conception and contraception calendar

(512 pages)

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health by: Toni Weschler publisher: Collins released: 2006-10-31 ISBN: 0060881909 $16.47

I have found this book very helpful in getting started with the FAM method to avoid conception as an alternative to hormonal birth control methods. The author very clearly describes the fertility process and the steps to observing and charting a woman's cycle. I especially enjoyed the tone of the book, which is gently humorous and devoid of religious ideology. It really convinced me that FAM is a good method of birth control as well as an aid to conception.

The downside is a few "over the top" moments in the book. After using this method I will agree that the process of taking a temperature every day and charting fertility signs is not as inconvenient as I had originally thought, but I will not go so far as to say that "charting is a privilidge".

Overall, this book is a good start. I recommend it.

My husband and I had been trying to conceive for 4 months without any luck so I decided to buy this book - we got pregnant the 1st month that I started charting. I am assuming that most people reading this review are trying to conceive so I will add that I also was taking an herb called Vitex which I would highly recommend as well. I believe that the combination of this book and Vitex helped me get pregnant.

Wow! A friend told me about this book, and I ordered it right away. I am so relieved and amazed to finally find a method of keeping track of my cycle, and avoiding pregnancy! Every gal should have this book!!

I learned how to read my body for signs to let me know when to "try". I knew exactly when we conceived, because I knew my body was ready. It took one month to chart and understand, and the second month we got pregnant. Good information, easy to read.

This was a wonderful and informative book. My husband and I were set on using natural birth control when we got married, and weren't quite sure of the specifics. Originally, we got a book on NFP (very similar to the FAM method described in this book). The information was very similar, but this book was so much easier to read and understand. We thought the charting and temperature taking would be too much, but we got used to it pretty quickly. The book also came with a computer program that I love, because it calculates everything for you, and even predicts your cycle (very accurately for me!). I would highly recommend this book to any couple who wants to avoid or achieve pregnancy. I have read many books and internet articles that have their information all wrong about your temperature and your fertile and infertile phases. Written by doctors none the less! Even more reason to READ THIS BOOK!

(320 pages)

The Infertility Cure: The Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies by: Randine Lewis publisher: Little, Brown and Company released: 2005-03-21 ISBN: 0316159212 $11.55

For thousands of years, Chinese women have trusted traditional Chinese medicine to help them conceive. A recent medical study found that women who augmented Western fertility treatments with TCM, traditional Chinese medicine, doubled their chances of a succesful pregnancy. THE INFERTILITY CURE gives women an effective, natural means of supporting their efforts to get pregnant. Based on techniques and remedies drawn from traditional Chinese medicine, this program shows readers how to increase their overall health and well-being, strengthen the organs and systems vital to reproduction, heal specific conditions that may affect fertility, and even support Western-based reproductive technology such as IVF and hormone therapy. Dr. Lewis' easy-to-follow program begins with diagnosis, using an extensive questionnaire to determine each reader's unique diagnostic category. The next three steps involve bringing a woman's body back into balance through diet, acupressure, and Chinese herbs. By following this program, women will be able to create a welcoming physical and emotional environment for what they desire most: a child.

As a male, I bought this book for my wife (who had 3 miscarriages). I started reading the book as it promoted nutrition and health as a way of making the whole woman strong enough to conceive. I really felt for the author, Randine Lewis, after her trials of losing her babies. But was also inspired by her research, persistence and hope to conceive. I have not grasped all of the Chinese Traditional Medicine described. However, by following the nutrition, herbal and massage methods, my wife is feeling better and more hopeful in her latest pregnancy. We hope to have a baby by February 2009. Thank you Randine.

Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening

This is a must read for anyone that is fighting infertility!!! I have only made a few changes and have already seen a difference in my body!! Several of the herbs I was already taking! I can't wait to see what the coming months have to offer!!! This book has brought me new hope!!! I have blocked tubes and PCOS. She talk about both of these issues in this book its great!!!!

This books has given me insight into other avenues to explore when dealing with infertility. It has a lot of information that isn't generally offered in the doctor's office.

