Fertility (found 6680 titles)

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive 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

Customes reviews 1195

Very Informative (2010-03-08)

Great book. It's nice to know that I don't have to use birth control which has way to many side effects. This natural method is pretty low key and in many ways empowering.

Absolutely worked for us, can't recommend enough! (2010-03-01)

I can't recommend this book enough, whether you are trying to conceive or avoid pregnancy. I wish every girl was taught this information growing up. As a woman, you should know what's going on with your body, including what's normal and what's not! This book really does put you in charge.

I read the book in May 2009 and began charting that month, in the hopes of conceiving our first. We charted three cycles and ta-da! We got pregnant in July 2009 and are expecting our daughter in 5 short weeks now. The book and the method it describes have taught me so much and I'm so grateful I found it when I did. Don't wait until you've been trying without success for 6 months to a year. Get this book and give it a try. It can only help you. It certainly changed our lives!

Good luck!

How did I not know this before??? (2010-02-28)

I just finished this book and I have a few thoughts:

1) How was I not taught about fertility? I am a sexually active 38 yo woman with an Ivy league education. I read the NY Times. I Google everything. How did I not know what cervical fluid was and how it related to my own fertility? I am so grateful to the author for the education.

2) The feminist undertones of this book may be off putting to some.

3) The 10th anniversary edition was published in 2006 - 4 years ago. Much has changed. Women I know are indeed freezing their eggs. And vaginal sonograms are the norm.

4) I appreciate the overview of procedures, HOWEVER, please note that an HSG is perhaps the most pain you will ever experience outside of childbirth. I don't know why the author did not mention this in the description. After taking 12 advil and a vicoden before the procedure, i was still screaming bloody murder and worse.

Before you use fertility drugs, read this book!!!!! It works! (2010-02-22)

This was probably the greatest gift I ever received. I read and followed this book's charts for two months after trying to conceive for 2+ years. I thought I knew everything I needed to and was exhausted of hoping. I had already filled a prescription for the fertility drug Clomid & was waiting for my next cycle to start to take it. Well, I was already pregnant!!!! This book works. I swear I knew the day I conceived but still wasn't convinced---I am now!!!!!

Very informative (2010-02-21)

I purchased this book because I wanted to be proactive in trying to become pregnant. This book is so helpful and informative! I finally have a better understanding of my cycle and Basal Body Temperature charting!

Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility

MAKING BABIES offers a proven 3-month program designed to help any woman get pregnant. Fertility medicine today is all about aggressive surgical, chemical, and technological intervention, but Dr. David and Blakeway know a better way. Starting by identifying "fertility types," they cover everything from recognizing the causes of fertility problems to making lifestyle choices that enhance fertility to trying surprising strategies such as taking cough medicine, decreasing doses of fertility drugs, or getting acupuncture along with IVF. MAKING BABIES is a must-have for every woman trying to conceive, whether naturally or through medical intervention. Dr. David and Blakeway are revolutionizing the fertility field, one baby at a time.

Customes reviews 20

A MUST-READ if you are seeking to get pregnant (2010-03-02)

Jill Blakeway and Sami David strike the perfect balance in Making Babies. As one trying to get pregnant, I am eager to understand ALL of my options -- and to understand the issues that might explain our challenges in getting pregnant. I liked having access to strong, medically-based explanations alongside lists of concrete steps we can consider in our particular case. Making Babies has allowed us to choose a path that suits our particular needs -- combining conventional medicine, diet, exercises, Chinese herbs, acupuncture, and massage. (What's great, too, is that I do not even need to pay expensive fees for a lot of this!)

Perhaps most importantly, Making Babies helped us understand how the various pieces of the puzzle fit together -- something medical providers have been unable to do for me despite my tendency to pester them with questions. The book has given me renewed faith in my body and my ability to tap into its potential -- possibly without a lot of medical intervention. JUST what we needed at a challenging and confusing time!

Great for ANYONE wanting to get pregnant (2010-01-18)

This book is great whether you are currently trying to get pregnant and facing challenges or are considering the attempt in the near future with no sign yet of difficulties. Most books concentrate on all the interventions you might need to get pregnant. This one concentrates on the do-it-yourself approach to putting yourself at your fertile best. It also has a section on appropriate interventions and the reasons to do them, should you have difficulties, rather than just assuming you are already on your 3rd round of IVF if you are reading a fertility book at all.
And I had the same email experience other reviewers had: I emailed a question to the authors, and received a response within a week!

