Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xiii
Preface to the 20th Anniversary Edition xvii
Introduction xix
Part 1 Breaking Fertile Ground: Toward a New Way of Thinking 1
1 Fertility Awareness: What You Should Know and Why You Probably Don't 3
2 Taking Control of Your Reproductive Health 11
Part 2 Rediscovering Your Cycle and Your Body 31
3 There's More to Your Reproductive Anatomy Than Your Vagina 33
4 Finally Making Sense of Your Menstrual Cycle 44
5 The Three Primary Fertility Signs 52
6 How to Observe and Chart Your Fertility Signs 72
Part 3 Being Proactive with Your Health 111
7 Anovulation and Irregular Cycles 113
8 Three Prevalent Conditions All Women Should Be Aware Of: Ovarian Cysts, Endometriosis, and PCOS 125
9 Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones 144
10 Now That You Know: Preserving Your Future Fertility 153
Part 4 Natural Birth Control 161
11 Natural Birth Control Without Chemicals or Devices 163
12 Shortcuts: Minimum Charting with Maximum Reliability 180
Part 5 Pregnancy Achievement 185
13 Maximizing Your Chances of Getting Pregnant 187
14 Practical Tips Beyond Fertility Awareness 213
15 What Next? Tests and Treatments That May Be Necessary to Get Pregnant 229
16 Dealing with Miscarriages 260
17 Idiopathic Infertility: Some Possible Causes When They're Not Sure Why 268
Part 6 Beyond Fertility: Practical Benefits of Charting Your Cycle 277
18 Maintaining Your Gynecological Health 279
19 Causes of Unusual Bleeding 293
20 Appreciating Your Sexuality and Nurturing Your Relationship 301
21 Premenstrual Syndrome: You Mean Its Not All in My Head? 315
22 Demystifying Menopause 325
23 Enriching Your Self-Esteem Through Knowledge About Your Body 342
Epilogue-A History of Progress: Women's Health and the Missing Piece of the Puzzle 345
Color Insert (follows page 354)
Appendixes 355
Basic Information for All Readers
A Troubleshooting Your Cycle: Expecting the Unexpected 357
B Frequently Asked Questions 393
C The Menstrual Cycle: A Summary of Events Through the Use of the Proverbial 28-Day Model 405
Natural Birth Control
D The Contraceptive Effectiveness of Natural Birth Control 413
E The Difference Between Natural Methods of Birth Control 422
F Birth Control Rules When You Can Only Chart One Fertility Sign 424
G Checking Cervical Fluid Internally Before Ovulation 426
H Tricky Coverlines 430
I Using FAM While Breastfeeding 442
J Using FAM During Long Cycles and Phases of Anovulation 450
Pregnancy Achievement
K A Brief Look at Gender Selection 464
L How to Research Fertility Clinics 469
Miscellaneous Resources
Fertility-Related Resources 472
Glossary 477
Bibliography 498
Index 517
Annual Exam Form 533
Master Chart Options 536
