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5th out of 137 books
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48 voters
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Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
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 Res...more
•New 'Preface to the 10th Anniversary Edition"
•Updates on new fertility technologies
•Natural approaches to conception
•Updated Res...more
Paperback, 10th edition, 512 pages
Published
October 31st 2006
by Collins
(first published 1995)
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This ought to be required reading for everyone in possession of a uterus.
It's totally famous and often recommended. However, I picked this hefty volume up once in B&N, and after leafing through several pages of complicated looking charts and completely gross close-up pictures of what-I-didn't-even-know, I nestled it back on the shelf and said to myself, "Well, I'll read that if I ever have any PROBLEMS with my junk 'down there.'" Fortunately, I happened upon it again in a...more
It's totally famous and often recommended. However, I picked this hefty volume up once in B&N, and after leafing through several pages of complicated looking charts and completely gross close-up pictures of what-I-didn't-even-know, I nestled it back on the shelf and said to myself, "Well, I'll read that if I ever have any PROBLEMS with my junk 'down there.'" Fortunately, I happened upon it again in a...more
This book should be required reading for all women. I was shocked how much I didn't know about my own body.
You don't have to be "taking charge" of your fertility - I feel the title puts off women who are not trying to currently reproduce. It's more of a user's manual for your entire reproductive system and it is simply fascinating. It is quite empowering (and much easier than I ever thought) to know exactly when you are ovulating and exactly when your period will be coming. I...more
You don't have to be "taking charge" of your fertility - I feel the title puts off women who are not trying to currently reproduce. It's more of a user's manual for your entire reproductive system and it is simply fascinating. It is quite empowering (and much easier than I ever thought) to know exactly when you are ovulating and exactly when your period will be coming. I...more
Basically this book is like my second bible. I first saw a copy next to my cousin's bed and was fascinated by the title, dipped in and then ordered my own copy! Toni Weschler is brilliant. This book literally changed my life and I really can't rate it highly enough. In it, Toni explains the sound scientific Fertility Awareness Method which, for a matter of a couple of minutes a day, can give you an understanding of your body that no biology book or visit to the doctors could possible give you. B...more
I'm one of those people who tends to get at least one nasty side-effect from any medication I take. Over the years, I've tried several forms of hormonal birth control and each one was undesirable for different reasons (weight gain, depression, acne, etc). I heard about FAM from a friend long ago but thought to myself "gee that sounds complicated" and mentally wrote it off. Years later, I'm looking back to natural methods to track my cycles not only as a form of natural birth control...more
I read this book several years ago and it is so cool! I would recommend it to every woman of childbearing age. It's very empowering to know what's going on with my body and what I should or shouldn't worry about.
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jko
rated it
Recommends it for:
people with vaginae, people who enjoy them, and people who must relate to them
Shelves:
green-health,
parenting
her writing is a little annoying; she lacks discipline, but it's fairly harmless. also, though she attempts to demonstrate objectivity, she definitely puts her pom-poms behind this method of birth control (which, i think she would like me to point out, is not the rhythm method!).
but, literary criticism is probably misplaced, here.... this is an essential, comprehensive, and empowering guide for anyone who wants to understand the gross physiology of being female and/or who wants to ...more
but, literary criticism is probably misplaced, here.... this is an essential, comprehensive, and empowering guide for anyone who wants to understand the gross physiology of being female and/or who wants to ...more
just wanted to take a moment to sing this book's praises. i consider myself to have had a pretty good sex education, but this book taught me just how little i actually learned (or, i should say, how little they actually taught me) about the menstrual cycle. this book is a fucking must-keep-by-your-bed-for-handy-reference if you are any bit the female health nerd that i am. you will learn so much about your own cycle, it will knock your socks off. if you are actually in the midst of trying to avo...more
I wish I could give two and a half stars, because "liked it" is a little too strong for my mixed emotions about this book. Pros: great charts and pictures and very user-friendly, and a wonderful resource for learning more about your fertility. Cons: Fertility awareness seems like a perfectly good method for *getting* knocked up, but not preventing it, and I'm hesitant to recommend a book that actually promotes it as a method of birth control. Also, the non-informational writing is r...more
Well, it's pretty obvious what this book is about. Personally, I think it's a good one, and I give the software that comes with it four stars. It would be five stars, but it is pink and purple, and that diminishes it a bit.
