Synopses & Reviews
In response to growing demand, the thoughts and theories of the internationally acclaimed fertility specialist Dr Alan Beer have been documented. Is Your Body Baby-Friendly? explains for the first time ever why infertility, IVF failures and recurrent miscarriages happen. Even today, the cause of a majority of pregnancy complications (including premature delivery and stillbirth) in addition to IVF failure and infertility are labeled "unexplained." Dr Alan Beer has identified five categories of immune problem that can cause pregnancy loss, IVF failure and infertility. The logic behind the theories is considered, following an overview of how the immune system functions and why imbalances within it can affect pregnancy outcome. Since he began his pioneering tests and immune therapies over 30 years ago, Dr Beer has collaborated long-distance with fertility doctors, ob/gyns and REs across the world to help over 7,000 couples and achieved a pregnancy success rate of more than 85% within three natural cycles or IVF attempts. The book explains how the immune system can behave in a way that prevents a pregnancy from continuing. High levels of Natural Killer cells, genetic compatibility between partners and blood clotting problems are all significant causes of reproductive failure. Autoimmunity that can be inherited or environmentally triggered are a major reason for the increase in infertility and miscarriage today. This book also explains why such disorders are not just devastating to a pregnancy - they can also be markers of potentially serious health problems in the mother. This thoroughly researched and referenced text includes contributions from world-leading professionals, including Professor David Clark, Dr Carolyn Coulam, Dr William Matzner and Dr Geoffrey Sher. Best-selling author Zita West has also contributed a special chapter on holistic therapies and diet specifically for those with immune-based infertility and recurrent miscarriage. Dr Christo Zouves, author of "Expecting Miracles," who has worked with Dr Beer for over 15 years, has provided the Foreword.
Review
"A wonderful addition for all those struggling with recurrent failure and loss." Christo Zouves, MD, founder and director, Zouves Fertility Center, and author, Expecting Miracles
Review
"This book certainly makes a complex subject reader-friendly from a personal perspective." Zita West, author, Fertility & Conception
Review
"An intriguing and compelling insight into this critical area of science." Noah Chalfin, Center for Ethics and Toxics
Review
"This is a wonderful, rich . . . book for practitioners working in reproductive medicine." Koji Koyama, MD, president, International Society of Reproductive Immunology
Synopsis
The latest tests and treatments to help women conceive and carry to term are outlined in this book. The reasons for their so-called "unexplained" IVF failure and pregnancy loss are also comprehensively explained for the first time ever.
Pioneering of this new field of medicine is Dr. Beer, who has helped thousands of couples achieve pregnancy and achieved success rates of more than 85% within three natural cycles or IVF attempts. The average age of these patients is over 35.
Having worked with more than 7,000 couples, Dr. Beer has identified five types of immune system response that cause reproductive failure: Category 1 is the least severe and Category 5 is most severe. Many infertile couples find that immunotherapy alone can enable them to become parents, without the requirement for IVF. The same is also true for recurrent miscarriage patients.
This thoroughly researched and referenced text includes contributions from world-leading professionals, including Dr. Carolyn Coulam, Dr. William Matzner and Dr. Geoffrey Sher. The acclaimed holistic practitioner Zita West has also contributed a special chapter on natural therapies and diet specifically for those with immune-based fertility problems and recurrent miscarriage and Dr. Christo Zouves, author of Expecting Miracles, has provided the Foreword.
As an established and reputable field of reproductive medicine, many centers in the US and the rest of the world now specialize in immunotherapy and a selection of these is listed in the resources section.
Synopsis
This book explains how the immune system can behave in a way that prevents a pregnancy from continuing. High levels of Natural Killer cells, genetic compatibility between partners and blood clotting problems are all significant causes of reproductive failure.
Autoimmunity (both inherited or environmentally triggered) are a major reason for the increase in infertility and miscarriage today. This book also explains why such disorders are not just devastating to a pregnancy and can also be markers of potentially serious health problems in the mother.