Fantastic book...easy to read and comprehend (2009-12-30)

I generally do not write any reviews for products I've bought in the past but this book was so helpful, I have to share my thoughts. This book was invaluable to me in learning about my body and how the whole pregnancy process works. I took a series of tests a month ago and found out that my FSH was on the high side for my age of 35. My doctor said that I should take more aggressive measures to get pregnant. I was on the path to starting on fertility drugs right away but then I found this book. It made me slow down and think a bit. I started seeing an acupuncturist who also provided herbs. I started doing meditation and just destressing. It's been a couple of weeks, and I just took a pregnancy test and it's positive! Even though I probably concieved a few days before having this book, I'm sure the last couple of weeks of practicing what the book recommended had a lot to do with a healthy implantation phase. I wrote to Jill(one of the authors) via their website asking for advise on acupuncture during pregnancy. Taking her advise, I'm continuing acupuncture during first tri-mester to prevent miscarriage. So far so good.

Just enough without confusion. (2009-11-13)

This book has been very helpful for me. I had been looking for alternative methods for "fixing" fertility issues rather than going to a specialist and taking synthetic hormones. This was it! Traditional Chinese Medicine. She talks just enough about it without coming off heady and too technical. It's something I understood. She gives very practical advice and step by step instructions. Most of all I liked that she didn't get into all the Chinese philosophy too much. Being a follower of Christ that was really important for me. I am now seeing a TCM doctor that does the same and couldn't be happier. It's only been 7 weeks and I've seen improvement. Warning: This is not a quick fix book but gets to the heart of what's going on in your body.

An invaluable resource (2009-11-08)

This is an enlightening, illuminating book. Thanks to Sami & Jill for sharing what our doctors don't have the time (or inclination) to explain.

The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies

Infertility affects one out of six couples today. Dr. Lewis presents a groundbreaking alternative approach to infertility, explaining how she used traditional Chinese medicine to treat her own infertility, successfully conceiving and giving birth to two children.

Customes reviews 104

It really works...Amazing book!!!! (2010-02-24)

I have been having on and off Yeast infection / abnormal discharge from the past 15 years. My doctor always prescribed me antibiotics to the point that I can't take it anymore cause it makes me dizzy and I see no results at all and my symptoms were getting worse. In the past years I never believed anything like acupunture. I prefer western medical treatment.well,,my abnormal vaginal discharge goes off for a while and then comeback even worse. Then I read Dr. Lewis guide for acupressure points/ acupuncture to dry abnormal vaginal discharge and points to resolve damp conditions and follows her dietary guide for my condition.I just keep doing the acupuncture every few days and never taking any antibiotics while trying acupunture. I used acupunture on those exact points like in the book and within 2 days I saw wonderful results. And Now I am happy to say that this book really works!!!! Buy it and you won't regret it at all :0)Perfect for couples who are trying to start a family.the content of this book is amazing.

worked for me (2010-02-21)

Having tried all avenues and remaining unsuccessful at conceiving a child, I happened upon this book. The diet requirements that were suggested for my particular health issues were very difficult but became routine after a short while. I followed whatever guidelines I was able to and do credit Randine and this book with the birth of my beautiful and healthy daughter. In addition, I would say that I had never felt better than during the time I was following this course.

I swear by this book... (2010-02-18)

After our first born son died 2 days after birth, we were broken. We waited a few months, then decided we needed to try again. Only the grief was so deep, month after month passed with nothing. I found this book over a year after his death and immediately began doing everything the author described as far as diet. I even began acupuncture where they specifically treated me for grief. I had never considered acupuncture before and decided to give it a try. After only one month on the changed diet and after 3 sessions of acupuncture I became pregnant. I am now 16 weeks along and have recommended this book to everyone.

This book is beneficial to every woman whether you are trying to get pregnant or not. It helped me to center my body and be at my best, I wish I would have found this book years ago and could have taken better care of my body in my 20's. But better late than never!

This book is wonderful! (2009-12-23)

I have struggled w/ infertility for a year and a half. I bought this book based on all these reviews and I was not disappointed. I was ***shocked*** when I took the questionnaire and from that, read what she said about my "diagnosis." I have luteal phase defect and the symptom list she put together fits me to a "T." It is almost like she is a psychic and was talking just to me.
I am a huge skeptic of "alternate" medicine, but what she wrote got my attention. It's also the first book that does not make it seem hopeless for women over 40, by talking about our "aging eggs," high m/c rates, etc. You get so discouraged listening to RE's and reading fertility books if you are over 40. What Randine says gives REAL hope and really makes you start thinking differently.

I just started to put things in practice- using herbs, a heating pad to warm up my cold feet and abdomen, and meditation (I do Christian meditation and recommend the series "Being in Him" by Everett and Sylvia Lakoduk). Their CD's are just amazing.

I will update when I have been on the program longer, but at least now I have a positive view on everything!

I love this book! (2009-12-13)

Read this before undergoing any treatment for presumed infertility. It could save you many months of unnecessary invasive and costly procedures. Even if it doesn't cure your specific condition, it will give you such great insight into your body and help you become a more knowledgeable patient.

Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods

Customes reviews 21

Some good, information, many flaws (2010-03-06)

Nina Planck's Real Food is an excellent primer for ditching industrial crap and eating wholesome nourishing foods, so I was excited to read Real Food for Mother and Baby. No, i'm not planning on having a baby anytime soon, but if you are planning on having a baby ever, it's important to start planning when you are young. In this book she makes the point that when you are having a baby, it is drawing on fat stores laid many years before. What kinds of fats do you want going into your future children?

Nina Planck is of the Weston A. Price school of thought. I am personally a paleo dieter, but since there is no paleo baby book currently and WAPF has some intersection, lots of this advice might be useful for prospective paleo parents.

Her fertility chapter is particularly good. Her four fertility rules are: be an omnivore, eat good fats, eat seafood, and don't eat carbage. She talks about the most important nutrients and how to get them.

Isn't it nutritionism to reduce it to nutrients? No, because our modern diets are so deficient that to get these naturally has to be learned. Most Americans get their folate and iodine from enriched bread and salt. You have to be aware and willing to adjust your diet to get them on the paleo diet. She also emphasizes the importance of MEN getting these nutrients too and points out all the studies that show that the quality and quantity of most modern men's sperm has decreased. For men the most important nutrients are antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, iron, DHA, selenium, and zine. It's a good excuse for future moms and dads to go enjoy some oysters together and then...well, you get the picture. The missing part of this chapter is information on recovering your fertility after taking the pill FOREVER, as many modern women do.

The prenatal chapter is less useful, as it talks mostly about how much trouble she had complying with the WAPF prescriptions and how she drank alcohol because the risk isn't *that* high. Hmm. The information on morning sickness is interesting though. Apparently it's a universal thing from !Kung hunter-gatherer women to modern women and is an evolutionary adaptation. Even more useful is the information on iron. Nina points out how excessive Iron can feed bad bacteria in the gut. Many doctors give pregnant women iron supplements, but there is strong evidence that the decline in iron concentration is a natural adaptation to protect women from infection.

Her childbirth chapter goes even less well. She really really wants to have a "natural" childbirth, but ends up needing a C-section because of the unusual position of her baby. I wish she had gone into more detail about why she wanted such a natural childbirth in the first place, since so many people think they concept is woo. But there are good reasons to not want a C-section and birth where your baby is immediately taken away to a ward, one of them is that it permanently alters the gut ecosystem and another is that it can affect the release of bonding hormones, which is discussed in detail in the CThe Continuum Concept: In Search Of Happiness Lost (Classics in Human Development).

BTW I think the idea that life for paleolithic woman was HORRIBLE because of pregnancy is garbage. Clearly, many many many women, almost all of our ancestors, gave birth without a problem. It was painful and some women did die, but I'm personally sick of hearing paleo detractors go on and on about it. Paleo diet is a diet and a thought paradigm, not a reinactment club. The fact that so many women gave birth in harsh environments is a testament to their health. It can unfortunately take generations of eating better to fully recover that strength in the form of better-formed pelvic bones that many of us lack these days.

The breastfeeding chapter is very interesting. Nina is a former low-fat vegetarian and presents valuable information on why that is NOT a good choice for nursing mothers. The smoking gun is the level of DHA, the important omega-3 fat, are .10% in vegans and the desirable level is .35%.

To my surprise I found that the Weston A. Price foundation does not endorse this book.

I understand why. This book is good, but it also highlights the extremely difficult struggle to have healthy children in a modern urban environment. After reading this book, I vowed that if I have children I would want to have a supportive community first.

Nina tries to feed her baby healthy, but doesn't seem to want the other moms to think she is a weirdo, so she lets her baby have crackers and bread. Soon enough, that's all baby Julian wants to eat.

There are good arguments for not turning children into pariahs with "weird" diets, but you should be able to feed a non-talking baby whatever you want. If anything, this exposes a flaw in WAPF. Adults know that fermented properly prepared grains are the only healthy grains, but a baby doesn't. It doesn't matter if you are feeding your baby the best bread ever, you are still giving it a taste for bread. It's too bad, because Nina recognizes that grains are unnecessary and even detrimental for young babies. With the culture against you, I think it's important to at least get in the best possible nutrition before kids realize the social status of cake. And this will happen.

I suspect a major problem is her friends, who she mentions don't think twice before feeding their kids white flour. I hope the paleo community is big enough when I have kids, so I don't have to worry about mothers in my playgroup who think not giving your kids cupcakes on their birthday is a human rights violation.

I also have to wonder about prenatal yoga. This is SO trendy in cities like NYC and Nina participates in it. Her quest for a natural childbirth is thwarted because her baby is in a strange position and has to have a C-section. Hmmm, maybe contorting our adult bodies into unnatural positions isn't good for us.