I am an (usually rather quiet-ish) advocate of natural birth control, childbirth, and so on. I really like this book, although it is sometimes a bit overwhelming with the vast amount of information! Definitely a useful guide for any woman who would like to know a b...more
I am an (usually rather quiet-ish) advocate of natural birth control, childbirth, and so on. I really like this book, although it is sometimes a bit overwhelming with the vast amount of information! Definitely a useful guide for any woman who would like to know a b...more
Recently picked up this book. Being a nurse and having worked in maternity with a long-running interest in women's health I considered myself to be quite knowledgeable of the subject matter, but I was amazed while reading this to realize how much I was ignorant of!
As another reviewer stated, I feel like this should be mandatory reading for all those in posession of a uterus (and perhaps all people in general). That talk you got in 6th grade barely scratched the surface! Having watch...more
As another reviewer stated, I feel like this should be mandatory reading for all those in posession of a uterus (and perhaps all people in general). That talk you got in 6th grade barely scratched the surface! Having watch...more
Since becoming a midwifery student, i am learning more about my body. i think this book is great for anyone who wants to know about their cycle, cervical fluid, and how to prevent pregnancy by following your bodies cues. it would also be helpful for people trying to conceive. the author explains the fertility awareness method (FAM)/symptothermal method, which is NOT to be confused with the rhythm method. i had no idea people still did this and i have met people in my program who have used th...more
When Hubby and I were engaged, we decided to wait at least a year before trying for children. Thus, we discussed our birth control options. We believe that life begins at conception, therefore, we wanted to be sure that whatever we did was preventing conception, not implantation. Plus, we wanted something simple and easy. Many of the options were just not tasteful to us. Then a good friend recommended this book.
This book taught me a great deal about how a woman's body works. Weschler ...more
This book taught me a great deal about how a woman's body works. Weschler ...more
Liss
rated it
I wish I'd had this information 15 years ago when I first started menstruating. So many myths and conundrums might so easily have been sorted out. For instance, I had no idea that ovulation can be significantly delayed but that the postovulatory (luteal) phase, the time between ovulation and menstruation, is almost always the same for any individual woman (i.e. Mae's phase is 12 days long, Erika's is 11 days long, Nelly's phase is 15 days long). As a teenager I regularly suspected I had yeast in...more
AMAZINGLY informative and scientifically sound. the cover looks hooky and at first glance it seems 'old', like outdated or something, and when you open it it seems boring and overwhelming as you flip through the pages to read the titles, but don't let all that fool you!! i seriously was always enraptured in it and couldn't help but continually go "listen to this!" every few minutes and spew some fact to my husband. and inevitably he would respond with an enthusiastic/surprised reaction...more
This book is supposedly the bible of natural family planning and that's a real disservice to women and their partners. The author too often misuses facts, gives wrong information, and believes that anecdotal evidence is an adequate substitute for evidence. Instead of citing studies that might support or refute the effectiveness of the methods outlined in the book, she merely refers to the studies and summarily dismisses the ones that don't support her method and the ones that are more fully su...more
I have to agree with another reviewer and simply say that this book changed my life, and after reading it for the first time a few years ago I'm surprised that I waited so long to review it. I can't remember exactly how I came upon it but it was literally a lifesaver for me when I was at a very depressing time in my life as I struggled to become pregnant. Though not only for those seeking to become pregnant, it's hands down the best and IMO the only book women who are in the early stages of fe...more
This book contains all the information we should have learned in health class in school. I couldn't believe how ignorant of my own body I was until I started reading this book. I've learned so much with it, and use it as a reference quite often.
If you are squeamish about your own body, then you will definitely not be comfortable reading it, but honestly, it's necessary. I now feel much more prepared to visit my doctor when I need to, and I feel more in control of my own body (or at l...more
If you are squeamish about your own body, then you will definitely not be comfortable reading it, but honestly, it's necessary. I now feel much more prepared to visit my doctor when I need to, and I feel more in control of my own body (or at l...more
This book is comprehensive, informative, and well-organized. It includes everything you need to know about charting your cycle to either avoid pregnancy, plan pregnancy, or keep an eye on health problems. I have tried birth control, tried condoms, this method is far more effective and sits better with my conscience. This is NOT the calendar method of natural family planning, it adapts easily to long cycles, short cycles, and circumstances like breastfeeding and coming off of hormonal birth co...more
This book should be required reading for ALL women. I thought while reading it that we should have learned much of this in health class in 7th grade. For all the OB's, Fertility specialists and other non-western medical practitioners I saw, this book had more clearly important and USEFUL info than the whole lot of them combined.
I believe that after 6 years of unexplained infertility, and countless painful and heartbreaking procedures, this book gave me the "tools" that helped c...more
I believe that after 6 years of unexplained infertility, and countless painful and heartbreaking procedures, this book gave me the "tools" that helped c...more
No, I am not trying to get pregnant. I'm trying to not get pregnant, I just don't want to be on the Pill anymore. I foresee myself screwing this up after one too many glasses of wine, at which point I will be deleting this review so Baby Tormini will never find out that 1) s/he wasn't wanted, and 2) his/her mom was a moron who couldn't read her cervical fluid correctly.
