Taking Charge of Your Fertility
Page 56
“This beautifully written guide to a woman’s fertility signs is packed with knowledge, wisdom, and humor—a must for the bookshelf.”
—Coauthors of Our Bodies, Ourselves:
A New Edition for a New Era
“With fascinating, reliable, and up-to-date explanations, Toni Weschler reveals all that we should know about our fertility and sexuality while demystifying the wondrous nature of reproduction. Her practical approach to Fertility Awareness is presented in a compassionate and empowering way. Whether you want to be pregnant or to avoid pregnancy, or simply understand female fertility better, this is the book for you.”
—Penny Simkin, PT, author of
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn:
The Complete Guide
and The Birth Partner: Everything You Need to Know
to Help a Woman Through Childbirth
“This well-established book by Toni Weschler is a ‘must read’ for all infertile couples who wish to gain a basic understanding of their ovulatory cycle, how to evaluate their infertility, avoid unnecessary and expensive testing, and get right to the heart of their problem with minimal delay. This book clears up a great deal of confusion that couples may have about the optimal methods of achieving pregnancy with a conventional, non-technological approach. The illustrations are superb, and the explanations easy to follow. I highly recommend reading this book as a beginning point in treating infertility.”
—Sherman J. Silber, M.D., Director,
Infertility Center of St. Louis at St. Luke’s Hospital
and author of How to Get Pregnant
“Taking Charge of Your Fertility is an invaluable resource for women seeking to better understand their reproductive cycles and take an active role in their own health care. It serves as a significant diagnostic tool to both evaluate fertility-related concerns and monitor ovulation treatment, and thus I highly recommend it for both clinicians and patients alike.”
—Mark Perloe, M.D.,
Medical Director, Georgia Reproductive Specialists,
Atlanta, Georgia
“Toni Weschler’s book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, provides couples with the tools to do just that, empowering them with knowledge and hope at a time when they may feel out-of-control. Infertility often robs couples of a lifetime of expectations, replacing them with an increasing sense of loss. Toni helps couples reclaim control of their lives with a simple and compassionate approach to understanding their fertility. There is no other book like it on the market, and I strongly recommend that it be read by physicians and patients alike.”
—Lee R. Hickok, M.D.,
Pacific Northwest Fertility & IVF Specialists,
Seattle, Washington
Excerpts from Letters to the Author
“Yesterday I received your book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. I finished it today. What an incredible book. It is so full of information that I could read it 10,000 times and pull something different out each time. Thank you for writing such an informative book.”
—Cindi Aschenbrenner
Enterprise, Oregon
“Your book is absolutely fabulous; I refer to it as my bible. As I began reading it, little lightbulbs started going on; everything finally made sense. It’s very informative and detailed. I only wish I had found it sooner. It really has changed my perception of fertility, and someday soon I know it will have changed my life. Thanks for writing such a great book.”
—Debi Avocato
Kingsland, Georgia
“I love your book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility! It has opened my eyes to the wonders of my body. Your work is vital to a world that is becoming less and less in tune with their bodies.”
—Denise Evarts
New York, New York
“I am 33 years old and have been married for over ten years and finally have discovered that my body doesn’t have to be a guessing game anymore! Thanks to your book!”
—Diane Carswell
Ohio
“I am writing to you out of a page of my Fertility Awareness notebook, which accompanied your book—I love it! Your book is the first one I have read that is straightforward—no bones about it! Cheers to your hard work that is reflected in these pages.”
—Heather LoVecchio Mendham, New Jersey
“Your book is part of why I am where I am right now, a place where I trust my body, mind, and spirit. I thank you for that. . . . I recently read ‘society honors live conformers and dead trouble makers.’ I hope, for once, society will listen to an important message while the ‘prophet’ is still living!”
—Jackie Schmidt
Seattle, Washington
“Your book has made a wonderful and dramatic impact on me. I feel as if I’ve awoken from a long, deep sleep into a world of clarity and beauty! I finally understand what is happening in my own body. It is exciting and fascinating. I am now pregnant. Most importantly I am empowered! Thank you for such a wonderful gift. If I have a daughter you can be sure your book will be presented as a most treasured gift at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, any woman close to me will be hearing about your book.”