I've already consulted with a practitioner of TCM and was hoping this book could assist with the diet and nutrition aspects, but it's more than a little confusing. I have PCOS and am now completely confused with what I can eat. My TCM diagnoses recommend avoiding cold foods because of dampness (which includes most lettuces and other salad fare) but also suggests I stay away from wheat, refined carbs, meats, shellfish and microwaved foods when you combine all the recommendations for my particular imbalances. Oh, and to eat 6 small meals a day. If someone can tell me how I am supposed to work away from home and eat warm foods that have not been microwaved, I'm listening. Luckily, I can talk to my practitioner and get help. All in all, the book seems like it would be most helpful for those already in the care of a TCM practitioner and not as a tool to use on one's own.

An excellent book to come back to as a reference. It was very interesting.

(556 pages)

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth, and Everything In Between (U.S. Edition) by: Ann Douglas publisher: Wiley released: 2002-01-01 ISBN: 0764565168 $10.87

The ultimate guide to conception, birth, and everything in between.

Unlike all those otherbossy, tell-you-what-to-do titles, this funny, entertaining guide presents expectant parents with all the facts on such perennial hot topics as pain relief during labor, episiotomy, and circumcision, and empowers them to make informed personal choices. It's packed with tools you won't find anywhere else, including:

• Charts highlighting the risks of using various over-the-counter drug productsduring pregnancy
• Lists of the ten best -- and worst --baby products
• A set of emergency childbirth procedures
• Forthright discussions of difficult topics like infertility, high-risk pregnancy, and pregnancy and infant loss that other books are loathe to tackle

After reading several other pregnancy books, although reading over the same topics, Ann Douglas provides more helpful information. Her writing style is easy to read, funny at times and not biased. You feel as if you are listening to a friend sometimes. This book covers everything from preconception to delivery. This book provides excellent questions for interviewing doctors/midwives. She provides helpful charts. I would recommend the purchase of this book.

My wife is in her twelfth week of pregnancy and this book was read but not used as a reference for her pregnancy. We tried to figure this out since it got some outstanding reviews. I concluded the style (breezy) appeals to certain people and the reason for the good reviews. We ended up using The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy as the cover to cover and everyday reference book for her pregnancy. The Mayo was a power pack book of information that was organized exceptionally. If you like a breezy, casual girlfriend chatty type book then the "Mother" book is for you. Otherwise stick to the Mayo.

I bought this book to figure out what I should be doing prior to getting pregnant. I did not know how to alter my diet, exercise, when the best time was to try to get pregnant, how to best 'interview' my doctor. This book was very helpful in providing answers to those questions. Although I am not pregnant yet, I did go for my "preconception check up" at the doctor's and am taking the steps toward a healthy, planned pregnancy.

I got this based on the reviews, expecting something really awesome. I honestly just found it OK. It seems extremely basic, which can be good for an overview type of book, but I thought it would be much better. I wish I had flipped through it at the bookstore before deciding to purchase it. One of the things I like about it, opposed to many other pregnancy books, is that it has a little section on pre-conception, which is what I was looking for. It talks about some things you can do to prepare before getting pregnant, but it doesn't go into as much detail as I was hoping. I will keep it to have on hand, but would definitely not consider it "the best pregnancy book."

I just bought this book amongst others and it is average, not "the mother". Ironically, the book I was most hesitant to buy "What to expect when your expecting" had more information about DHA, supplements, etc. than this one did.

(256 pages)

Fertility Wisdom: How Traditional Chinese Medicine Can Help Overcome Infertility by: Angela C. Wu, Katherine Anttila, Betsy Brown publisher: Rodale Books released: 2006-09-05 $6.99

Excellent read and informative. It brings hope to those who are experiencing what was described in the book and has helped me change and understand my body better. I bought this book for myself but ended up give it to a friend that needed the information more than I do. Its a perfect gift to give to all women in all walks of life. You are gonna love it!

Nice approach to TCM basics for westerners, a softer sell than Fertility Cure, but not as "scientific." Still, with an authentic "Asian matriarch" voice (smile). Provides actual recipes and meal suggestions, a big plus when trying to change your diet.

