Books/Published Research

Booksellers

Tapestry Books . A unique catalog of books related to adoption, infertility, and assisted reproduction for both children and adults. (800) 765-2367

Two Lives Publishing . Their mission is to publish quality books for children in alternative families and to provide information to the LGBT family community through their Web site.

Books for Adults

Agigian, Amy. Baby Steps: How Lesbian Alternative Insemination Is Changing the World. 288 pages. Wesleyan Univ Pr. June 2004

Aikey-Keller, Brenda. Preconception - A Woman’s Guide to Preparing for Pregnancy and Parenthood. 1990. Outlines preparation that can assure a better pregnancy and parenting experience. Examines physical health considerations, diet, nutrition and exercise.

Aizley, Harlyn. Buying Dad: One Woman's Search for the Perfect Sperm Donor. 336 pages. Alyson Pubns; 1st edition July 15, 2003

Arnup, Katherine, Editor. Lesbian Parenting: Living With Pride and Prejudice. 418 pages. Gynergy Books/Ragweed Pr. May 1995

Ayers, Tess & Brown, Paul. The Essential Guide to Lesbian and Gay Weddings. 304 pages, Alyson Pubns; Reprint edition February 1999

Baran, Annette and Pannor, Reuben. Lethal Secrets: The Shocking Consequences and Unsolved Problems of Artificial Insemination. Warner Books, 1989. A groundbreaking book presenting a strong argument for openness about a child’s origins.

Barret, Robert L. & Robinson, Bryan E. Gay Fathers: Encouraging the Hearts of Gay Dads and Their Families. 224 pages. Jossey-Bass; Revised edition July 2000

Bellina, Joseph, M.D., Ph.D. and Wilson, Josleen. You Can Have a Baby: Everything You Need to Know About Fertility. Bantam, 1990.
A comprehensive overview of fertility problems and treatments.

Benkov, Laura, Ph.D. Reinventing the Family: the Emerging Story of Lesbian and Gay Parents. Crown

Bernstein, Anne. Flight of the Stork: What Children Think and When about Sex and Family Building. Perspectives Press, 1994.
Explains how children organize and internalize information on sex and reproduction at different stages of development.

Brill, Stephanie. The Queer Parent’s Primer: A Lesbian and Gay Families’ Guide to Navigating the Straight World. New Harbinger Publications, 2001.
Practical suggestions for dealing with the challenges of defining, protecting, and celebrating queer families.

Brill, Stephanie and Toevs, Kim. The Essential Guide to Lesbian Conception, Pregnancy, and Birth. Alyson Publications, 2002.
A thorough, practical guide to the physical and emotional stage of pre-conception, pregnancy and delivery.

Casper, Virginia & Schultz, Steven B. & Derman-Sparks, Louise. Gay Parents/Straight Schools: Building Communication and Trust. 240 pages. Teachers College Pr; July 1999

Clunis, G. & Merilee, D. & Dorsey, G. The Lesbian Parenting Book: A Guide to Creating Families and Raising Children. 403 pages. Seal Press; 2nd edition May 2003. Covers the how-tos of everything from conception and adoption to addressing homophobia in age-appropriate ways.

Cooper, Susan and Glazer, Ellen. Choosing Assisted Reproduction: Social, Emotional, and Ethical Considerations. Perspectives Press, 1998.
An in-depth look at the issues involved in third party reproduction, including donor insemination, egg donation, surrogacy, and embryo adoption.

Curry, Hayden (editor). A Legal Guide for Lesbian and Gay Couples. Nolo Press, 1980; 1999. An excellent manual for dealing with the legal issues unique to same-sex couples.

Drucker, Jane, Ph.D. & Schulweis, Harold M. Lesbian and Gay Families Speak Out: Understanding the Joys and Challenges of Diverse Family Life. 283 pages.Perseus Publishing; April 10, 2001

Eisenberg, Murkhoff and Hathaway. What to Expect When You’re Expecting. 1991. Discusses early signs of pregnancy, choosing a health-care provider and such topics as occupational hazards, exercise, sex and breastfeeding.

Eisenberg, Murkhoff and Hathaway. What to Eat When You’re Expecting. 1986.
A wealth of information, presents authors’ "Best Odds Diet" in detail; needs of vegetarians are addressed throughout.

Erichsen, Jean Nelson & Heino R. How to Adopt Internationally: A Guide for Agency-Directed and Independent Adoptions, Revised and Updated Edition for 2003. 288 pages.Mesa House Pub; 2nd edition January 3, 2003

Galluccio, Jon & Michael. An American Family. St. Martin's Griffin.
This is the story of two gay men who become foster parents to Adam, a premature baby, born with the AIDS virus and addicted to crack, heroin, marijuana, and alcohol.