Another New York problem rears its head. Nina has to work, so she has to hire a nanny. Early humans would have relied on family members to pick up the slack, but in today's sad isolated world, grandma lives 500 miles away and you have to pay someone who isn't related to you or a permanent part of your life...yet who will have a permanent influence. I remember when I worked at a camp and some children were picked up at 5 by nannies. They would look jealously at the children picked up by their mothers and grandmothers. Many would cry. Some of these nannied children had speech difficulties because their nannies didn't speak English well. There is also the inevitable loss of tradition as children are raised by strangers. I understand that some poor women have to send their children to daycare because their work feeds their family, but Nina Planck is not poor and later in the book they buy a second home. She talks about how carrying our babies is an important part of our evolutionary heritage with real benefits, but then she proceeds to hire a nanny? Hmm.

Overall I think this book is a good primer, but one of these days some paleo mama will come out with a book that's even better.

Real Food for mother and baby (2010-02-28)

Wonderful book! I am not yet pregnant but am trying to look into some of the things that I should be doing now so that I am not on information overload when I do get pregnant. I really liked this book. It is straight forward about it's ideas and a wonderful book to read if you want to get pregnant, are pregnant, or have a small child at home!! I would definitely recommend this book!!

OK, not as detailed as I would have liked (2010-02-20)

I like the book but it lacks some details. For instance she says just do this or that very casually but then when you read where she did something very specific later. She says to just feed your kid what you're eating and then later describes how she did not feed her child anything that was a combo food (like a soup or casserole), only single foods (such as a carrot) for several months. I found that kind of frustrating.

On the other hand, this is a good supplement for Nourishing Traditions and support for my natural/real food philosophy. I can show others that I have multiple resources saying it is ok to feed your baby egg yolks.

real food and nourishing traditions (2010-02-02)

well a bit of a disapointment. contrary to what nina says on her website, she does not in fact follow all the nourishing guidelines outlined by dr. price or sally fallon. it is a good book for those who want to do better, eating wise, than they are currently doing and to get a better grasp on what real nutrition is. if you follow her advice you will be doing better than most americans by far. but if it is real traditional eating you want stick to Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon and Healing our Children by Ramiel Nagel.

Inconsistent, contradictory, erroneous and unreliable (2009-12-13)

Do not read Real Food for Mother and Baby if you are looking for a solid source of knowledge about pregnancy, nursing and feeding babies. Planck's book is filled with inconsistencies, contradiction, bad advice and erroneous claims that seem to be just thrown out there without emphasis or reason. A portion of the bad advice is a rehash of mainstream information that comes from government institutions and coinciding industrial food and health corporations. For instance, Planck states that vaccinations are miracles which have completely wiped out major diseases. In reality, there is not a single scientific paper showing that vaccinations perform what they are claimed to do. Moreover, she endorses CDC recommendations of synthetic folic acid for women of childbearing age in order to prevent neural tube defects. Yet, elsewhere she attacks industrial food corporations for making food products that are synthetic and not "real food"; then points to a study in which women with the highest folate levels who were also deficient in vitamin B12 had babies who were small, fat, and insulin resistant at six years. These children are much more likely to be diabetic as adults. Says Planck: "This study also suggests why you probably don't need to fret about folic acid." In actuality, what the study suggests is that it is a bad idea to take synthetic folic acid as CDC recommends but important to get folic acid from foods that also contain B12.

Furthermore, Planck advises taking industrially processed fish oils, which are genuinely toxic and harmful to the body. Another poor suggestion is that pregnant women should sunbathe in the dead of winter. Additionally, Chapter three is littered with specious and unfounded claims which make it difficult to read, especially when she said that you don't need any extra foods during the first trimester of pregnancy and that you can take supplements if it is too difficult for you to eat well. More bad advice comes in the form of her statement that mothers should take anti-depressants even while nursing, because a depressed mom isn't good for the baby. The negative health effects from even a short-term usage of anti-depressants don't outweigh the claimed benefits; in fact, there is no biological test to know whether anti-depressants actually work or not.

Nonetheless, if you can see through the inconsistencies, Planck does give some good advice about avoiding refined and excessively processed "foods." In addition, she brings to surface the fallacies of the lipid hypothesis, which lacks any solid evidence to support its premise that fats, specifically saturated fats, cause degenerative diseases and unhealthy weight gain.

Overall, this book is not a reliable guide for nutrition advice for conceiving, carrying and nursing a baby. The guidelines are consistently misleading, defective and lack detailed explanations. If you want good advice then please turn to dependable sources for nutrition knowledge. These sources may include but are not limited to writings by such great minds as Weston A. Price, Francis M. Pottenger, Jr. and those associated with the Weston A. Price Foundation.