After struggling with secondary infertility for 1 year, I had given up on conventional medicine and turned to TCM. I read this book (as well as some others) and immediately made an appointment with a local accupuncturist. After 3 months of accupuncture, modifying my diet and taking chinese herbs, I was pregnant. Baby #2 was born healthy just 6 weeks ago and he will always by my "accu baby". Buy the book - trust your body and give Traditional Chinese Medicine a chance to work for you!

I have gone thru 3 failed IVF and 8 inseminations and speant over 60K. Heartache beyond compare! polluted my body with Chemicals! Had a miscarriage. Went into labor. Had a C-section. and the clincher no baby to show for all the abuse I put my body thru...Shall I go on. All for the sake of western medicine and if I had read this book 1st.Please give this a try you will be armed with invaluable information. Like any business go with someone who is highly recomended call your local accupuncture school, find someone who specializes in infertility. Educate yourself with what truly is going on with your body before you spend your heart& soul. there was no reason for me to not get pregnant, all my results were great FSH 5.5 cycle 27-28 days 14 day luteal phase great lining great hormone levels...at 40 pretty proud of my body, but after I used two different donors and didn't get pregnant with an 80-90% success rate. I new there was something else wrong and that wrong was found in eastern medicine...now we are working to resolve the issue and hopefully....I PRAY

This book can be the difference maker! This is the book to buy!

(448 pages)

Before Your Pregnancy: A 90 Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception by: Amy Ogle, Lisa Mazzullo publisher: Ballantine Books released: 2002-09-03 ISBN: 034544096X $13.57

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.

I love this book! Im actually reading it again for a 3rd time and I learn something new each time. Its the right amount of information and is written in terms everyone can read. They are great at going through each step of the preconception process from what to expect at the preconception visit to romancing the egg... and everything in between! (Exercising, what to eat, etc etc). It sounds pretty straight forward but I would recommend this book to anyone looking for that extra advice before getting pregnant. The title says 90 days but my husband and I are starting in about 6 months and I plan on reading it over and over until then. Buy this book, you won't be disappointed!!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I purchased this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. It covered almost everything I had questions about, from foods to avoid, vitamins, travel questions, vaccines... etc it even has a chapter dedicated to the fathers to be, which my husband found helpful. I know it's not the only book I'll ever need through my pregnancy, but it's definitely a great start.

A lot of good information, but a total snooze to read. Good for when you are up late and can't sleep. An amazing resource for nutrition info and all the things you can do to help your body prepare for this incredible journey. Some stuff about what Dad can do, but it's pretty limited.

I read this book well in advance of "trying" to get pregnant. It's a very good overall book for nutrition, exercise and the reproductive system. It tells you what to do and what to avoid at least 90 days before trying to conceive. Highly recommended

I think this book was written in a very conservative and clinical manner. Realisticly, life is not that serious. It would have been helful to read a more humorous, yet realistic approach to preparing for pregnancy.

(304 pages)

The Fertility Diet by: Jorge Chavarro, Walter C. Willett, Patrick J. Skerrett publisher: McGraw-Hill released: 2007-11-07 ISBN: 0071494790 $16.47

Could having the occasional small bowl of ice cream lead to a midnight craving for pickles and ice cream?

• Avoiding trans fats
• Eating more beans, nuts, and other fertility-boosting plant protein
• Embracing whole grains such as oatmeal and barley
• Having a glass of whole milk or other full-fat dairy product every day (a small bowl of ice cream every now and then counts, too!)
• Staying away from sugared sodas

The Nurses' Health Study exhaustively examined the effects of diet and other lifestyle changes on fertility among nearly 20,000 female nurses. It scrutinized everything from alcohol to vitamins. In plain language, two of the study's lead researchers translate its groundbreaking findings into changes you can put into practice today, setting the stage for a healthy pregnancy and forming the foundation for an eating strategy that will serve you well for the rest of your life. The Fertility Diet also offers a week's worth of meal plans and fifteen delicious recipes.

