while you establish your career. Perhaps you’re thinking about freezing your eggs.
Professor Joyce Harper is an internationally recognised expert on female fertility and fertility education, and in 12 chapters she covers the full scope of your reproductive years, from your first period to menopausal symptoms. Her straightforward, scientifically based advice will give you all the information you need to make informed decisions about your reproductive choices.
Your Fertile Years answers all your questions about things like egg freezing and IVF, and debunks not only the myths surrounding fertility treatment, but also the misinformation and scare stories that surround conception and pregnancy – including the bottom line on supplements, diet and holistic therapies.
Book details
Out now
- Publisher
John Murray Press, Sheldon Press - Price
£14.99 - ISBN-13
9781529356274 - Signed copies
£10 plus postage (UK £3.00, EU £7.80; other countries please Global Women Connected. Through the years of working on it, she came to realise the topics that women want to know about. - 2016The book – Your Fertile YearsBut she also realised the limitations of a website, and so in 2016 she decided that she should finally write the book she had thought of 30 years before.
Reviews
What people are saying
So many women lack knowledge about how their body functions. Joyce Harper’s book fills an important gap to help understanding.
Professor Robert WinstonFMedSci, FRSA, FRCP, FRCOG, FREng
From the onset of periods to the menopause, women’s bodies are the contested theatre of a biological, psychological and social drama. This book, by an eminent reproductive scientist who has personal experience of fertility treatment, provides a unique window into understanding these years. Written in clear language with a factual yet upbeat tone, it manages to be both informative and inspirational. Recommended reading, and not just for women.
Professor Raj MathurChair of the British Fertility Society
This is a superbly crafted and up-to-date “must read”, for anyone who wishes to understand the complexity of the female reproductive cycle in a straight-forward, evidence-based manner. Professor Harper demystifies misconceptions about your reproductive choices, whether you are trying to conceive or trying to avoid pregnancy. It is written for a broad audience seeking good information when making important decisions.
Professor Catherine RacowskyHarvard Medical School, former chair of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Professor Harper is a shining light in an all too often murky fertility landscape. Having experienced years of infertility, myself, Joyce was one of the first people I told when I fell pregnant against the odds. Her knowledge of embryology, biology and psychology make her best placed to offer a reality check and clarity for any woman struggling with her changing body and the hormonal balance that we all endure. I was never taught about infertility or menopause at school. I wholeheartedly support Joyce’s brilliant campaign for fertility education. Moreover, had this book been available to me in my 30s I would have lapped it up. Thank goodness I’ll have it in my 40s to better understand the next phase in my fertile life.
Hannah Vaughan JonesCNN Newsreader
If you want to know anything about female fertility and women’s health, just ask Joyce Harper! A force of nature, role model to women everywhere and a complete inspiration to me.
Jessica HepburnFounder of Fertility Fest, author of ‘21 Miles’ and ‘The Pursuit of Motherhood’, first woman to do the pond to peak challenge
Joyce’s charisma, energy and great passion for her subject make her the ideal person to address so much misinformation about fertility. Her blend of kindness and no nonsense straight talking allow her to engage with many varied audiences. This work is so important and I can think of no-one better suited to ensure that we are all equipped to make more informed choices about our fertility, than Joyce. I only wish that I had met her years ago!
Sarah EsdaileTheatre and television director
Professor Joyce Harper, a world leader in reproduction and fertility, is the ideal person to write this book due to her work and personal experience of IVF. She has educated women all over the world, alerting them to the problems they may face when it comes to their own fertility. It’s surprising how many women have little, if any idea of how their bodies work. Joyce is always completely honest in her outlook and never shies away from the truth. A woman with an authentic voice, never afraid to tell people how it is, Joyce has all the ingredients to make this a much needed read in 2020 and beyond, whether you want children or not. There have been plenty of books written about women and reproduction, but none will be as informative as this one, with schools and education at the forefront of Joyce’s curriculum.
Shelley SilasPlaywright
Out now
Order Your Fertile Years
Published by John Murray Press, Sheldon Press. £14.99 · ISBN 9781529356274.
