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!

(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.

(288 pages)

Fertility Foods: Optimize Ovulation and Conception Through Food Choices by: Jeremy Groll, Lorie Groll publisher: Fireside released: 2006-05-02 ISBN: 0743272811 $10.88

Dr. Jeremy Groll is an expert in reproductive endocrinology and fertility treatment. Fertility Foods presents his groundbreaking, noninvasive, nutritionally based method, which increases ovulation, reduces miscarriage, and significantly improves your chances of successfully getting and staying pregnant.

Dr. Groll's specialized research has proven that there is a powerful link between a body's insulin resistance and fertility problems. Resistance to insulin increases the body's insulin levels, hindering normal ovulation either by limiting the maturation process of the released egg or by preventing ovulation altogether. High insulin levels can also impede the fertilized egg's ability to attach to the uterus, leading to implantation failure and miscarriage. In fact, women with insulin resistance problems are four to five times as likely as other women to suffer miscarriages -- meaning they have as high as a 50 percent chance of miscarriage.

Dr. Groll has developed an insulin-reducing diet based on balancing protein and complex carbohydrate intake to create insulin levels most conducive to ovulation. He combines his nutritional plan -- which includes nutritional charts, food suggestions, and recipes -- with a specific exercise program that enhances insulin metabolism and an emotional support system that you can draw on during your quest to become parents. This three-pronged approach increases the rates of spontaneous ovulation and significantly improves the uterine environment, decreasing the potential for miscarriage.

One in every ten couples in America is affected by infertility. Yet, only 5 to 10 percent of patients actually need high-tech procedures such as in vitro fertilization. Whether you are taking your first steps in combating infertility or searching for effective methods to support more advanced fertility treatments, Fertility Foods is your helpful and rewarding guide.

It is a very good book which, in very simple terms, explains how this nutrition plan works. I have PCOS and this book makes me hopeful that I may be able to control my condition without serious medication. I certainly would recommend this nutrition plan before trying Metformin. I was surprised how quickly the plan worked: I saw improvements in my symptoms within weeks after starting the plan. In fact, I have so much more energy and feel so much better that I would want to stick to this way of eating indefinitely. I only wish there would be more and better receipes in this book.

The main idea of this book is that a high-protien, low-carb diet will increase your odds at having a child. What the author doesn't mention is that maintaining a high-protien, low-carb diet for an extended period of time can actually harm, not help, you. Rememeber, Atkins died of heart disease. The author of this book insists that by losing weight while on such a diet will increase your fertility. ANY weight loss will increase your fertility. The premise of the book, eat right and exercise, is a good one. The way he says to go about it is bad advice. 90% of all dieters fail. Why? Because diets don't work. Lifestyle changes in diet and exercise is the only sure fire way to lose weight and increase your odds of having a child.

The main disappointment with this book was the lack of actual meal plans and recipes. Nearly 2/3rds of the book is given over to advice about exercise, emotional health, etc-- good stuff, but also stuff that's covered better in several other well known books. There are really only a few pages given over to how to actually eat. This plan is also based on Atkins principles, and though it is much more flexible and reasonable, it would be quite difficult to follow for vegetarians and veggie friendly options are not provided by the authors. This book is mainly of interest to women with PCOS who need more general lifestyle information. Women with endo and other issues, or people who are looking for more concrete nutritional info, meal plans, etc should look to the Healing Gourmet book on fertility. It has a similar approach (to insulin resistance) but provides concrete suggestions for meal planning.

The gist of this book is that insulin resistance--a condition that can be pre-diabetic, and a condition that can be MODERATED BY PROPER DIET--impedes fertility. The book describes that problem and proposes a solution.

I am not a fan of all the low-carb diets that have been popular these past few years. Luckily, this doctor doesn't seem to be an extremist. His suggestions are to balance carbohydrates and protein, both throughout the day and AT EVERY MEAL, thus avoiding insulin surges. He also prescribes eating something at the end of the day (bedtime) in order to avoid a "starvation" period of more than 8-9 hours.