I have read and followed this book like it is the 'Bible' and have been doing so for about a year. Still not pregnant and have ruled out every other possibility for infertility. I just don't understand....

I read this text from cover to cover and thought that it contained excellent advice for infertility patients with ovulatory dysfunction (such as PCOS).

Keith L. Blauer, MD
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Sandy, Utah

This is a good book that strikes a nice balance between a plan that's easy to follow and plenty of detailed background for those who want it.

This is just your typical good diet advice backed by lots of research applicable to pregnant, wanting to become pregnant, and post-pregnancy women. Eat whole grains, drink water, eat veggies, all the diet advice you'd expect.. jam packed with very specific tips about how what you eat will most likely affect your child.

As a reader struggling with infertility myself, I have read a lot on the topic and tried a lot of different things. I cannot claim to be an expert but have learned to apply a sizeable grain of salt to everything I read. This book suggests adding full fat dairy to nutrition for improved fertility outcomes, but from my recent experience I would suggest the exact opposite. I have just completed 6 weeks without dairy and meat in my nutrition as a test. Personally I have not felt better in a long time, but that can be argued as an overly subjective finding and not necessarily related to the dieatary change. However, having suffered from irregular cycles, strong hormonal variations and extreme PMS symptoms for years, the positive change affected by this dietary change was tremendous. I had a cycle as orderly as a Swiss clock, absolutely no PMS symptoms and a tremendously improved period. As unintended side effects, my environmental allergies and insomnia were greatly reduced, my skin tone and colour is improved, my hair is shinier and healthier, and I've sailed through a month and a half without migraines, which all strangely coincides with removing dairy and meat from my diet. Prior to removing those two from my diet, I have suffered from all those ailments and symptoms on a regular basis, in a moderate to severe form. Suggestion of eating a generous serving of full fat dairy on a regular basis is a very dangerous one. The data from the study quoted doesn't align with the recommendations made by the authors. Unsaturated plant based fats and proteins are a far healthier nutritional choice. There are some good recommendations or interesting findings in this book, but the book was rushed to the market before many findings were fully reasearched and adequately substantiated, so book is really full of unsubstantiated ideas represented as scientific recommendations which when directly embraced could be dangerous (or useless and a waste of your effort). Resulting media misinterpretations of the book are not helping things at all. In the absence of full responsibility from either authors or the media, you have to use your better judgment and proceed with great caution and careful self-observation. And once again, as fertility may be afflicted by another condition, fully or in part, a full evaluation of your condition is a must before you attempt any dietary or lifestyle changes. I do agree with another reviewer that homogenization and pasterization may be the factors rendering the 'modern' milk we consume next to useless (and that milk is often not homogenized and pasteurized in some of the countries where the main source of dietary fat and protein are plants and fertility is much less of an issue) but this has been poorly researched and is not something one should rely on (e.g. trying to find and use non-pasteurized dairy should not be attempted until we know more about the effects of industrial processes on the dairy we consume). I find that in fertility and dietary arena, the best strategy is borrowing books from the library and writing down things that truly resonate with your judgment and inner wisdom. Many things that go to print nowadays just cannot be taken at face value unless you're willing to accept unreasonable risks to your health and, in this case, your fertility.

(304 pages)

The Tao of Fertility: A Healing Chinese Medicine Program to Prepare Body, Mind, and Spirit for New Life by: Daoshing Ni, Dana Herko publisher: Collins released: 2008-04-08 ISBN: 0061137855 $10.85

An esteemed doctor who has helped countless women achieve their dream of having a child offers his program for enhancing fertility through traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Dr. Daoshing Ni, descended from more than 70 generations of Taoist masters, has achieved renown among high-tech infertility specialists, TCM practitioners, and his many devoted patients. The Tao of Fertility is the first book combining a practical plan for conceiving using TCM with empowering Taoist principles that can carry you through pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Structured according to a woman's journey to conception, The Tao of Fertility includes:

• A questionnaire assessing fertility potential
• A 28-day fertility enhancement program
• Simple meditations and acupressure points to improve reproductive circulation and relaxation
• Guidelines for mapping your fertility using Chinese methods of diagnosis
• Information on how herbs and acupuncture can increase fertility
• Eating plans for pregnancy, postpartum, and while breast-feeding.
• and much more

Enriched by moving stories of women who became pregnant using TCM, this is a compassionate, comprehensive handbook.

