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Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 20th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health Paperback – July 7, 2015
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In celebration of its 20th anniversary, a thoroughly revised and expanded edition of the leading book on fertility and women’s reproductive health.
Since the publication of Taking Charge of your Fertility two decades ago, Toni Weschler has taught a whole new generation of women how to become pregnant, avoid pregnancy naturally and gain better control of their gynecological and sexual health by taking just a couple minutes a day using the proven Fertility Awareness Method.
Now, this 20th Anniversary Edition has been thoroughly revised and fully updated with:
- the latest medical advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART)
- more in-depth coverage of women’s gynecological and sexual health
- new illustrations, photographs, and an expanded color insert
- new sample charts
- an expanded appendix
- Six new chapters including:
Three Prevalent Conditions—Endometriosis, Ovarian Cysts and
PCOS
Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones
Preserving Your Future Fertility
Miscarriages
Idiopathic Infertility
Causes of Unusual Bleeding
Clear and comprehensive, yet warm and approachable, Taking Charge of Your Fertility is one of the most universally lauded health books on the market today. It is an essential reference for every woman of reproductive age.
- Print length560 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherWilliam Morrow Paperbacks
- Publication dateJuly 7, 2015
- Dimensions7.38 x 1.4 x 9.12 inches
- ISBN-100062326031
- ISBN-13978-0062326034
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
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- A woman’s preovulatory waking temps typically range from about 97.0 to 97.7 degrees Fahrenheit, with postovulatory temps rising to about 97.8 and higher. After ovulation, they will usually stay elevated until her next period, about 12 to 16 days later. If she were to become pregnant, they would remain high throughout much of her pregnancy, gradually dropping a few months before childbirth.Highlighted by 2,765 Kindle readers
- Practically speaking, this means that your Peak Day will usually occur one or two days before your thermal shift.Highlighted by 2,509 Kindle readers
- The primary factor that determines how long it will take before you ovulate is how soon your body reaches an estrogen threshold.Highlighted by 2,303 Kindle readers
- Preovulatory temps are suppressed by estrogen, whereas postovulatory temps are increased by heat-inducing progesterone.Highlighted by 2,079 Kindle readers
- But a woman trained in Fertility Awareness knows that she needs a phase of at least 10 days from ovulation to menstruation for implantation to later occur, and that 18 consecutive high temps after ovulation almost always indicates a pregnancy.Highlighted by 2,079 Kindle readers
Editorial Reviews
Review
“This beautifully written guide to a woman’s fertility signs is packed with knowledge, wisdom and humor―a must for the bookshelf.” — Co-authors of The New Our Bodies, Ourselves
“Taking Charge of Your Fertility has become the Our Bodies, Ourselves for our time. Alternately silly, whimsical, and exhaustingly specific, the book was published fifteen years ago and is ranked higher by customers on Amazon than all other books except the third and fourth Harry Potters.” — New York magazine
“Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a fantastic book, loaded with practical and beautifully presented information that will transform and empower every woman’s relationship with her fertility. I recommend it to women of all ages.” — Christiane Northrup, M.D., Author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause
From the Back Cover
This new edition for the twentieth anniversary of the groundbreaking national bestseller provides all the information you need to monitor your menstrual cycle—along with updated information on the latest reproductive technologies
Are you unhappy with your current method of birth control? Or demoralized by your quest to have a baby? Do you experience confusing signs and symptoms at various times in your cycle? This invaluable resource provides the answers to your questions while giving you amazing insights into your body.
Taking Charge of Your Fertility has helped literally hundreds of thousands of women avoid pregnancy naturally, maximize their chances of getting pregnant, or simply gain better control of their gynecological and sexual health. Toni Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), which in only a couple of minutes a day allows you to:
- Enjoy highly effective and scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices
- Maximize your chances of conception before you see a doctor or resort to invasive high-tech options
- Expedite your fertility treatment by quickly identifying impediments to pregnancy achievement
- Gain control and a true understanding of your gynecological and sexual health
This new edition includes:
- A fully revised and intuitive charting system
- A selection of personalized master charts for birth control, pregnancy achievement, breastfeeding, and menopause
- An expanded sixteen-page color insert that reflects the book’s most important concepts
- Six brand-new chapters on topics including balancing hormones naturally, preserving your future fertility, and three medical conditions all women should be aware of
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.
Product details
- Publisher : William Morrow Paperbacks
- Publication date : July 7, 2015
- Edition : Updated
- Language : English
- Print length : 560 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0062326031
- ISBN-13 : 978-0062326034
- Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
- Dimensions : 7.38 x 1.4 x 9.12 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #5,072 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #6 in Fertility
- #17 in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Books)
- #30 in General Women's Health
- Customer Reviews:
Videos
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 the author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility and of Cycle Savvy, a book for teenage girls about their bodies. A frequent guest on television and radio shows, she lives in Seattle, Washington. Her website is www.tcoyf.com.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this fertility guide extremely informative and well-explained, helping them learn about their menstrual cycle and how to prevent or achieve pregnancy naturally. Moreover, the book receives positive feedback for its readability, with one customer noting its easy-to-navigate chapter layout, and its effectiveness, with many reporting successful results over years of use. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's visuals, including great pictures for reference, and consider it a must-read for women of all ages, with one customer describing it as a "bible for a woman's body."