According to his charts, if I were to try to use his system to lessen my insulin resistance (and, based upon his research, become more fertile), I would be expected to eat about 92 grams of protein and 92 grams of carbohydrates per day. He also gives a goal for fat grams. While I don't recall what mine was, I noted that it was comparable to what a standard weight loss diet would suggest.

To compare with a "normal" diet range for my height/weight (from a diet/fitness site I subscribe to):
PROTEIN -- 92 g (Groll) -- 30 to 136 g (my diet)
CARBS -- 92 g (Groll) -- 135 - 252 g (my diet)

I am not a nutrition expert to evaluate this professionally, but it doesn't seem too extreme to my reading of the numbers. I also recall that, during my pregnancy (in 2003), my doctor and our Bradley method childbirth instructor advised me to eat at least 80 g of protein per day. I believe that a higher protein level is frequently advised for pregnancy, so it could be relevant to fertility as well.

Groll also discusses the importance of exercise both for general health and as another way to decrease insulin surges that can lead to insulin resistance. All in all, his program appeared reasonable and healthy to me.

For someone struggling with infertility, I expect that following a plan like this might be a simple, cost-effective step to take before submitting to other more expensive and invasive fertility treatments. Naturally, anyone with specific health issues should consult their physician before starting this or any other diet and exercise plan!

(40 pages)

The Ovulation Method: Natural Family Planning by: John J. Billings publisher: Liturgical Press released: 1984-12 ISBN: 0814610110 $9.95

I have been on the Billings Ovulation Method for a few years now and beleive me, if you don't cheat it is 99.99% effective. The downfall to this method is that you are not suppose to know exactly how to use it without instruction. There are ways to contact these instructers that can guide you through the process for a fee. Check with your local womens center or life center, they can help. I was able to go through my training course right here in my home for thirty dollars, and you don't have to be Catholic to use it. Good luck to you.

PS.. I did get pregnant during the time of practicing this method but it is because we chose to cheat on my most fertile day. An Anniversary and a few drinks will impair judgement like that so be careful...lol

This slim book promotes the Ovulation Method, profiling its advantages and utility. But it is not an instruction book. I'm only giving it three starts because although it's well-written I'm not sure who the intended audience is, or what group might find it useful.

For someone looking to learn a mucus-only method, I would look to "The Billings Method:Controlling Fertility Without Drugs or Devices" by Evelyn Billings. For someone just interested in any kind of fertility charting, not specifically a mucus-only method, I highly recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler as the definitive book in this category.

The ovulation book was great. The book was a good price, it was packed full of information and came with a chart and pleanty of stickers to get you and your spouse started on the wonderful journey of natural family planning.

I was hoping that the book went into better detail. It did not help me. However, it was informative and an easy read.

You can read this book in 30 minutes and understand it. After ordering this book I was recommended "Taking Charge of your Fertility" by a friend. Taking Charge is more complete but uses this information, however. By the time my amazon.com shipment arrived with the second book, I was already pregnant from the first time trying The Ovulation Method (we had tried to get pregnant approximately a year before getting this book). So read it. You can also use it to avoid getting pregnant. It works!

(76 pages)

Some Dreams Come True: A Journey Through Infertility by: Robin Lee publisher: PublishAmerica released: 2004-12-20 ISBN: 1413754317 $14.95

Today, 6.1 million women in the United States suffer from infertility, according to Resolve, the national infertility association. What do you do when all you want is to have a baby? How much time and money are you willing to invest with no guarantee of success? What do you do if you are single and Mr. Right is nowhere in sight? How do you handle everyday life when pregnant women and babies are everywhere? This personal account details the trials and tribulations associated with infertility and the blessing when all efforts pay off. The author hopes that the personal words written within this book will comfort others who suffer from infertility, letting them know that they are not alone.