Before Your Pregnancy: A 90 Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception

Before Your Pregnancy is a breakthrough book for prospective parents—a completely detailed resource that prepares mothers and fathers-to-be to conceive the healthiest baby possible, to make pregnancy and delivery easier, and to foster the mental and physical well-being of their infant child. Created by two experienced health-care professionals, this unique handbook not only discusses virtually every aspect of preconception that affects a healthy baby, it tells you how to handle each one. The authors spell out what each parent needs to do, starting at least ninety days before conception (the minimum time needed for sperm to mature). The hundreds of topics covered—many for the first time in any book—include

• Men’s Health: Building healthy sperm before conception (nutrition, fitness, and medical influences)
• Women’s Health: Gynecologic well-being, preexisting medical conditions, genetic legacy, boosting fertility, becoming a mother at an older age
• Becoming an Informed Patient: Choosing a doctor, what a complete preconception exam includes, important questions and how to ask them, insurance coverage
• Nutrition: Improving the health of future generations, preconception meal makeovers, ethnic Food Guide Pyramids, avoiding food-borne illnesses, vitamin and mineral facts, pre-pregnancy body weight
• Fitness: Preconception fitness evaluation and exercise prescription, safety tips and motivational anecdotes, preconception strength and flexibility workout
• Medications/Herbs: Baby-friendly ones and ones to avoid
• Personal Readiness: Emotional, financial, and environmental issues
• Romancing the Egg: Tips for success when ready to “start trying”
Plus: Separate questionnaires for the prospective parents to fill out in preparation for their preconception medical visit.

This warm, intelligent, and completely informed reference gives aspiring parents exactly the knowledge and support they need to insure the best of everything for their child-to-be.

Customes reviews 59

This book covers everything. Very good book. (2009-09-28)

This is a great book which covers information on everything you need to know before your pregnancy. Very informative on different issues, exercises, diet, etc. It tells you stuff no other book will tell you. I absolutely love this book. The best book on conception and pregnancy.

A waste. (2009-07-23)

Luckily I didn't buy this book, I borrowed it from a friend, because I would have been mad at wasting the money.
If you've got good common sense and know the basics about being a generally healthy person then this book has nothing to offer. If you've never focused on health before and don't even know what the food pyramid is, then it's probably worth a read.
My friend and I renamed this book, "Common Sense - and Other [...] We Already Knew".

Good Info (2009-07-08)

This book has some very good information in preparation to get pregnant. The sections on the vitamins and minerals gets very text-book like. I think I expected a little more in this book about getting ready to help boost your rate of conception, like more on the whole timing and ovulation part of it all. While it did have some of this information, I was hoping for more. It was a good read, but really a great deal of the same info can be found in most pregnancy books that cover the "before". Overall, still good to read before you are ready to start trying, but takes a very cautious outlook.

90 Day Pregnancy book (2009-06-16)

Very informative and easy to understand book. I like the fact that it has suggestions for men as well as women. I also like how it tells why certain things are recommended and it also shows different points of views. You can learn a lot from this book and make wise decisions that fit your lifestyle.

Before I got pregnant (2009-05-31)

I liked this book when I read it before I got pregnant. I had a very difficult first pregnancy, and developed severe pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome, and I had to have an emergency c-section at 24 weeks. My son Tyler was born weighing 11oz. and he lived for 5 days. I was racked with as much guilt as grief, I read my books over and over on how I could have done things differently. Turn out I have a gentic blood disorder, and I was able to have a healthy, beautiful baby girl, a year and a half later. I was highly advised that I not get pregnant again, and I agree. I don't write this to scare women, but to let them know that sometimes you can do everything "right" and things just turn out in unexpected ways, and it's out of your control.

Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition 4th Edition

This new fourth edition explains cycle irregularities and nutritional values to improved and understand our body balance; invaluable to Natural Family Planning couples.

Customes reviews 9

missing whereabouts (2009-11-20)

Useful information on thyroid, pre-eclampsia, heavy bleeding, fertility and fertility charting, pre-menopause, proper weight, nutrition and sleep. I have used the information as well as shared it with others.
The author thanks John Kippley for his inspiration but fails to mention how to reach him. He writes and teaches at Natural Family Planning International; [...] --He is not associated with ccl at this time.

wonderfully informative book (2009-11-12)

This is a very helpful book for anyone who has irregular cycles, unexplained infertility, or just wants to increase overall nutrition. Several interesting topics are discussed, including PCOS, thyroid issues, and nutrition related to Down Syndrome.
I highly recommend this book.