—Janet Villani-Garratt
Woodstock, New York
“The book was a godsend. I devoured it voraciously, absolutely barraging my husband with the information that I acquired about both my own body and his. I can’t thank you enough for educating me about my own reproductive system. For fourteen years I have participated in the fertility cycle and have known next to nothing about the mechanisms responsible for it. I was unappreciative to the wonder of my own body. . . . What was especially valuable about your book is that it went beyond the baseline experience of FAM. You explored the various patterns that women will practically encounter in their charting. The recognition of these variables is important so that every woman will appreciate her uniqueness and not feel she is abnormal if she does not conform to the standard. . . . I cannot contain my enthusiasm about FAM. I am in command of my own body now and I am elated. You should be incredibly proud for the service that you have done all women in the sharing of your knowledge. Thank you again for your wonderful book.”
—Jennifer Chellis Olivieri
New York, New York
“Marvelous book. . . . It is the most complete and empowering book on this subject matter I have read. Your format and coverage of this topic is exceptional. Every woman should know and understand their bodies, and you have certainly succeeded in relaying this important information. Thanks for helping us to achieve this miracle. We feel very fortunate to experience pregnancy again and credit your book with giving us the knowledge to maximize our chances.”
—Jennifer Dunn
Clearwater, Florida
“I can’t tell you how pleased I am with this book. I think that I have read it all the way through twice. . . . I would like to thank you for providing me with a renewed sense of self-esteem because I now have control over my body and don’t have to rely on anyone.”
—Kim Taylor
Platte City, Missouri
“I came across your book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility, several years ago and was immediately impressed by how you made the information on fertility cycles accessible through humor, anecdotes, and plain language, while still making the information current and useful. Not a physiology textbook rehash! I’ve widely recommended your book because it is one of the few women’s health books that actually gives information, not just simplified commentary.”
—Louise Smith
Fort Langley, British Columbia,
Canada
“We were absolutely blown away by your book arriving in the mail. What a thoughtful, generous, and special gift. It is a masterpiece—a book I wish I had fourteen years ago.”
—Ming Lu
Santa Monica, California
“Quite simply, your book has changed my life. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time, and making the effort required, to create such an informative work. From the moment I opened Taking
Charge of Your Fertility, I was mesmerized. I sat in the bookstore for an hour, reading the appendixes. So many of my questions were right there on the page! So many of my concerns were addressed. I brought the book home and read it, cover to cover, in one sitting. Your gift to me through Taking Charge of Your Fertility has value beyond measure! Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!”
—Pamela M.
Seattle, Washington
“Your book was a GODSEND! . . . My doctors both expressed how much my charts are helping them to help me. It really surprised me that not every woman with fertility problems is doing her charts and checking her cervical fluid. I also learned a tremendous amount about fertility, the woman’s body, and also about ourselves. We are deeply grateful and appreciative for your wonderfully comprehensive and excellently written book.”
—Sacha Willsey
Bloomington, Indiana
“I wanted to write to thank you for writing your book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. My friend had been trying to get pregnant for two years. After charting for only two months, she became pregnant. . . . You have helped me in more than one way, and I don’t know how to thank you enough. . . . My husband and I were trying for three years to get pregnant. I am now four months pregnant, and also I finally can feel at ease with my female reproductive organs. I wish that every woman could get a hold of your book. You have done such a great service for women by presenting this information in such a clear and compassionate manner.”
—Sharon Maitino
Chicago, Illinois
“I am so thankful that you wrote such an informative book. Your words empowered me to tell everyone I know about this book and method. I wish this book had been available when I was in college. I have gained invaluable knowledge about myself, and I am so thankful that it is available now. THANK YOU!!!”
—Wendy Baughman
Warner Robins, Georgia
About the Author
TONI WESCHLER, MPH, has a master’s degree in public health and is a nationally respected women’s health educator and speaker. She is also the author of Cycle Savvy, a book for teenage girls about their bodies. A frequent guest on television and radio shows, she lives in Seattle, Washington.
www.tcoyf.com
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Also by Toni Weschler
Cycle Savvy: The Smart Teen’s Guide to the Mysteries of Her Body
Credits
Cover design by Emin Mancheril
Copyright
Ms. Weschler is available for public speaking engagements, as well as professional seminars for medical schools, hospitals, and clinics. In addition, any comments or suggestions for future editions of this book would be greatly appreciated. She can be reached at:
Toni Weschler, MPH
P.O. Box 31172
Seattle, WA 98103
info@tcoyf.com
TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR FERTILITY, 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION. Copyright © 2015 by Toni Weschler. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
ISBN 978-0-06-232603-4
EPub Edition JULY 2015 ISBN 9780062409911
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* For this reason, I have created a link about FAM specifically written for medical professionals. You can find it on my website at www.tcoyf.com.