Unless you struggle IF you will never know the pain and heartache. In this book you will see what we go through. You will laugh and cry with each entry.
Another reviewer wrote, "Too much info" If more people spoke out the stigma and embaressment and shame we go threw would lessen.
Thanks Robin for being so couragious to write this book.

Lori

I was able to read Ms lee's book in 2 hours. I did not read every little detail, I found all the indepth journalling to be more than I wanted to know, but it highlighted her struggles and determination to have a baby. I did not find it helpful per se. IMO it is the kind of book that is best shared with family and friends who know you personally. A great book for her to share with her son one day...

This journal is very open and honest. I couldn't stop reading once I started it! The author does a wonderful job of capturing the rollercoaster ups and downs of trying to conceive a child. There are a lot of emotions, both good and bad, that go along with this process and they are all shared within this journal. Financial and social struggles are also seen along the way. This journal is a very good description of the nightmare that infertility can be.

There aren't many people in this world that would open up their most private wishes, struggles and disappointments for others to experience through publishing. This book is a must read for anyone who has struggled or is struggling with infertility - as well as their friends and family members. I read this book in one sitting. It was so compelling to see how each attempt came out that you can't stop reading. I thank the author for sharing her journey with us. And I heartily congratulate her on having the family and son that she fought so long and hard for.

The story of Ms. Lee's journey through infertility is a 'must read' for anyone embarking on their quest for a child. Those who have not experienced this heartache would benefit from learning what it is like to yearn for a child who is seemingly so out-of-reach. It really makes you count your blessings!

(170 pages)

Ovulation Induction (Clinical Perspectives in Obstetrics and Gynecology) by: Robert L. Collins publisher: Springer released: 1990-12 ISBN: 0387973516 $93.44

Ovulation Induction gives an integrated view of basic ovarian physiology, pathophysiology, and the clinical management of ovulatory disorders. It provides core information upon which specialists can base clinical decisions. The most important feature is the inclusion of newer agents now available for ovulation induction. Newer clinical applications for older medications as well as various treatment combinations (including GnRH analogs) are thoroughly discussed. There is a frank discussion of risks, side effects, and the expense related to ovulation inducing agents. Many of the results in this book have never before been published in book form. Topics examined include the neuroendocrine regulation of the menstrual cycle, ovarian physiology and in vitro fertilization, the diagnosis of ovulation and the role of ultrasound in monitoring the follicular response, the use of clomiphene citrate for ovulation induction, and the role of bromocriptine and related compounds for ovulation induction in hyperprolactinemia.

(100 pages)

Signs of Fertility: The Personal Science of Natural Birth Control by: Margaret Nofziger publisher: MND Books released: 1998-10-01 ISBN: 0940847086 $7.95

Signs of Fertility is a textbook on natural family planning. It belongs on your bookshelf alongside user manuals such as Margaret Nofziger's A Cooperative Method of Natural Birth Control. This reference book provides background on the underlying physiological principles of natural family planning and outlines the rules of the method. In this book, you will find the newest natural fertility signs, including the cyclic changes of the cervix. There are chapters on the history of natural methods of birth control, and comparative birth control statistics. This is an extensively referenced text that has been used in nursing classes.

This is the first book that I read on NFP and it served to be the most informative and useful. Before reading the book I had only heard of the famous rhythm method. This book opened a door to many different signs that a women can use to tell when she is fertile. I have used these signs (along with prayer) to GET pregnant (so I don't understand the other reveiwer).

I would happily recommend this book to anyone wanting to conceive as well as those that want a safe way to prevent conception.

I have been using NFP for a year now and am always looking for information to make me more educated on the subject. I sought this book to round out my education. For my purposes, it does serve me but this is not a book to be used for beginners, wanting to learn how to do Natural Family Planning/Natural Birth Control. This book is definitely towards birth control--as the title states--so I would not recommend it for those trying to learn how to achieve pregancy necessarily. I also would not recommend this book for those going off of the pill--it gives only a paragraph of information about that. This book is very good at giving biology and can be helpful in giving slightly different wording for helping someone to learn the signs of fertility. The author basically uses the Thermal Method of NFP and uses the other portions of NFP--cervix, mucus-- as secondary signs. If for some reason you can't do your temperature or want to use the sympto method, this is not the book for you.

