Product Description

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #247 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10-31
• Released on: 2006-10-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.40" h x 7.27" w x 9.18" l, 1.58 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 512 pages

Amazon.com Review
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

Review
This beautifully written guide to a woman's fertility signs....packed with knowledge, wisdom, humor –a must for the bookshelf. -- –Co-authors of The New Our Bodies, Ourselves

From the Back Cover
Are you unhappy with your current method of birth control? Or are you demoralized by the fertility treadmill you've embarked upon in your quest to have a baby? Do you experience confusing signs and symptoms at various times in your cycle but are unable to get simple explanations? This invaluable resource may finally have the answers to your questions.

Fully illustrated with eight pages of color graphics and filled with helpful examples and charts, Taking Charge of Your Fertility provides a complete and fascinating window into your reproductive system. The book thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple of minutes a day allows you to: enjoy highly effective and scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices; maximize your odds of conception before you see a doctor, or expedite your infertility treatment by quickly identifying impediments to your pregnancy; increase your chances of choosing the gender of your baby; and gain control of your sexual and gynecological health.

This groundbreaking work is the next step in the women's health revolution, providing all the information women need to monitor their menstrual cycles--whether to achieve pregnancy, avoid pregnancy, or just get better control of their moods, health, and lives.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful.
Review from a Man!
By The Tank
After 7 years of trying and over $35,000.00 out of pocket expenses to fertility doctors, my wife and I pretty much resigned to the fact we couldn't make our own genetic children. We then started the adoption from China process. We paid all that money and are still waiting for our adoption referral date.

While we were waiting for the adoption to go through, I came across this book on Amazon. I figured, what the hell, it's worth a try. I bought the book and read it in three days! I found a couple of excel charts online, and then altered them for our use. I highlighted the most important parts of the book for my wife to read. She said several times, "I never even heard of this stuff!" Even our long time family doctor didn't know most of this info.

We were pregnant after the third month! Yes, after trying for SEVEN years!!! Our beautiful baby boy is now seven months old and the joy of our lives.

GET THIS BOOK! There is HUGE money in keeping us ignorant on fertility.

Good luck!

A happy and proud Dad and Husband!

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful.
I have been rendered knowledgable!
By Kris M.
I generally abstain from reviewing the items I purchase, but I feel so compelled to share my opinions on this book. I purchased TCOYF last spring. My husband and I successfully used the Fertility Awareness Method to avoid pregnancy for 11 cycles. On cycle 12, we shifted gears to attaining pregnancy and here I write, at the end of 12, pregnant. Obviously this was the reason I bought the book - to learn the method, put it to use and feel like I got my money's worth. But, I was provided with so much more - an entry into a world I was previously stumbling through, with conflicting understanding of my own body. I have since come to know, without doubt, what is going on! But too, to know when something is "off" and to get a professional opinion. In the beginning, I read twice through the book, but now use it for reference - I never once felt as if I was being talked down to, nor did I find any wording disagreeable. As my dad would say, "it's hard to believe anything is without any fault," and my response in this circumstance would be - The pros are so strong that I would be forcing myself to nitpick. So I will leave it here - this book is for those women looking to steer clear of synthetic hormones, those wanting to know and understand their bodies, and most importantly, those wanting to trust their bodies.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
Helped me to both avoid and achieve pregnancy!
By unamilagra
After being on the pill for 8 years, I decided it was time for a different birth control method. I was worried that after so many years of regulated hormones, it might take my body a really long time to readjust once I finally wanted children. I did some basic online research into the fertility awareness method, and just about every single source I saw recommended this book. This ended up being just what I was looking for!

After carefully reading the book and using a month to practice the temping and checking cervical fluid, I tossed my pills. I was surprised at how easy this method was to pick up and maintain, and I was so happy when my charts started to show a clear pattern. After a couple months I had it down, and we were able to only use a barrier method during the days we actually needed protection. I was able to successfully prevent pregnancy for a full year. Once we were ready to try to conceive, I reread the achieving pregnancy chapter, applied the principals, and got pregnant on the very first cycle of trying! I am now expecting my first in 3 months and couldn't be more excited and greatful.

Aside from the fact that these methods worked for me, I was impressed with the book itself. Even though I was a little put off by the size of the book, I found it to be an easy, and even enjoyable read. It was well organized and made it easy to find sections that I wanted to review. Even my husband (who is not much of a reader) got through the most relevant parts, and found it interesting as well. And despite the fact that he is a medical professional, he wasn't put off by her somewhat disparaging tone toward the medical community.

Another thing I liked about the book was its section on various problems that you could encounter while trying to conceive. Obviously if you have a medical issue, reading every fertility book in the world is not going to help you get pregnant without medical assistance. But one thing I did like is that the technique helps you spot potential problems so you have some idea of where to start if you do end up needing to seek medical help. For example, it took my cycle 6 months to regulate after going off the pill, and during those six months I was ovulating but my luteal phase was super short - most likely too short for a fertilized egg to successfully implant. If I had just gone off BC right when I wanted to conceive and started trying, I wouldn't have been successful for at least 6 months and had no idea why.

All in all I would recommend this to any woman, whether she was interested in avoiding or achieving pregnancy. It's a good read and a great resource.