On your reading list: IVF books starter pack
Starting – or navigating – an IVF journey often brings fresh waves of hope, uncertainty, and earnest curiosity. Beyond clinical consultations, I know that I turn to written content for clarity, comfort, education, and community. And in a world where your phone can get super overwhelming, books are brilliant.
But, which are the very best IVF books to go for, in 2025?
Whether you’re in the US, UK or beyond, this curated reading list spans expert guides, science-backed strategies, emotional lifelines, and family-building narratives to support you every step of the way.
Dive in, and let us know your personal must-reads over on Insta. My shelves are in need of a good refresh!
1. It Starts with the Egg – Rebecca Fett
If you’ve spent time in online fertility groups, you’ll know this book comes up again and again. It’s also Amazon’s bestseller, in the Reproductive Medicine department.
Rebecca Fett, a molecular biologist, takes a research-heavy but very readable approach to improving egg quality and IVF success. She digs into how lifestyle factors, environmental toxins, supplements, and even plastics exposure can affect reproductive health. What makes this stand out is Fett’s ability to translate dense scientific research into actionable steps. The book is structured so you can apply changes gradually or intensively, depending on your timeline. For those who want evidence and agency, this book is empowering.
Top tip: Add on the accompanying Cookbook for an extra boost, packed with 100 Mediterranean-inspired recipes.
2. The Trying Game – Amy Klein
Written by a New York Times columnist who chronicled her fertility journey in real time, The Trying Game is part memoir, part guidebook. Klein dives into the nitty-gritty: navigating insurance, balancing treatment with a career, coping with family questions, and managing repeated disappointments. Her candid, often witty voice makes even the hardest parts of IVF feel a little lighter. For US readers, her perspective on the healthcare system, insurance, and cultural expectations resonates especially strongly.
3. The Fertility Doctor’s Guide to Overcoming Infertility – Dr Mark Trolice
For readers seeking a trusted physician’s perspective, this book is an essential pick. Dr Trolice, a US reproductive endocrinologist, provides a clear roadmap through fertility testing, diagnoses, and treatments, including IVF. He explains the science in accessible language and addresses the emotional side of treatment, too. This is a particularly valuable resource if you want something that feels like a consultation in book form – thorough, compassionate, and grounded in clinical expertise.
4. Warrior: Staying Sane While Trying to Conceive – Tori Day
Sometimes the most valuable support isn’t data, but knowing someone has been where you are. Tori Day’s Warrior reads like a compassionate diary shared between friends. She documents the rollercoaster of emotions, the endless waiting, the hope, and the heartbreak. What sets this book apart is its honesty – nothing is sugar-coated, but the voice remains hopeful and resilient. Many readers describe dipping in and out of this book when they feel overwhelmed, and it can be a lifeline on difficult days. If you’re searching for solidarity, this is the pick.
5. Get a Life: His & Hers Survival Guide to IVF – Rosie Bray & Richard Mackney
This couple’s joint account of IVF offers rare dual perspectives – her voice and his voice – on everything from injections to failed cycles and relationship strain. It’s refreshingly honest, sometimes funny, and always relatable. Though written in the UK, US couples will also find it eye-opening to see how differently partners process the same experience. It’s also a great option for men, who are often overlooked in fertility literature.
6. IVF: All You Need to Know – Clare Goulty & Sue Bedford
The starting point IVF book, so-often recommended by UK fertility forums and professionals – but super-helpful for a US audience, too. It’s a comprehensive, plain-spoken manual written by two experts deeply immersed in the field. The book takes you through clinic selection, treatment stages, medication protocols, embryo grading, and beyond.
What makes it particularly valuable is its mix of clear diagrams, glossary explanations, and practical “day-to-day” insights – things you don’t always get in a clinic consult. Readers often describe it as “holding your hand through the process” and appreciate its balance of medical knowledge and emotional reassurance.
7. Conceivable: The Insider’s Guide to IVF – Jheni Osman
Jheni Osman, a science journalist, takes a broad, practical approach, combining her own journey with professional insights. Conceivable is particularly useful if you’re a detail-oriented reader who wants the bigger picture: from the history of IVF to the latest technological advances and ethical debates. It balances storytelling with research, weaving in interviews with doctors, embryologists, and patients. The book’s tone is clear, intelligent, and supportive – perfect for readers who want to feel informed without losing the human side of the story.
8. Big Fat Negative: The Essential Guide to Infertility, IVF and the Trials of Trying for a Baby – Emma & Gabriella
Based on the hit UK podcast Big Fat Negative (one of my personal, absolute go-to faves), this book is as funny, raw, and honest as its hosts. Emma and Gabriella tackle taboo topics, awkward clinic moments, and the emotional rollercoaster of IVF, all while weaving in expert advice. While the humor has a distinctly British flavor, US readers love its mix of relatable storytelling and much-needed levity. It feels like having two friends alongside you during treatment.
9. The IVF Diet – Zita West
Nutrition and lifestyle can feel like areas where you have some control during an otherwise unpredictable process. Zita West – a midwife, acupuncturist, and fertility expert – has built her gold standard, worldwide reputation on holistic yet science-supported fertility support. This book provides targeted recipes, weekly food plans, and explanations of key nutrients that may support egg and sperm health. Many couples find it useful not just for IVF prep, but also for general wellbeing. The tone is encouraging, never overwhelming, and the recipes are accessible even if you’re short on time or not a confident cook.
Top tip: I also loved Zita’s Eat Yourself Pregnant (available in the US and UK), which is packed full with more recipes and ideas for where to put your nutritional focus, while trying for a baby.
Bonus resources for your IVF shelf
Alongside these longer reads, shorter resources from the TRB library can provide grounding during waiting periods:
- IVF at 48 with Donor Eggs – pursuing IVF later in life, offering clinical perspective and encouragement.
- Yoga for IVF – a calming video resource to balance hormones and ease tension.
- IVF preparation (founder’s story) – practical guidance and a personal view from The Ribbon Box founder/CEO (and IVF mama of five), Eloise.
- Beta-hCG Levels in IVF – a clear breakdown of what your first results mean and how to interpret them.
These shorter reads and videos work beautifully alongside your books, giving you both deep dives and quick hits of support.
Bookish takeaway
Books can serve as maps, mentors, and warm companions on the winding road of fertility journeys. Each of these titles offers something unique – from science and strategy, to empathy and storytelling. Paired with supportive short-form resources (like yoga practices or donor-egg stories), they cultivate a resource-rich environment for your body, mind, and heart.
You’re not alone – and with the right mix of guidance and shared experience, the IVF journey can feel just a little less overwhelming, and a little more supported.
One more for your reading list: How do you treat recurrent implantation problems? An IVF doctor weighs in