Okay Overall TTC Resource; Not the Best (2009-11-10)

This review is written from the perspective of one who wants to boost fertility--not one who necessarily doesn't support the use of contraceptives (that's an entirely different debate!). I'm also fairly well-versed in fertility issues, cycle irregularities, and charting. I'm by no means an expert.

I had high hopes for this book, and I'm sure it's an excellent resource for those unfamiliar with NFP and fertility overall. In the end, however, it's only just okay for one trying to conceive. There are a plethora of other books that I feel do a better job of this (TCOYF, for instance).

I was also disappointed by her approach to vegan diets, though I realize that isn't the purpose of this book. I'm not vegan, but have done a tremendous amount of research (professionally) regarding healthy diet and nutrition. Vegan and vegetarian diets can most certainly be healthy; counseling a mother to convince her daughter to change her lifestyle rather than help her make wise choices doesn't sit well. I was also surprised given her support of The Fertility Diet which encourages a plant-based diet to help boost fertility (though this is based on the NHS and controversial).

Lastly, I wish I'd known this book took more of a religious stance and included scriptures. I knew it was a good resource for NFP, but Christians aren't the only people who practice NFP.

All in all, my disagreement with her approach to veg*n living, inclusion of scriptures, and other minor issues really shouldn't influence my overall review--they have little to do with the basic information provided in this book! Once again, it's a good starting resource, but not the best for one who already knows a bit about TTC. It also didn't provide an accurate cause for my cycle irregularities, though it did provide several explanations for those of others. Not entirely complete, but a good start.

This book is a must have! (2009-10-23)

I don't have any fertility issues, but we are ready to TTC now and I wanted to make sure my body was in the best health possible before conceiving. VERY helpful information on how to eat right, things to avoid while pregnant and trying to conceive. It was easy to read, no high-tech words that most readers can't understand.

Also, even if you are not TTC this has MUCH info on women's cycles if you experiance PMT, PMS, heavy bleeding, no bleeding...just a wealth of heavily researched information on how to correct cycle irregularities and common problems and symptoms that women experiance during their cycle.

There is also a little bit in back for men's health as well.

And a few recommendations on certain multi vitamins too!

Most Credible and Informative Book I've found! (2009-10-17)

I can't stop re-reading this book (and from personal experience, the recommendations and advice really do work!)

There is one disadvantage: I now am horribly disappointed in the other fertility/pregnancy related books. This book does such a great job backing up EVERYTHING! I love knowing the credibility and currency of information, something SEVERELY lacking by comparison in other books.

River's Edge (Cape Refuge, No. 3)

In the third of the best-selling Cape Refuge series, mayoral candidate Ben Jackson seems to have the election locked. But when Jackson's wife turns up murdered, things begin to shift. Was this the a

Customes reviews 17

River's Edge - a great ending (2010-02-10)

I enjoyed reading Terry Blackstock's Cape Refuge series. This was a predictable, but very enjoyable book. I have read the whole series and was glad to an ending to the story. It is easy to read- like the previous ones before it.

New Queen of Suspense?? (2010-02-07)

Well part 3 to this series was just as awesome as part one. I think it is better than part 2. The only problem I have with any of the books in this series is that I feel I was tricked into reading them. Part one and 2 were kindle freebies then you had to buy part 3 and 4. I will be honest I buy very few books for my kindle because of the price hike that occured right after I purchased my kindle. I would say this is a great series of books and mild enough for teh wholel to read them.

Best of the First Three in the Series (2010-02-04)

Even though I've given Blackstock's previous two books in this series 3-stars each, there's something drawing about the characters, Morgan, Jonathan, Blair, Cade, and Sadie.

In this, book number 3, Jonathan's mayoral opponent Ben and his wife Lisa have been trying to have a baby for over a decade and have been going the medical route. Morgan and Jonathan have been trying as well but for less time. Lisa goes missing right before the mayoral debate is scheduled to take place and third candidate Sam is angry that Jonathan is postponing the debate because of Ben's missing wife. Sam figures it's a publicity stunt. Seeing that she's a Christian, should Blair disregard the psychic's tip in the case?

If Jonathan doesn't get elected mayor, Cade is most likely going to be ousted from Cape Refuge's police force. Sam especially wants him out so he can put in a new force.

Sadie's mother is hoping to be released from prison early but what will that mean for Sadie and young Caleb? What will it mean for Morgan who has grown to love them?

Love this series!!! (2010-01-31)

I highly recommend this series! I couldn't put it down! I read the series of 4 books in less than a week.

I love this series! (2009-08-05)

The Cape Refuge Series is awesome! You get so involved with the characters! There is suspense, love, sorrow...a whole host of emotions. I still like her Last Light Series the best but this one is a close second.