* By unplanned pregnancies, I am not referring here to the unfortunate practice of many unmarried teenage girls who engage in an intentional pattern of unprotected sex, either out of indifference to the consequences or because they actually want to have babies. This issue, the subject of intensive sociological analysis and public policy debate, is beyond the scope of this book. (Thankfully, the incidence of teen pregnancy has decreased considerably in the United States since the 1990s.)
* Question: What did the epididymis say to the seminal vesicle? Answer: There’s a vas deferens between us. (Thanks to Robert Mecklosky, New York City’s most beloved science teacher.)
* Years ago, evolutionary biologist Margie Profet offered an altogether different theory as to why menstrual cycles occur. She believed the key function of menstruation is to rid the body of pathogens that are carried by the sperm and introduced into the woman’s reproductive organs during sex. Her theory caused considerable debate in the academic world, but she maintained her sense of humor about it. “What they told you in kindergarten is true,” she once said, “boys really do have cooties.”
* In the United States, about 1 out of every 35 live births produces a twin. (This figure is significantly higher than in earlier generations because of the use of fertility drugs.) One-third of the time, they are identical twins, meaning that one fertilized egg splits in two. Two-thirds of the time, they are fraternal twins, meaning that two separate eggs are released and conceived within 24 hours of each other. Identical twins tend to be rare in nature in that there is no particular hereditary component involved. The birth of fraternal twins, on the other hand, may be influenced by heredity. What appears to be passed down is the propensity to release higher levels than average of FSH, which in turn may cause more than one egg to be released. In addition, older women may be more likely to release more than one egg, since FSH tends to increase as women get older.
Studies have shown that multiple ovulation may occur as frequently as 10% of all cycles, a much higher percentage than previously thought. While it is true that only about 1% of deliveries are fraternal twins, it must be remembered that most ovulations don’t result in conception. In addition, research has shown that many more fraternal twins are actually conceived than delivered, but that in the majority of cases, one of the conceptions is spontaneously miscarried or reabsorbed, resulting in a single baby. Scientists refer to this as the “vanishing twin syndrome.” In any case, the fact that so many cycles may have multiple ovulations highlights the importance of the various FAM rules for avoiding pregnancy that you’ll learn later.
*A FAM instructor once told me that when she first began to menstruate, she would search her menstrual pads for a blue egg that resembled a robin’s egg, and would continually be disappointed when she couldn’t find it.
* Women in their early 20s may have as many as four days of slippery-quality eggwhite, but by their late 30s, many have only a day or two, if any.
* In fact, a small percentage of women won’t reflect biphasic temperature patterns even when ovulating. In such a case, contraceptors wouldn’t be able to use waking temps as a fertility sign, but then would have to rely on
cervical fluid and their cervical position to corroborate when they are safe. Regardless, any woman whose temps don’t reflect a shift will probably want to initially take advantage of other means of determining ovulation, such as cervical fluid patterns (which are not as conclusive), ovulation predictor kits, blood tests, or ultrasound.
* As you will read, “cervical position” as used in this book actually refers to more than just the height of the cervix in the vagina. However, it is easier to use this one term to describe the various cervical changes that occur in the cycle, particularly given that they’re checked simultaneously, usually in a matter of seconds.
* You may have temperature patterns that make drawing the coverline above more difficult. If so, see Appendix H on Tricky Coverlines.
* It is often referred to as vitex agnus or chasteberry extract, and may in fact be blended into a variety of supplements.
* You can learn a lot more about how eliminating your exposure to light at night can impact your cycles by reading The Effects of Light on the Menstrual Cycle by Joy DeFelice, RN.
* The maximum ova viability of 2 days is calculated by assuming a 24-hour life span for each egg, the last one being released a full 24 hours after the first. In reality, this is highly unlikely in that ova probably live closer to 12 hours, and multiple ovulations probably occur closer together. And while you must count on sperm survival of 5 days, 2 to 3 is much more probable. Sperm viability of longer than 5 days has been documented, though it is extremely rare, and in any case would not affect the contraceptive principles of FAM, given that sperm without cervical fluid present will live at most a few hours.
* Unlike the other three rules in this chapter, a part of the First 5 Days Rule admittedly relies on past cycles to estimate a possibly increased risk of present fertility. However, there is a fundamental difference between this particular guideline and the Rhythm Method. The likelihood of conception occurring from intercourse on Day 5 or before is very remote, whereas the chances of ovulation varying widely from Day 10 onward is high. If anything, the principle here is to be even more conservative by adding one more buffer for women who may have a somewhat higher risk than the statistical average.