Gardner, Joy. Healing Yourself Through Pregnancy. 1987. Presents natural and herbal cures for more than thirty common complaints women may have from conception through pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Garner, Abigail. Families Like Mine: Children of Gay Parents Tell It Like It Is. 272 pages. HarperCollins. 1st edition March 30, 2004

Gerrold, David. Martian Child. Tor. "A very personal account of a middle-aged gay man's adoption of a high-risk eight-year-old boy...Charming and funny, the adopted single dad wins our sympathy." - Kirkus Reviews

Glazer, Deborah F., Ph.D. & Drescher, Jack, MD., editors. Gay and Lesbian Parenting. 150 pages.Haworth Medical Pr; July 2001

Gottlieb, Andrew R. Sons Talk About Their Gay Fathers: Life Curves (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies). 184 pages. Harrington Park Pr; September 2003

Green, Jesse. The Velveteen Father : An Unexpected Journey to Parenthood. 256 pages. Ballantine Books; May 2, 2000.

Harness, Carla. The Infertility Book: A Comprehensive Medical and Emotional Guide. Celestial Arts Publishing, 1992.

Hicks, Stephen & McDermott, Janet, editors. Lesbian and Gay Fostering and Adoption: Extraordinary Yet Ordinary. 176 pages. Jessica Kingsley Pub; September 1998

Hodges,Frederick M. & Fleiss, Paul M., M.D. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Circumcision: Untold Facts on America's Most Widely Performed-and Most Unnecessary Surgery.

Howey, Noelle & Samuels, Ellen. Out of the Ordinary : Essays on Growing Up with Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Parents. 240 pages. St. Martin's Press; 1st edition August 10, 2000

Howey, Noelle. Dress Codes. Picador. An extraordinary family memoir of three journeys into womanhood as experienced by a transgendered father, a tomboy mother, and their daughter.

Indichova, Julia. Inconceivable : A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics. 208 pages. Broadway; October 9, 2001

Istar Lev, Arlene. The Complete Lesbian and Gay Parenting Guide. 384 pages. Berkley Pub Group; July 6, 2004

Jiminez, Sherry, L.M., The Pregnant Woman’s Comfort Guide. 1992.
A handbook that provides the expectant mother with natural and effective treatments for more than seventy of the most common discomforts of pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Johnson, Suzanne M. & O'Connor, Elizabeth. For Lesbian Parents: Your Guide to Helping Your Family Grow Up Happy, Healthy, and Proud. 248 pages. Guilford Press; March 23, 2001

Johnson, Suzanne M. & O'Connor, Elizabeth. The Gay Baby Boom: The Psychology of Gay Parenthood. 280 pages. New York University Press; February 2002

Kaeser, Gigi (photographer), Gillespie, Peggy (editor). Love Makes a Family: Portraits of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Parents and Their Families. 280 pages. Univ. of Massachusetts Press; May 1999

Kitzinger, Sheila. Birth Over 35. 1994. Designed to help the pregnant woman over thirty understand what is happening to her. Covers topics such as how to take an active part in her pregnancy and birth and how to cope with the challenges that arise before and after birth.

Lita. All the Ways Home: Parenting in the Lesbian and Gay Community - A Collection of Short Fiction Fiction. 211 pages. New Victoria Pub; May 1995

Lorbach, Caroline. Experiences of Donor Conception: Parents, Offspring and Donors Through the Years. 208 pages. Jessica Kingsley Pub; 1 edition January 1, 2003

McGarry, Kevin. Fatherhood for Gay Men: An Emotional and Practical Guide to Becoming a Gay Dad . 108 pages. Haworth (T); August 2003

Mandarin, Hope, Editor. The Handbook for Single Adoptive Parents . 1992. Covers an extensive range of topics and is less expensive than many less useful books. Available from: Committee for Single Adoptive Parents, P.O. Box 15084, Chevy Chase, MD 20825.

Martin, April, Ph.D. The Lesbian and Gay Parenting Handbook . Harper Perennial, 1993. A terrific book that addresses some of the particular concerns of gay and lesbian parents.

Maso, Carole. Room Lit By Roses . Perseus Books

Mattes, Jane. Single Mothers By Choice: A Guidebook for Single Women Who Are Considering or Have Chosen Motherhood . Times Books/Random House, 1994. A sensible, down-to-earth guide to help women decide if single motherhood is for them, by the founder and director of Single Mothers By Choice.

Melina, Lois. Making Sense of Adoption: Conversations and Activities for Families Formed Through Adoption, Donor Insemination, Surrogacy and In Vitro Fertilization . Harper & Row, 1989. Several chapters in this classic guide to navigating adoption include material on how to discuss “where I came from” with children conceived through donor eggs, sperm, or surrogacy. The author offers specific explanations and words for parents to use.