The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete Physical and Emotional Health

The doctor said I'm insulin resistant. What does that mean? Will I ever be able to have a baby? I hate my body. Will it ever change? I try to lose the weight, but I m hungry all the time. Why can t I just stop eating sugary, fattening foods? I don t have diabetes? Why do I have to watch my sugar intake? Why do I have hair growing everywhere and will it ever get better? I am so depressed and moody. Is this related to my PCOS? If any of these statements sound familiar, this workbook can help you! The PCOS Workbook, a practical and comprehensive guide, helps you understand not just the physiology of PCOS, but what you can do about it. Step-by-step guidelines, questionnaires and exercises will help you learn skills and empower you to make positive changes in your life that might not get rid of PCOS, but will help you live with it harmoniously: Lose weight, take control over your eating and improve your health Understand your medical treatment Improve your fertility Manage the stress in your life Be mindful with your eating and in life Challenge body image myths and insecurities Overcome obstacles to becoming more physically active Cope with the challenges of infertility ...and get closer to living the life you want to live!

Customes reviews 9

A guide for women focusing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (2010-03-12)

A clean bill of health, be it physical and emotional, is something that's truly priceless. "The PCOS Workbook: Your Guide to Complete Physical and Emotional Health" is a guide for women focusing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, a condition many women have which causes many problems in women's lives. From fighting off the health problems such as weight controls, dealing with fertility issues, and beating the emotional problems that steam from these, "The PCOS Workbook" is a top pick for women who have this disorder who want to treat it as nothing more than the mild inconvenience it can be.

Ready to make changes? Need some guidance? (2010-03-07)

This book is the perfect choice for someone ready to make the lifestyle changes necessary to have a positive impact on their PCOS symptoms.

I have read at least a dozen books about PCOS over the last 5 years and would highly recommend "The PCOS Workbook." This book has basic information about PCOS, but is not meant to be a comprehensive resource. Instead, it is a workbook that takes you through written exercises that really get you thinking about your lifestyle and the impact your habits have on your PCOS symptoms. There are many books out there that give info on PCOS, but this is the only one I've found that guided me through the necessary work I needed to do to really start making changes.

Great First Book (2010-02-09)

It's a great book and it's easy to understand. They break everything down well so it's not just big scary words and huge complex processes that you need to be a doctor to understand.

Highly Recomended (2010-01-19)

I have always struggled with my weight, and the medical problems that come along with having PCOS, and this book truely has saved me. I dont feel lost anymore, and for the first time in my entire life, I am losing weight.
I recomend this book to everyone with PCOS. this is my 3rd book, and this one actually helps.

Great book for working though PCOS! (2009-12-04)

No two women with PCOS have the same experience with the syndrome. However,there is one universal truth about PCOS that all women facing it share - it will affect their nutrition, ability to control stress, fertility, body image, and emotions. Enter Angela Grassi and Stephanie Mattei. Grassi, who previously wrote "The Dietician's Guide to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" partnered with Stephanie Mattei to write "The PCOS Workbook" to help women explore and "challenge specific difficulties" of living with PCOS. One of the greatest pieces of information in the early pages of "The PCOS Workbook" is the simple entry entitled "How to Use The PCOS Workbook." In these few short pages, Grassi and Mattei outline what you will be experiencing in the book, chapter by chapter. The first chapter, "Connecting the Dots: Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome" is followed by chapters focused on nutrition, stress, the issue of body image, mindful eating, coping with infertility, and finally the management of PCOS to prevent further medical complications. This book is a treasure-trove of information. Here's what's truly great about this book: Throughout each chapter, Grassi and Mattei have developed questions and lists relevant to each topic, with areas for you to write what is relevant to your PCOS experience. This is a WORKbook in every sense of the word. For example, you turn to page 101, in the Body Image and PCOS chapter, and you're asked to actually challenge your own myths about body image. The authors ask you to think about your environment, what you consider to be "truth" and "rules," and how you might self-blame. Then you're asked to think about what you were thinking about body image as you were going through the process of answering the previous questions. This book gets down to the nitty-gritty and helps you work through it all. "The PCOS Workbook" asks you to truly analyze your eating and exercise outines
and patterns, while at the same time providing more-than-enough detailed information about everything you will need to know about the disorder to be well-armed
when talking with your healthcare professionals. The charts Grassi and Mattei use help break the information down into easy-to swallow (no pun intended) bites
of PCOS knowledge. "The PCOS Workbook" is a resource I would recommend to any woman who wants to learn as much as possible about the syndrome, and about
themselves through the process. But be prepared, the Workbook will ask you to dig deep. In the back of the book a glossary is provided, as well as forms to
help you track your lab results, a food journal, online resources, a suggested PCOS food list, and even sample menus. The only addition to this book that would make it an even better resource would be more illustrations. As a publisher, I know that artwork, photos, etc., are pleasing to the eye and provide our reading
eyes a break occasionally. Grassi and Mattei have provided a thorough resource I think all women with PCOS should read.

