The Trying Game

Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant without Losing Your Mind

By: Amy Klein

Narrated by: Amy Klein

From the author of “Fertility Diary” for the New York Times Motherlode blog comes a reassuring, no-nonsense guide to both the emotional and practical process of trying to get pregnant, written with the smarts, warmth, and honesty of a woman who has been in the trenches.

“A compassionate, often funny, well-researched, and ultimately empowering guide.”—Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

There are so many ways to be Not Pregnant: You can be young, old, partnered, or unpartnered. Maybe you have endometriosis. Maybe you don’t have enough eggs or your partner doesn’t have enough sperm. Or maybe there’s nothing wrong except you’re Just. Not. Pregnant.

Amy Klein has been there. Faced with fertility obstacles, she quickly became an expert. After nine rounds of IVF, four miscarriages, three acupuncturists, two rabbis, and one reproductive immunologist, she finally became a mother. And she wrote about it all for the New York Times Motherlode blog in her “Fertility Diary” column.

Now, Amy has written the book she wishes she’d had when she was trying to get pregnant. With advice from medical experts as well as real women, she outlines your options every step of the way, from questions you should ask to advice on getting your mother-in-law to mind her own beeswax. In this comprehensive road map to infertility, you’ll find topics such as:

• whether to freeze your eggs
• finding (and affording) a clinic
• what to expect during your first IVF cycle
• baby envy—aka it’s okay to skip your friend’s shower
• whether the alternative route—acupuncture, herbs, supplements—is for you
• helpful tips and more!

Empowering, compassionate, and down-to-earth, The Trying Game will show you what to expect when you’re not expecting with heart and humanity when you need it the most.

Critic reviews

“Infertility can be incredibly difficult to navigate emotionally and physically. As an IVF veteran, Amy Klein does an exceptional job of tapping into the emotional aspects of the infertility journey while also providing readers with helpful information about various fertility treatments from medical experts.”—William Schoolcraft, MD, founder and medical director of CCRM Fertility

“I believe every woman doing fertility treatments needs her Amy Klein. Find yours! It’s too scary and confusing to go it alone.”—Alyssa Shelasky, The Cut

“Amy Klein’s The Trying Game is just what our fertility community needs right now. Unlike other fertility books, this is a real book for the real woman, written by a woman who has been there before. I’m thrilled to be able to provide this as a resource to my patients.”—Natalie Crawford, MD, MSCR, As a Woman podcast

“Amy Klein’s writing on fertility is candid, warm, and honest. She pulls no punches, and the result isn’t just informative—it’s empowering. If you’re struggling to create the family you imagined, Amy’s is the voice you want in your head, and your heart.”—KJ Dell’Antonia, former editor of the New York Times Motherlode blog and author of How to Be a Happier Parent

Tips and tricks for the hardest years of your life.

We can all relate to her stories. It’s honest and her tips are really practical and insightful. When you are inside the rabbit hole not so many ideas come to mind. One of the best books I have read in this tough road.

Loved it

Great guide when you are suffering of infertility whit a funny spin. Love it and it helped alot in hard times!

totally relatable

she knows what it's like and has alot of experiences to share that you can relate to. there was also alot of information that I did not know about the whole process and gives alot of resources throughout the book. it also brought up alot of things to think about, like if you cant have your own biological children, it gets the topic out there and gets you to think about what choices to consider and info on how to go about it, whatever your route is. I think this is a must read if you are trying to concieve and going through it, especially if you don't have alot of people close to you who have experienced this/cam relate to. I would definitely reccomend this book. it has helped me alot.

Very informative

I didn’t love how the author spoke but it was very informative if you are going through IVF