I read most of this book, excluding the chapters on pregnancy achievement and menopause and the extensive appendixe...more
I read most of this book, excluding the chapters on pregnancy achievement and menopause and the extensive appendixe...more
This book was recommended to me by my female doctor. While in nursing school I lent this book to one of my instructors who used the pictures to show the class about cervical fluids and what not. Amazing that most of those women in my class had no idea that cervical fluid had any relation to fertility! I would highly recommend this book to any female of menses age. The more women know about their bodies, the more empowered we become.
This subject was so taboo for me, growing up. I'm feeling quite embarrassed, but I'll try not to. There is probably way too much personal info in here, so be warned.
Okay. First off, let me just say, NOT trying to get pregnant. Just can't deal with extra hormones anymore. TMI?
I was recommended this book about five years ago, when we were trying to get pregnant with number two. We conceived the first month of charting. Again, TMI?
This subject is so taboo for me....more
Okay. First off, let me just say, NOT trying to get pregnant. Just can't deal with extra hormones anymore. TMI?
I was recommended this book about five years ago, when we were trying to get pregnant with number two. We conceived the first month of charting. Again, TMI?
This subject is so taboo for me....more
Excellent resource book for ANY woman, not just those that are trying to get pregnant. I think I learned more about my body from this book than I ever did in Health Class! If you are interested in what is happening to your body and why your body does what it does, then you should get this book! It also has an entire chapter on women and Menopause.
This is a great book! I just wish I had known this info a long time ago! I got the book because I wanted to have a better understanding of my cycles before we were ready to start trying. I figured if I did that then I would have a better chance at acheiving pregnancy when we were ready. Within the first couple of chapters I was convinced that I should get off the pill. Don't worry... the book teaches you very clearly how to chart & learn your body's rhythms & cycles so that you can avoid pregnan...more
I had no idea that the things I thought were weird and gross about my body were totally natural. I'm reading this book because I want to get pregnant. Let's just say that thanks to this book, I have my husband charting my daily temperature on a graph on the fridge. It's just too cute.
This book is awesome you guys!!! It was given to me by a friend, and now I have the urge to give it to everyone I know who might possibly be interested. It's straightforward, practical, and detailed - and all the signs you look for are really simple, seriously. She's not anti-doctor at all, but she is like 'it's ridiculous that women don't know more about their own bodies before they go in to the doctor.' For me, incidentally, a nice intersection between science-nerd tendencies and crunchy h...more
I learned so much from this book. Whether you have fertility issues or not, this book is fascinating. You learn why your body does what it does. I've passed this book along to many friends and everybody is amazed by it's information!
After struggling for a year with infertility I decided to purchase this book because of the high reviews from Amazon. There was a lot of useful information in the book and learning NFP isn't so hard. I didn't realize all the important information you could get from taking your daily bbt and I am glad that I started doing that now. I wish the software wasn't so expensive on top of the cost of the book though. Plus you only get a 15 day trial of the software. Since a cycle is usually at least 28 d...more
I love this book! Whether you want to better understand and gain control your reproductive health, use the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) as birth control or find a very scientific and reliable way to achieve pregnancy, EVERY woman should read this book. The FAM method (not to be confused with the antiquated and ineffective Rhythm Method)has completely demystified the seemingly very complex and often confusing misconceptions around female fertility. It is completely encouraging, especially fo...more
Seriously, why did I not know all this before?
Women used to say that the invention of the Pill was empowering, but I have to disagree. Knowing your body and being able to rely on it as nature intended is empowering! This book has been life-changing. I never knew that birth control without artificial hormones was possible. It brings a whole new meaning to Psalm 139:14 'I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' We really are intricately woven!
I initially borrowed ...more
Women used to say that the invention of the Pill was empowering, but I have to disagree. Knowing your body and being able to rely on it as nature intended is empowering! This book has been life-changing. I never knew that birth control without artificial hormones was possible. It brings a whole new meaning to Psalm 139:14 'I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.' We really are intricately woven!
I initially borrowed ...more
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Toni Weschler is a nationally respected women's health educator and speaker with a master's degree in Public Health. She founded Fertility Awareness Counseling and Training Seminars (FACTS) in 1986, and has lectured at hospitals, clinics, and universities since 1982. She recently helped develop cycle-tracking software as an adjunct to her book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. The Ovusoft Fertilit...more
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