Fully Fertile: A 12-Week Holistic Plan for Optimal Fertility

Customes reviews 12

It works! (2009-12-02)

I can highly recommend this book and program. Like many women, I was getting frustrated after a year of trying to conceive. When I finally did get pregnant, I miscarried at 10 weeks. My endocrine system was likely a factor. My partner and I didn't want to try IVF and drugs like Clomid until we felt like we had "tried everything" in order to conceive naturally. Having practiced yoga for over 13 years, and being a holistic health practitioner myself, I really thought I knew a lot about yoga, my body and natural health care. But there was so much fertility-specific information I did not know! This book brings it all together so beautifully. I also love the very positive and optimistic tone of the book. So many resources focus on "infertility" and "TTC"... this book focuses on the whole woman, and the process of conceiving and carrying a child to term-- from physical, spiritual, psychological and emotional points of view. The authors have really been there and know what they are talking about. I started a local book group and did this program with several other women in my area, and it was a wonderful experience. I conceived again around week 8 of the program, just three cycles after my miscarriage.

Don't waste your money! (2009-11-06)

I've been TTC for a few years and bought a couple of books to review. I didn't find this book useful at all. You are better off getting "The Infertility Cure" by Randine Lewis. I found the nutritional information and Chinese Medicine information in Infertility Cure MUCH MUCH more useful than the stuff written in this fully fertile book. I wouldn't waste my money on this book- there are many other books out there that are much more USEFUL in understanding what is blocking you from TTC.

Good stuff (2009-06-15)

I liked this book. I have heard about yoga for fertility but had a hard time finding specific poses, etc. Here it is and I liked the personal touch of the writers. Have fun!

yoga for fertility (2009-05-12)

Mainly just tells you how to do yoga for fertility which I already had, it's a lot of reading.

Must Read! (2009-05-03)

Hands down the best book for dealing with Fertilty issues. The authors have been there and they really get it. In addition they were so generous with sharing their own experince that it made all the difference for me to hear someone else's story. Exceptional wisdom and helps you deal as a whole person: body, mind and spirit. I am so thankful to have read it, it's changed my entire perspective not just on fertility, but with life. I only wish I would have read it years ago! A must read- period.

The Ultimate PCOS Handbook: Lose Weight, Boost Fertility, Clear Skin and Restore Self-Esteem

About one in every ten women of childbearing age has PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), and PCOS is the most common cause of female infertility.
PCOS authorities and sufferers Colette Harris and Theresa Cheung will empower readers to take control of their bodies and beat naturally, the often embarrassing symptoms of this syndrome, including weight gain, acne, excess body hair, mood swings, depression, and exhaustion. Packed full of the latest science, up-to-date nutrition, and the best in self-help and natural therapies, their comprehensive book shows how women can start to see their PCOS symptoms improve in as little as 2 weeks.

Customes reviews 8

Very Comprehensive (2010-03-07)

I recently read "The Ultimate PCOS Handbook" and was very pleased with how comprehensive this book is. It covers the basics and discusses medical treatments available, but also gives great information on more holistic treatment options. This book made me realize I have more options than my doctors had been giving me (birth control pill when avoiding pregnancy and clomid when trying to conceive). I highly recommend this book if you have have been diagnosed with PCOS and are looking for ways to take control of your condition as naturally as possible.

I Love this book! (2010-02-13)

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is dealing with PCOS and is interested in learning more.

The thing I liked most about this book is the fact that it doesn't just focus on taking the pill, it covers a plethora of different ways to manage symptoms of PCOS. Some examples include eating right, exercising, herbal remedies, aromatherapy, and acupuncture. Personally, I do not like the idea of functioning from a synthetic pill. I am more interested in healing naturally. This book is a superb resource. It can be read straight through, or it can be used as a reference when you just want to look something up. I have used it for both.

I recommend this book and know that I will keep it in my collection for years to come.

Fantatic read for those suffering with PCOS (2009-09-20)

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 1999, before any valuable information about the condition was available. Thanks to The Ultimate PCOS Handbook, I was able to learn about PCOS and its symptoms and discovered many ways to manage the condition and reduce the symptoms or rid my body of them entirely.

It's hard to hear that weight loss is often the best solution to the problem, but now that I realize how important it is, I'm willing to focus on that goal and make the changes necessary.

I've often felt alone when dealing with PCOS, but this book helped me to realize thousands of other women have experienced and continue to deal with condition as well.

Easy reader (2009-09-13)

I have yet to finish reading the book but it is an easy read, informative and interesting.

Not a good source for information (2009-05-05)

I didnt like the way the book was written. There were alot of misspelled words. I dont think this book is the best way to get more information about pcos. Go with another book!

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