Taking Charge Of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide To Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, And Reproductive Health
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Celebrating 10 years of helping hundreds of thousands of women achieve pregnancy, avoid pregnancy naturally, and gain better control of their health and lives, the 10th Anniversary Edition of the classic bestseller will include:
•New 'Preface to the 10th Anniversary Edition"
•Updates on new fertility technologies
•Natural approaches to conception
•Updated Resources and Books
For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralized by her quest to have a baby; or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman's body. Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:
•Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
•Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception
•Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby
•Gain control of her sexual and gynecological health
This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method). Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place. Fertility awareness is therefore useful for not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives. It will be of special interest to those women who have suffered from infertility; many FAM practitioners have told the author that by filling in the detailed charts in the book, they've realized that they were chronically miscarrying, even when their doctors told them they weren't conceiving at all. As the book explains, by charting body temperature, it's simple to tell when pregnancy has occurred--and when there's danger of miscarriage. Taking Charge of Your Fertility also explains how to choose the sex of your baby by timing intercourse according to certain fertility signs. It also features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, along with fertility tests and treatments and their long- and short-term side effects, plus a topnotch resource section. Recommended for any woman who wants to better understand her body. --Erica Jorgensen
Customer Reviews
Required reading for EVERY woman!, May 4, 2003By Diane A. Wittmann
I honestly thought that just being a woman ~ I knew all I needed to know to get pregnant. I am 35 now and ready to have a baby, so I stopped taking the pill and waited 2 cycles and thought all I had to do was plan our night of fun close to Ovulation "Day 14". Was I ever wrong!! After trying unsuccessfully on my own for 5 months, I started to question my fertility. I purchased ovulation test strips and they wouldn't show a peak ovulation. I found others online who were trying to conceive and recommended this book. Once I received the book, I couldn't put it down! I was amazed at what little information I actually knew about my cycle ~ my own body and what it had been telling me all along. I just didn't understand it. I learned not everyone ovulates on "Day 14", for me it is actually "Day 23". I assumed I wasn't ovulating and got frustrated at day 20-21 and would stop testing. I now know to look for signals to show when I'm ovulating and now test in the correct window. By reading this book I now have a clear understanding of my cycle. At my age, I want to have a baby sooner than later, so I plan on taking a more aggressive approach to my fertilization. I talked with my doctor after 6 months, rather than 1 year. With the help of this book and charting, I was able to explain my cycle and show my doctor all my charts. I was able to provide all the information needed to show I have a short luteal phase. By providing this information to the doctor, we will be able to treat the ovulation problem that much quicker. My doctor commented that I was extremely organized and it really helped things along. This book is very easy to read and understand. You will be able to clearly read your own body signals during your cycle, and have a better understanding of your fertilization ~ whether you want to become pregnant - or not. I will share this book with other women and would recommend it for every woman!
Excellent, excellent, excellent, October 8, 2002By K. J. Wagner "kjwagner"
I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent, college-educated woman with a pretty darn firm grasp on How Babies Are Made, so when my husband and I decided to start a family, I thought it would be as easy as tossing the birth control pills aside and Let The Fun Begin! After almost a year with NO baby, followed by a miscarriage, I was starting to question my fertility. (After all, how hard can this be?) I went to the OBGYN, who immediately recommended Clomid and sex on the 14th day of my "cycle." I wasn't comfortable with the fertility pill concept, and saw a recommendation for this book instead. So, I picked it up. WOW! Why don't they teach THIS in Sex Ed?? I wish I'd known this stuff when I was 13! I sure knew the mechanics of sex, alright, but not the mechanics of my own body. I was amazed at what I didn't know; while I had observed the various signs that are talked about, I didn't have the slightest clue what they meant. They never worried me, but they never gave me any insight, either. I started charting, figured out what day of the cycle I REALLY ovulated, and on the third try -SURPRISE!- we were pregnant! While the OB said to try on day 14, we REALLY needed to try on day 19. Sperm only live for 5 days max, so we would have missed our window of opportunity every time. :( I have recommended this book to complete strangers whose friends were "trying to get pregnant," and lent it to my best friend when she mentioned going off the pill. She's due in December! Now that my cycle is back, I've reclaimed the book back again to avoid another baby until we're ready. We're still breastfeeding, and using this as a birth control method doesn't come with the risk of drying up my milk supply. (I know, Micronor (mini-pill) is breastfeeding-friendly, but I don't think I'm ready for that yet.) I am SO pleased with this book and the knowledge I gained from it; I can't believe I didn't know all this before my mid-twenties!