I picked this book up for a friend, but after skimming through it, realized that I wanted to keep it for myself, a 55 year old cancer survivor. The writing is very engaging - I kept wanting to learn more! Many of the health principles are applicable for anyone. Who doesn't want her body to be in balance and healthier? This book just makes so much sense. It is written so clearly and is so fascinating that I'd recommend it to women of any age.

THE TAO OF FERTILITY is a powerful, informative and uplifting self-help book that is a must-have for any woman who is having difficulty getting pregnant. It is written in an easy-to-ready style that intelligently speaks to the reader; it is almost as if you are in Dr. Daoshing's office, getting advice from him directly! I learned alot about Chinese medicine and its value as a complement to Western fertility practices. What I found particularly compelling, having gone through the infertility process myself, were the poignant stories and quotes from numerous women who had dealt with this trying condition. The co-author, Dana Herko, a Daoshing patient who attributes the miracle of her own hard-to conceive children to Dr. Daoshing's fertility program, further lends credibility to his healthy, easy-to-follow holistic approach. There is even advice for women who must, somewhere in their quest to have a baby, resort to other means of making this dream come true. Dr. Daoshing describes the road to having a child as a journey, and indeed this book is a roadmap to the final destination -- a baby of one's own. I highly recommend this book and wish it had been available to me during my challenging years of trying to conceive.

Dr. Dao has written a beautiful, helpful book on how to help women get pregnant. He is an excellent practitioner of Chinese Medicine, devoted to his patients. I recommend this book!
Judith Orloff

This book addresses a most difficult and emotional subject with a great deal of respect and sensitivity. I was most impressed with the humanity and kindness that infuses this work.

The overall presentation assumes the reader has little or no prior knowledge of Chinese medicine and is very straightforward and instructive. The Taoist method is based on centuries of observation and experience, but with a fundamentally different philosophy from that of western medicine. Dr. Daoshing's explanations about the use of diet, herbs, acupuncture and specific exercises to promote fertility are directed to the reader who is unfamiliar with the science behind Taoist practices. He is able to simplify the rationale behind the various aspects of the medical program for a western reader while retaining just enough "science" to satisfy this lay reader. This holistic approach to the patient is logical and very appealing.

The individual stories in the second part of the book serve as a reminder that most of the western patients seeking Dr. Daoshings's assistance have already experienced great disappointment and sorrow. While they may seek him out with the goal of giving birth, it is clear that he does not view this as the sole metric for success. Dr. Dao's view is that fertility and motherhood are important aspects of a woman's life, but not the totality. He addresses the whole person. The brief but poignant chapter "When Dreams Don't Come True" and the final chapter, "In Balance for the Rest of Your Life" reinforce this view.

I learned a great deal from reading this book, and I would recommend it to anyone considering an "alternative" approach to fertility. I would also recommend it highly for the family and friends of women experiencing fertility problems.

After I was diagnosed with cancer at the age of twenty-three, my oncologist suggested that I go to see a fertility specialist. This being that my ovaries were affected by the chemotherapy and my chances of conceiving would be drastically lowered. The fertility specialist immediately recommended many types of drugs, needles and having IVF and then an FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer). I was devastated to say the least. Few doctor's have mastered how to handle this delicate problem that plagues women today. Dr. Dao is one of them. He doesn't shy away, as if it only exists in the minds of the women facing it, instead he leads the way to hope and promise of fertility.

This book is a blessing! It speaks volumes with both knowledge and information that is easily readable and understood. Dr. Dao, Being a Taoist with their full understanding of balance, mind, body, and nature, many of these concepts were new to me and I was pleased to find that all the information given seemed logical, easy to follow and most importantly, achievable! An important aspect to women searching through the seemingly endless amount of information on this subject.