This text includes contributions from Professor David Clark, Dr Carolyn Coulam, Dr William Matzner and Dr Geoffrey Sher.
Synopsis
Women who have experienced difficulty conceiving or muliple miscarriages may be suffering treatable dysfunctions of their immune systems, according to this leading authority who has worked with more than 7,000 couples and achieved pregnancy success in three months for more than 85% of his patients. The book provides details that are technical but accessible to general readers to explain how chemical therapy can temporarily regulate immune responses that might otherwise unleash "natural killer cells" to attack a pregnancy. Chapters cover the most common adverse immune problems, including tissue incompatiblity, blood clotting defects, and antibodies that fight sperm, fetal cells, hormones, or neurotransmitters—and also outline clinical protocol for comprehensive immune testing. The discussion incorporates Dr. Beer's own dramatic account of his clinical breakthroughs, the rejection of his ideas by mainstream medical practitioners, and his research showing that failed IVF (in vitro fertilization) is often the result of immune reactions.
About the Author
Alan E. Beer M.D.Dr. Alan Beer is a world-renowned physician and scientist who has spent much of his academic life analyzing the relationship between the immune system and reproductive health. In recent years, he has dedicated himself to helping couples with infertility, IVF or implantation failure and recurrent miscarriage. He joined the Chicago Medical School in 1987 as Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Professor of Microbiology and Immunology. Here he established the School's Reproductive Immunology Clinic and specialized in treating couples that had repeatedly failed with conventional approaches. In the majority of cases, he made it possible for them to have babies. In 1988, he extended his care to those undergoing assisted reproduction and treated a couple who had failed to carry to term after 20 IVF attempts. Within a year, the woman had delivered healthy twins. From then on he saw every IVF couple no matter how difficult their case, "as long as there was hope." In 2003, Dr. Beer established The Alan E. Beer Center for Reproductive Immunology and Genetics for the evaluation and treatment of couples with immune-related problems, and in 2005, he opened his own specialist testing laboratory facility in Los Gatos, California.
Julia KanteckiJulia Kantecki lives in Orlando, FL. She has a son who was born as a result of immune therapy. Julia was Marketing Director of a company jointly owned with her husband for 12 years. Prior to this, she spent eight years working as a copywriter and then as a freelance writer. She has firsthand experience of virtually all of the procedures and treatments that are involved in the field of reproductive immunology.
Jane Reed
Having endured five miscarriages caused by a worsening immune condition, Jane Reed experienced four successful pregnancies after receiving appropriate immune treatment. Jane is the founder and moderator of the Yahoo Reproductive Immunology website, and chief patient advocate for Dr. Alan Beer, helping to run his Internet discussion boards and gather data for his program in addition to administering the Enbrel Support Group and the Yahoo Immunology Support Group. Jane received a BA (Hons) in Biology from the University of Oregon.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Christo Zouvres, MD
Preface
Alan E. Beer, MD
Introduction
Helping to Explain the "Unexplained"
Defining Reproductive Failure
Recurring Nightmares
The Immune System
Category 1 Immune Problems: Tissue Type Compatibility
Category 2 Immune Problems: Blood-clotting Defects
Category 3 Immune Problems: Immunity to Pregnancy
Category 4 Immune Problems: Antibodies to Sperm
Category 5 Immune Problems: Part OneNatural Killer Cells
Category 5 Immune Problems: Part TwoAntibodies to Hormones and Neurotransmitters
Hope for Older Mothers-To-Be
Immune Problems and Pregnancy
Comprehensive Immune Testing
Dr Beer's Treatments
Immune Therapy: Rejected by a Body of Medical Opinion
Trials on Trial
Hope . . . and Inspiration
Addendum:Fertility Under-Fire
The Legacy of a Toxic PregnancyThe Toxins Eating at Our HealthBaby-Friendly Alternatives by Zita West
Acknowledgements
EpilogueNotes
Appendix
Glossary
Index