A MUST FOR ALL WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OR WHO ARE PRESENTLY PRACTICING NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING! A tremendous amount of research went into this little book. Although it is directed toward those interested in birth control, there's too much information here for those seeking to achieve pregnancy to ignore. It explains more than one method of Natural Family Planning and suggests using them together for a higher success rate in birth control or in achieving pregnancy. The beginning of this book is hard because of the scientific wording. It teaches you exactly what is happening with your body. If you can make it through the difficult but short first chapters, the center of the book is an absolute GOLD MINE! I highly recommend it to all women whether you are looking to achieve pregnancy, practice birth control, or are premonopausal. However, if you are just beginning to learn Natural Family Planning, this book will not stand alone. I strongly urge you to buy more than one book, no matter what book you buy. It is too important. Add this one to your list and you won't be sorry.

(254 pages)

The Billings Method: Controlling Fertility Without Drugs or Devices by: Evelyn Billings, Ann Westmore (Contributor) publisher: Random House Inc (T) released: 1981-05 ISBN: 039452120X $12.95

A totally natural birth control alternative to artificial methods. An effective program for pinpointing fertility to become pregnant. Can be used by any woman, at any age, whether she has regular or irregular periods, is breastfeeding, or approaching menopause. Clinically proven, and tested by the World Health Organization. Used by millions of women in more than 100 countries all over the world.

This is a great resource for really getting to know your body and cycle. What I love is that it includes all the scientific research and studies it's based on, so you can objectively judge the evidence yourself.

My only issue is that it seems written more from the perspective of preventing pregnancy- if you are trying to conceive, it doesn't give any clues as to how things change if you DO conceive. All in all, great resource and a very easy method to follow. Only took about an hour to read the main portions too, so it's not like it takes intense studying and measuring.

Very good book for when you are trying to conceive. This book was recommended to us when we were trying to conceive our first child. It truly worked on the first try, and we were both amazed and shocked to have gotten pregnant with him so quicky. Good buy.

Dr. Billings' book is quite repetitive, which for some people may help them grasp the important concepts of the method (it is the most important concepts that are repeated over and over and over again). I found the question-and-answer format of one of the larger chapters made it difficult to locate the information relevant to my situation.

This book provides enough information to use the method, but I found Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler to be more comprehensive, easier to read and understand, and easier to refer back to.

I was interested in natural family planning before, but the birth control pill seemed like an easier method as a newlywed. Well, after an unplanned pregnancy (while on the pill) that ended in miscarriage, I could not bring myself to go back to using the pill. My husband and I wanted a birth control that would be safe and reliable for us. I started researching the Billings Method, saw that it was highly effective and totally natural, but didn't find much information on how to use the method. Then I purchased this book.
I learned so much about my own cycle--about reproductive health in general. The biggest thing I learned is that by simple everyday observations, a woman can know her own times of fertility, in order to either achieve or prevent pregnancy. Dr. Billings describes exactly how to use the Ovulation Method, and after reading the book I was confident about using this as our brith control. Everything was explained clearly, and I keep the book on hand if I have questions. So far, this has worked out well for us, and we are happy.
I recommend this book to anyone who has had trouble with other forms of birth control or is looking for a natural alternative.

Within one month of implementing this method to avoid pregnancy we were pregnant. We followed my cycle for a full 6 months without having intercourse - very difficult but important since we were not ready to have children. As a scientist, I fell for all of the evidence listed in the book, but unlike a scientist, I failed to question it. There is a lot more evidence out there that this method does not work. Be on guard, do your research, and be prepared!