Essential for every woman, especially teens, June 19, 2000By Shannon "jfaction"
This is not just a guide to getting pregnant. It is about knowing your body without being embarassed. It is quite liberating to read this book and then be able to recognize exactly where you are in your fertility cycle. Too often, women are made to feel guilty or shamed about even looking at our bodies. It's beyond imagination for some women to examine themselves or to ask questions about what exactly their bodies do. Weschler helps break this barrier and shows us why it's critical to overcome the societal embarassment or reluctance. She makes a very good point: why is it that men are fertile all of the time, that women are fertile for just 5 days a month, yet the majority of birth control involves a woman taking a drug 30 days a month, or inserting a contraceptive device before every sexual encounter? Forget about the burden being placed on women (as long as we bear the children we will be ultimately responsible). Think about the ridiculousness of taking powerful hormonal drugs every day or having to use contraception when you're not even fertile! The drug and contraceptive industries are having a field day! This book has three very distinct values: 1. An essential part of every adolescent girl's education about her changing body. This book will do more than almost anything else in preparing her for responsible sexual encounters, and will help her self esteem by getting rid of her trepidation about her body. 2. Tool for avoiding pregnancy. 3. Tool for achieving pregnancy. It boils down to three basic fertility signs: basal temperature, cervical fluid, and height of cervix. Once you read the book and become accomplished at tracking each of the three signs, you can put away the thermometer. Weschler urges you to track the basal temperature faithfully for several months. But, especially if you're using the method as birth control, you can judge by the other two signs and safely avoid pregnancy. And it takes absolutely no extra effort or monitoring. Most of us have heard the jokes about natural family planning. Weschler discusses those criticisms and shows why this book is different and reliable. "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" will ease your mind and give you the confidence of being certain when you are fertile or not fertile.
An Amazing Learning Experience for Every Woman!, October 22, 2000By "johnalison"
This book is absolutely wonderful. My sister sent it to me. I stopped birth control pills in March and with the charting of my cycles, purposely avoided conceiving. July was the first month I actually tried to get pregnant and I did...on the first month! I knew I was pregnant before I "missed my period" and before I took a test. My sister read it before me, and while off the pill, avoided pregnancy for over a year. The first month she decided to try to achieve pregnancy, she too, conceived...first month! We are both expecting in the spring...2 1/2 weeks apart. I have sent this book to several friends and recommend it to everyone. It is such an important learning tool for all women, whether they are thinking of pregnancy or not. I learned so much about my body. It is just an incredible book and method. It is such a shame that doctors do not recommend fertility awareness to women. BUY THIS BOOK...you will LOVE it!!!
A terrific guide to understanding our bodies!, October 11, 1999By S. Campbell
My husband and I had been trying to get pregnant for six months when I heard about this book through a website. I purchased the book on amazon.com and started charting my cycles right away. Within two months my husband and I realized our fertility problems were nothing more than timing. We got pregnant on the second month of charting. Our son's due date is in December. I have recommended this book to so many people. There is so much information in it that you just never learned in school. Above everything else I realized it is normal not to be "normal". This book saved us the agony of fertility testing and unnecessary stress. For the first time we felt in control! I showed my charts to my doctor and he was extremely impressed with accuracy and teachings of the book. My sister-in-law is now using the book as a guide for her fertility problems. She is currently taking Clomid to overcome a medical condition. "Taking Charge" is helping her to keep track of her cycles and gives her a guideline to help deal with the unsympathetic doctors!
10 Times More Informative Than Most OB/GYN's, March 9, 2000By "motherspring"
This book should be required reading for all women, and every OB/GYN. For years I've noticed signs during my cycle that I knew must be associated with ovulation, yet I couldn't quite put it all together. I had actually thought at certain times that there might be something wrong with me! Weschler describes in detail what these signs are and what they mean (including amazingly thorough color photos). After all, these are not usually things that women talk about with each other, and certainly not things we learn in school. Weschler blows the lid off any level of embarrassment by thoroughly explaining how detailed observation is the key to understanding ovulation. She provides what seems like hundreds of waking temperature charts, which further illustrate how each woman is different and yet perfectly normal. Perhaps the best aspect of this book is that it focuses primarily on fertility than infertility, although adequate explanation is given to the latter. Most other books I've reviewed have placed greater focus on infertility, thus often scaring women into thinking there may be something wrong that may very well be not. This book is inspirational and very positive in that respect, and is titled appropriately -- you really do take charge of your fertility after reading it. I was amazed that my OB/GYN knew nothing about this book, and she dismissed many of the observations I had made about my cycle, observations that as Weschler explains are the key to understanding when you ovulate. Most OB/GYN's tell you to wait 6 months into trying before they'll pay attention to your concerns. This book blows the lid off of that mentality. Why should you wait any amount of time to determine how well your cycle is functioning? For women in their 30's, a 6 month wait can be valuable time well wasted in a narrowing window of opportunity. I can't stress enough how valuable this book is. Let it be the first resource you turn to in starting to plan for a family.
Helped me achieve pregnancy after miscarriages, January 16, 2000By "sjohn99"
Two years ago this book, combined with A Woman Doctor's Guide to Miscarriage by Lynn Friedman, helped me carry my baby to term. I had been having short cycles prior to getting pregnant after my first child and did not know why until I read this book after my second miscarriage. Using her methods and information, I determined that I probably had low progesterone. As for treatment, the Friedman book suggested that progesterone cream was too hard to use since it is only effective when used 48 hours after ovualtion/conception, which most people can't determine. Thanks to Weschler's book, however, I had the confidence to tell my doctor that I would know when I was about to ovulate and when it was complete, so he gave me the go ahead to try the cream. Voila! A beautiful baby girl! I would never have found both of these books if not for Amazon where I did my research and read the recommendations of others. I have been meaning to write this review for ages! Thanks to Toni Weschler, Lynn Friedman, and Amazon!
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