family health

After five years on the Pill, I wanted to find a natural alternative to hormonal birth control. I happened to find this book on the shelf at my local library and read it cover-to-cover in 3 days. After discussing it with my husband, we decided to chart to avoid pregnancy. We successfully avoided for 2 years by charting, and when we decided to try to conceive, we we were able to achieve pregnancy the second cycle trying! My midwife praised us for being so "in-tune" with my cycles that I could pinpoint ovulation, and therefore give a more accurate estimate of my due date. In fact, she asked to keep a copy of my chart to show patients that not all women ovulate on day 13-14; I ovulated on day 32 and we were able to achieve pregnancy by charting and using ovulation predictors.

I think Toni's example says it best: If you try to write out instructions for tying your shoes, it sounds very complicated. But tying your shoes is very easy, once you get the hang of it. Charting is the same way. Once you understand the fundamentals, it's easy. For under 2 minutes a day (taking your temperature, checking cervical fluid/position and marking your chart) you can avoid dealing with hormonal birth control every day of your cycle.

The recent updates that have been made to the software, including the ability to publish charts at www.ovusoft.com are a great asset. I would encourage anyone who is leery of charting on paper to temp and chart using the software. It's very reasonably priced and worth every penny.

I bought the revised edition of this book as soon as it came out, and I'm thankful to have it as a resource. I've loaned it to many friends who have all benefited from the knowledge within. Many thanks to Toni Weschler for this wonderful resource!

After struggling for over 15 years with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, I knew I'd have trouble conceiving. I had irregular cycles and had no way of predicting when or if I would ovulate. I began to chart my temperatures, and my Reproductive Endocrinologist said "don't bother - charting is useless for women with PCOS." Was she ever wrong! I read Toni's book on the recommendation of several friends, and it changed my life. Not only can I tell when I ovulate, but I can predict it up to 2 days in advance! I may not ovulate regualarly, but I am able to tell every time when I have. Once my husband and I straighten out our male factor infertility, I have no doubt we will achieve pregnancy more easily thanks to using FAM to predict my ovulation. Thank you, Toni, for teaching me that my body works the way it is supposed to (even if not as often as it is supposed to.) Reading this book and learning this method has empowered me by demystifying the menstrual cycle and allowing me to take back control of my own fertility.

I highly recommend this book and method for getting pregnant. I am 39 and had been trying to get pregnant for six months using an ovulation predictor kit. We already have a 2 year old daughter that was conceived the first month we tried, so I was very discouraged that we were not pregnant yet. A friend of mine recommended this book, and I thought it was worth a shot! I found the book a very easy read. I read the sections relevant to getting pregnant in one night (there are also sections on birth control, menopause, etc). I began charting immediately. I did not go crazy with charting-I just recorded my temp each day and checked the other 2 signs (cervical mucus and cervical position) starting about a week before I knew I was going to ovulate. I got pregnant the second month!! The book is super informative about all aspects of a woman's reproductive body. A great read even if you just want to get to know what's going on with your body every month. Hope this review helps!!