Mohler, Marie & Frazer, Lacy. A Donor Insemination Guide: Written by and for Lesbian Women. 138 pages. Alice Street Editions; 1st edition January 29, 2002

Moraga, Cherrie L. Waiting in the Wings: Portrait of a Queer Motherhood. 120 pages. Firebrand Books; October 1997

National Center for Lesbian Rights. Lesbians Choosing Motherhood: Legal Implications of Donor Insemination and Co-Parenting. 2nd ed., 1991. A legal guide designed to assist lesbians who are becoming mothers through donor insemination and second-parent adoption.

Newman, Susan. Parenting an Only Child: The Joys and Challenges of Raising Your One and Only. 268 pages. Random House; Revised and Updated edition August 14, 2001

Nillsen, Lennart, et.al. A Child Is Born. 1990. Human reproduction from conception to birth, with outstanding photographs.

Noble, Elizabeth. Having Your Baby by Donor Insemination. Houghton Mifflin, 1987. An informative guidebook on insemination.

Pepper, Rachel. The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy for Lesbians: Tips and Techniques from Conception through Childbirth. Cleis Press, 1999. A one-of-a-kind, informative guide, focusing on one lesbian's experience with donor insemination and pregnancy.

Pettle, Sharon and Burns, Jan. Choosing to be Open about Donor Conception.
A booklet for parents describing how to share information about DI with children. Available from Donor Conception Network

Pies, Chari. Considering Parenthood: A Workbook for Lesbians. Spinsters/Aunt Lute, 1988. A book for Lesbians thinking about becoming parents. ... filled with exercises that are easy to do and instructive.

Pollack, Sandra (author) & Vaughn, Jeanne (editor). Politics of the Heart: A Lesbian Parenting Anthology. 360 pages. Firebrand Books; December 1987

Rafkin, Louise (editor). Different Mothers: Sons and Daughters of Lesbians Talk About Their Lives. 174 pages. Cleis Press; 1st Edition edition November 1990

Rosenthal, Sara M. The Fertility Sourcebook. Lowell House, 1995. A practical, comprehensive guide that covers male and female fertility, fertility awareness, nutrition, lifestyle, and medical interventions.

Saffron, Lisa. What About the Children?: Sons and Daughters of Lesbian and Gay Parents Talk About Their Lives. 224 pages. Continuum; April 1997

Saffron, Lisa. It's a Family Affair. Diva. This British import was put together by an expert who gives workshops on lesbian parenting and writes a column about lesbian families.

Savage, Dan. The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant: An Adoption Story. 246 pages. Plume; Reissue edition June 5, 2000

Sher, Geoffrey, M.D., and Marriage-Davis, Virginia, R.N., M.N., with Jean Stoess, M.A. In Vitro Fertilization: The A.R.T. of Making Babies. Facts On File, Inc. 1995

Sher, Geoffrey, M.D., and Marriage-Davis, Virginia, R.N., M.N., with Jean Stoess, M.A. From Infertility to In Vitro Fertilization. McGraw-Hill, 1988

Slater, Suzanne. The Lesbian Family Life Cycle. 265 pages. Free Press; January 1995

Snow, Judith E. How It Feels to Have a Gay or Lesbian Parent: A Book by Kids for Kids of All Ages. Harrington Park Pr; August 2004

Strah, David & Margolis, Susanna & Cozza, Kelly L. Gay Dads: A Celebration of Fatherhood. 288 pages. J. P. Tarcher; May 22, 2003

Sullivan, Ann (editor). Issues in Gay and Lesbian Adoption. Child Welfare League of America; March 1995

Tasker, Fiona L. & Golombok, Susan. Growing Up in a Lesbian Family: Effects on Child Development. 194 pages. Guilford Press; July 13, 1998

Varon, Lee. Adopting On Your Own : The Complete Guide to Adoption for Single Parents. 256 pages. Farrar Straus & Giroux; 1st edition October 4, 2000

Vercollone, Carol Frost, Moss, Heidi, and Moss, Robert. Helping the Stork: The Choices and Challenges of Donor Insemination. Macmillan, 1997. A practical guide to the issues and challenges of DI, particularly useful for heterosexual couples and single women.

Weschler, Toni. Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control and Pregnancy Achievement. HarperCollins, 1995, 2001. This accessible, detailed guide to understanding your body’s fertility signs gets our highest recommendation.

White, Jocelyn White, MD & Martinez, Marissa C. The Lesbian Health Book. Seal Press

Williams, Christopher D. MD. Fastest Way to Get Pregnant Naturally. Little, Brown

Wong, B.D. Following Foo. HarperCollins. Once upon a time," as Wong explains in his true story, "my partner and I found ourselves expecting, with the help of a surrogate mother, modern medical science, and lots of good luck and prayers.