From the diets to detoxify to the daily meditation to relax the mind, there is something for everyone struggling with fertility in this book. Included are recipes, suggestions for herbal supplements, questionnaires, and charts that are easy to follow and bring hope to those trying to increase the likelihood of getting pregnant! This is an astonishing turn around in fertility books. I've read many books on this very subject and most jump into the available drug treatments, IVF, and surgical solutions used to help women with this problem.

This book includes more than the usual doctor's message of eating a sensible diet, not smoking, exercising and staying positive. Dr. Dao discusses Traditional Chinese Medicine with an equal scale toward Western Medicine. He never says one is better than the other and helps you to understand the way of the Tao and the Traditional Chinese Methods. This is the first book of this type where I've actually had the doctor prepare your body for pregnancy in both body and mind. ,

The second half of this book was beautifully done with touching vignettes of previously infertile women who now have conceived and have happy, healthy children. I find these stories not only touching, but helpful in coping with my own infertility. Hope is the first word that comes to mind.

A massive amount of information is placed in this single volume book. It's not just a self-help guide to women and couples, but an outstanding source of information that I will turn to time and time again.

(500 pages)

Is Your Body Baby-Friendly?: Unexplained Infertility, Miscarriage & IVF Failure - Explained and Treated by: Alan E. Beer, Julia Kantecki, Jane Reed publisher: AJR Publishing released: 2006-10-28 ISBN: 0978507800 $16.47

The latest tests and treatments to help women conceive and carry to term are outlined in this book. The reasons for their so-called "unexplained" IVF failure and pregnancy loss are also comprehensively explained for the first time ever. Pioneering of this new field of medicine is Dr. Beer, who has helped thousands of couples achieve pregnancy and achieved success rates of more than 85% within three natural cycles or IVF attempts. The average age of these patients is over 35.

Having worked with more than 7,000 couples, Dr. Beer has identified five types of immune system response that cause reproductive failure: Category 1 is the least severe and Category 5 is most severe. Many infertile couples find that immunotherapy alone can enable them to become parents, without the requirement for IVF. The same is also true for recurrent miscarriage patients.

This thoroughly researched and referenced text includes contributions from world-leading professionals, including Dr. Carolyn Coulam, Dr. William Matzner and Dr. Geoffrey Sher. The acclaimed holistic practitioner Zita West has also contributed a special chapter on natural therapies and diet specifically for those with immune-based fertility problems and recurrent miscarriage and Dr. Christo Zouves, author of "Expecting Miracles," has provided the Foreword.

As an established and reputable field of reproductive medicine, many centers in the US and the rest of the world now specialize in immunotherapy and a selection of these is listed in the resources section.

WOW! Dr. Beer is way ahead of his time and I throughly enjoyed reading his book and understand more about the world of miscarriage and infertility! The only down fall of this book is the medical terminology that most may not understand. Some parts were over my head...but Dr. Beer's theories make complete sense in how the author explains them.

If your best friend was a book it would be this one. Dr Beer describes in easy to understand words how the immune system can go into overkill in some women. The result is miscarriage, IVF failure and infertility. But these outcomes can be prevented with the right tests and treatments. I read this book and found it technical when necessary but with lots of human interest stories and studies to back everything up. The authors did a good job making this book accessible to ordinary women and also credible for when they take it to show their doctors. It is not dry like the other reviewer said, it is factual and makes a complex subject understandable. The book is ahead of its time and will make infertility and miscarriage a far less frequent event if only it was more widely known to the medical profession. I had twins as a result of Dr Beer's treatments. I wasted many years and many $s consulting with narrow minded doctors before finding him. I recommend this book with all my heart to all those women who were once suffering like I was. The tests and treatments are out there and this book tells you where to find them.

The book has some very interesting ideas as to why failures happen. It can be pretty boring and repetitive at times though, very dry. It doesn't seem to be really written by Dr. Beers, it just has quotes from him every once in a while.