Wright, Janet M. Lesbian Stepfamilies. Haworth Press. The first book specifically on the subject of lesbians bringing their families together and making one healthy step family.It takes a look at five families, their challenges, accomplishments, and experiences.

Books for Children

Aldrich, Andrew R. & Motz, Mike. How My Family Came to Be: Daddy, Papa and Me

Combs, Bobbie & Keane, Desiree (illustrator) & Rappa, Brian (illustrator). ABC A Family Alphabet Book. 32 pages. Two Lives Publishing; February 1, 2001

Combs, Bobbie & Hosler, Danamarie (illustrator). 123 A Family Counting Book. 32 pages.Two Lives Publishing; February 1, 2001

Gordon, Elaine R. Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy? Where Some Babies Come From. Santa Monica: E.M. Greenburg Press, 1992. (ages 4 and up)
Explains infertility, IVF, and all the ways of becoming a family, including donor sperm, donor egg, and surrogacy.

Greenberg, Keith E.. Zack’s Story: Growing Up With Same-Sex Parents. Lerner Publications, 1996. Eleven-year-old Zack describes life with his two moms in this photo-essay for pre-teens.

Harris, Robie. It’s So Amazing: A Book about Eggs, Sperm, Birth, Babies, and Families. Candlewick, 1999. (ages 7-10). An upbeat, comprehensive sex education book for kids.

My Story. London: Infertility Research Trust/Jessup Hospital for Women, 1991. Excellent for young children, this straightforward and gentle guide was written by two mothers in very simple language. Available from Donor Conception Network

Newman, Leslea. Heather Has Two Mommies. Alyson Publications, 1989. Mama Kate, Mama Jane, and Heather became a family using donor insemination. By the same author: Gloria Goes to Gay Pride. Alyson Publications, 1991. Gloria and her two mothers join in a Gay Pride parade.

Our Story. Excellent for young children, with one version about having lesbian parents and one version about having a single mother. Available from Donor Conception Network

Paul, Julia. How I Began: The Story of Donor Insemination. NSW Infertility Social Workers Group, 1988. Available from the Fertility Society of Australia.
This book describes sex, conception, infertility, and pregnancy achieved by donor sperm. A good guide for children old enough to understand reproductive biology.

Schaffer, Patricia. How Babies and Families Are Made: There Is More Than One Way! Tabor Sarah Books, 1988. Combines basic sex ed about anatomy, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth with an explanation of family-building that includes adoption, donor insemination, and IVF. (ages 5-9)

Schnitter, Jane T. Let Me Explain, A Story about Donor Insemination. Perspectives Press, 1995. (ages 7-10). Explains donor insemination from a young girl's perspective.

Simon, Norma. All Kinds of Families. Albert Whitman & Co, 1975, 1987. (ages 4-8) . This picture book describes many different types of families and explores what they all have in common.

Skutch, Robert. Who's in a Family? Tricycle Press, 1995, 1998. (ages 3-7)
A picture book portraying families in all their diversity.

The Sperm Bank of California Published Research

Copies of the following articles can be obtained by contacting info@thspermbankofca.org

Scheib, J.E., Riordan, M. & Rubin, S. (2003). Choosing identity-release sperm donors: The parents' perspective 13-18 years later. Human Reproduction, 18, 1115-1127.

Fulcher, M., Sutfin, E.L., Chan, R.W., Scheib, J.E. & Patterson, C.J. (in press). Lesbian mothers and their children: Findings from the Contemporary Families Study. In A. Omoto & H. Kurtzman (Eds.) Recent Research on Sexual Orientation, Mental Health and Substance Use. Washington, DC: APA.

Fulcher, M., Chan, R.W., Raboy, B. & Patterson, C.J. (2002). Contact with grandparents among children conceived through donor insemination by lesbian and heterosexual mothers. Parenting: Science and Practice, 2, 61-76.

Scheib, J.E., Riordan, M. & Shaver, P.R. (2000). Choosing between anonymous and identity-releasesm sperm donors: Recipient and donor characteristics. Reproductive Technologies (formerly Assisted Reproduction Reviews), 10, 50-58.

Scheib, J.E., Steele, A.C., Shaver, P.R. & Riordan, M. (2000). Why leave a donor insemination program before conceiving? Fertility & Sterility, 74 (supplement 1), S190.

Chan, R.W., Raboy, B. & Patterson, C.J. (1998). Psychosocial adjustment among children conceived via donor insemination by lesbian and heterosexual mothers. Child Development, 69, 443-457.

Chan, R.W., Brooks, R.C., Raboy, B. & Patterson, C.J. (1998). Division of labor among lesbian and heterosexual parents: Associations with children’s adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 12, 402-419.

Raboy, B. (1993). Secrecy and openness in donor insemination: A new paradigm. Politics & The Life Sciences, 12, 191-192.