This book was extremely helpful! I read it cover to cover in a matter of days. Dr. Beer et al have certainly made it easy to understand and explain reasons for unexplained infertility and loss. I would recommend this book to anyone who has suffered through either infertility and/or recurrent miscarriages. In the reference section it lists the clinics which provide the type of care he discusses. I made an appt immediately with Dr. Kwak as she is the closest to our home. She is a gift to work with!

Miscarriage is tragic. Add to that doctors who often have no answers, and parents can feel hopeless after repeated loss. This book provides answers for why losses occur, and how future losses can be prevented. Many of the treatments discussed are outside of mainstream care guidleines- but these are the same old sets of rules that leave so many families without answers. Dr. Beer does a great job explaining his treatments, and any woman who still wonders why she lost multiple pregnancies should read this book. I lost four children before finally being diagnosed with two treatable conditions. It's because of people like Dr. Beer that women like me can end up having our families.

(192 pages)

Fertility and Conception: A Complete Guide to Getting Pregnant by: Zita West publisher: DK ADULT released: 2003-12-15 ISBN: 0789496909 $10.20

Aimed at couples that are planning to start a family, from those who have already experienced problems conceiving to those who have only recently decided to have a baby, Fertility & Conception is loaded with advice and up-to-date information on maximizing fertility. Bridging the gap between conventional and complimentary treatments, the book offers a unique approach to fertility by offering "Plan A", a 4-week preconception program of diet and complimentary therapies, and "Plan B," which focuses on combining conventional treatments such as IVF, with complimentary treatments. In clear, easy-to-understand prose, the author provides cutting-edge information on all the latest fertility tests and treatments, and offers advice on how to achieve healthy ovulation through diet, correct hormone balance, and reducing the effects of disorders that derail fertility.

This book was an excellent overview on fertility and conception. The layout and pictures made it a pleasure to read. This book was great at covering what the body goes through every month, how to time conception, general health for both man and women, and if there is difficulty getting pregnant, what the options are. I would recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about getting pregnant and concerned about their own fertility.

I found this book to be informative, educational, and visual enough to be interesting to my husband. This is a great start for those TTC.

This book is an excellent resource and guide to helping couples conceive. When I tried to get pregnant in my late 30's, I followed the many useful guidelines in this book on maintaining a proper diet, to a liver detox . Finally with the help of IVF and acupuncture, I had success. The book is well organized and full of photographs and helpful suggestions for several options. From trying the natural way, to the help of alternative medicine, to the help of science, this book guides you through each process, discusses both male and female roles and offers a clear view in simple terms to understand. I would highly recommend it. Each time I utilized the advice in this book, I was able to have a successful outcome and now I have three healthy children. I only wish I found this book sooner.

This book is very colorful and full of little facts. It highlights the important information and provides a little extra for those bookworms. I found the information to be interesting and well presented. The pictures and graphs helped with my understanding and are great if you need to refer back.

Zita West has taken great care to write a comprehensive guide to conception that encompasses all areas of fertility & infertility. In this book Zita West helps couples to prepare mentally, physically and emotionally for conception and pregnancy, whether it be a fairly simple endeavour or one which requires assistance. I purchased this book because it was recommended to me, and I am more than happy to pass the word on!!

(320 pages)

More: Population, Nature, and What Women Want by: Robert Engelman publisher: Island Press released: 2008-05-08 ISBN: 1597260193 $16.47

Engelman's MORE is a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It it is an affirmation of the intelligence of women, men and midwives throughout history and to the present. Contrary to approaches taken often by governments or religious orders, Engelman posits that trusting women to determine their own family size will benefit everyone. Not least in this equation is concern for the long term well being of our overall environment, the home and origin of all of life on earth. For too long, many of us in professions, healthcare and academia have been fearful and careful not to speak of human population in combination with environmental sustainability because of mistakes and abuses of certain efforts of population control. But, to avoid throwing the baby out with the bath water (this pun is evocative here!), we have to admit that there are irrevocable links between human numbers and activity and environmental well being. Engelman takes us on a journey utilizing historical information and recent scientific consensus though several disparate disciplines, which builds a coherent narrative and winds up with some solid recommendations. It is no easy task to bring together such scholarship, long term vision and rich detail. It reads like intriguing journalism, and a good novel with solid reference work thrown in. I counted numerous references to contraceptive plants used throughout several cultures and time periods, a history of midwives, a thorough account of human-primate prehistory among other things. The protagonists were resourceful women and men, often pitted against those whose intent was to exert control over other women's fertility. Did you know, for instance, that in 1792, the mother of the future author of frankenstein, Mary Wollstonecraft, wrote essays about women's rights and parenting which included information about how breast feeding can augment family planning because it decreases fertility? The volume More teems with insight and examples which will inspire those who work for a future that is plentiful. You may find yourself taking notes like I did, to use in talks and lectures, or to trace back for yet more information. Or you may find that it is a well supported affirmation of an integrated way of looking at the earth. More makes clear that we are one species in a vast web, and to achieve "more" over a longer time, we must learn to take a little less room. Engelman's book shows that this is not a new idea, but that this is the time for such a synthesis.

Emme Edmunds is a Midwife and Women's Health Nurse Practitioner currently pursuing a PhD in Development Sociology. She is interested in connecting issues of human rights and women's autonomy with birth control and environmental susatainability.

Finally, a book about population and family planning that those of us who work on population issues can distribute proudly to those who aren't in the field!

Engelman outlines the history of women managing their fertility through the ages, from our humble beginnings as homo erectus through modern day. Throughout human history some women have prevented conception with herbs and pessaries. And some women have always backed up these methods with abortion and infanticide.

His point is that women's desire to have small families is not new and that modern contraception should be available to any woman who wants it, in order to avoid the crude methods that our ancestors were stuck with.

Engelman writes about women with great respect and humorously describes why men and women so often differ on their ideas about ideal childbearing (both timing and total number). In fact, humor is an integral part of this book. Engelman was a journalist in a past life and his catchy, accessible writing style shines through on every page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about demography, women's reproductive rights, and/or anthropology. This book should interest just about anyone and is not the dry, academic sort of textbook that you might expect of this topic. I'm even going to propose it as a selection for my monthly book club!

It seems inevitable that the world food crisis, combined with climate change and rising energy prices, will spur a renewed and contentious debate over the issue of population. Before that debate is renewed in its full intensity, everyone should read this book.

What the author gives us, and what is so desperately need at this critical juncture in the debate over population, is historical perspective. His book, in fact, takes up back to our ancestral roots to give us a better understanding of such things as human reproduction, the centuries' old debate over population, and efforts by governments to "control" population by encouraging human procreation or restricting it.

Many people today believe that birth control is a thoroughly modern invention, but as Engelman observes in his book, women throughout history have sought to control their fertility, as well as enhance it. In response to shrinking resources or deteriorating conditions, women have often sought--though not always successfully--to space or limit their pregnancies.

Engelman takes what he calls a "Zen' approach to population. He argues that the best way to "control" population is to give up control, by giving women the power to decide for themselves when to bear a child.

He notes that many women in the world still lack access to modern contraceptive methods and that, if given that access, fertility rates will likely decline further. Giving girls the education they need and the equality they deserve, he argues, would also result in lower fertility rates.

At the same time, he voices the conviction that concerns about an eventual population implosion are overblown. As the planet gets less crowded, he believes that women will want more children, enough at least to keep fertility rates at or near the "replacement rate" needed to stabilize population.

Engelman makes clear, however, that world population may already be, or may soon be, unsustainable. He stops well short of making a Malthusian prediction about impending famine, but he says, "...it's getting hard to be confident that fishers and farmers will easily feed the 9.2 billion people projected to be alive in 2050."

In the last chapter, he notes that people in developing countries dream of acquiring the necessities that we take for granted. "But what happens," he asks, "when the dreams of people everywhere become unsustainable--not because of the nature of the dreams, but because the numbers of the dreamers?"

If you concerned about global population or just interested in learning more about the topic and the debate that swirls around it, this is an entertaining, informative and compelling book. I highly recommend it.