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the book extremely informative, particularly about tracking cycles, and one customer mentions it provides plenty of examples and advice.
"Very informative book, great for any woman who is looking to learn how her body works or a man who is interested in knowing how to better support..." Read more
"An incredible amount of information in an easy to understand format...." Read more
"...This book is educational and informative. We all could learn something from this book, thank you to my husband." Read more
"...She gives plenty of information not only about how our cycles work (and signs that they aren't), but also important nutrients and medical processes..." Read more
Customers find the book easy to read, with well-explained information and clear guidance on charting.
"An incredible amount of information in an easy to understand format...." Read more
"...This book made me feel seen, heard, understood, and worthy of the truth and empowered to weild it...." Read more
"...My husband has learned a lot and finds the writing captivating and its been a great conversation between us two for a few days now...." Read more
"I would say this book was very thorough and easy to read. I read it in a short amount of time and learned so much from it!..." Read more
Customers find the book very informative about fertility awareness, helping them understand their menstrual cycle and providing guidance on both preventing and achieving pregnancy naturally.
"...She gives a truly open-minded approach to understanding fertility, and it has helped me stay pregnancy-free for 10 months now while I work with my..." Read more
"TLDR: This book is rich with helpful info on the menstrual cycle and enabled me to naturally family plan with ease...." Read more
"...This book also pointed me to Chinese medicine to help with menstrual problems like cramping and other PMS symptoms...." Read more
"...This book give you ALL OF IT in terms of your cycle, ovulation, ovarian cysts, PCOS, endometriosis... EVERYTHING...." Read more
Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a must-read for all women and an invaluable resource that is useful for women of all ages.
"Very informative book, great for any woman who is looking to learn how her body works or a man who is interested in knowing how to better support..." Read more
"...matter what stage of life you are in, this book is an invaluable resource for female health...." Read more
"...I have never felt so empowered in my life. This should be a must read for every woman. It is our right to know how our body works!..." Read more
"I agree with the other reviewers that this book is a must-read for every woman!..." Read more
Customers appreciate the visual content of the book, which includes great pictures for reference and several illustrations, making it eye-opening and fascinating to read.
"...Toni goes into great detail, including helpful pictures and diagrams that give you the confidence to understand the information and feel capable of..." Read more
"...for TCOYF and Toni Weschler for reminding me that I am an intricately designed, created being." Read more
"I first found this book in college and found it wildly eye opening as someone who was raised with the "just don't have sex" sex education...." Read more
"...The visuals are great and everything she writes is clear and smart...." Read more
Customers find the book effective, with many reporting successful results for up to five years, particularly in understanding their menstrual cycle.
"...IN a nutshell-- it works. If you want it to work for Avoiding Pregnancy, just do the work of actually learning properly...." Read more
"...in the book but all the details of the female body and how it works are amazing and that’s what this book is about. God made us like that!..." Read more
"...It works great to help me track my temps and cervical fluid and any other symptoms that I want. It is FREE and works great...." Read more
"...Im not trying to conceive yet, but I love to know that my body is working well, ovulating every cycle and I understand my body, my moods and myself..." Read more
Customers find the book well worth its price, with many noting it's a good buy and a valuable addition to their collection.
"...Value the wholeness of the 18+year haul and all the peaks and valleys. The feeling you get when you raise good and decent humans is priceless." Read more
"...The info in this book is worth its weight in gold." Read more
"...Definitely worth the money. Go get it." Read more
"...handy charts and examples in it as well which makes it worthwhile to get the physical copy rather than the kindle copy..." Read more
Customers appreciate the book's approach to body awareness, finding it empowering and respectful, with one customer describing it as their "bible" for understanding their body.
"...and I found this book to be a huge dose of relief. For us Type A people.... we don't like the unknown or the we'll wait and see what happens crap...." Read more
"...book has completely changed my perspective on my body and healed so much body shame I have been carrying since puberty...." Read more
"...I have never felt more in control and calm about managing my own fertility and pregnancy. No more mystery, no more confusion, no more chemicals." Read more
"...The human body is so amazing.. My partner has also found this very informative and helpful!..." Read more
Reviews with images

The thanks goes to my husband...
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2025Very informative book, great for any woman who is looking to learn how her body works or a man who is interested in knowing how to better support the women in his life.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2025An incredible amount of information in an easy to understand format. Would highly recommend to anyone looking to use the FAM for contraception, acieving prganacy, or just looking for information regarding the female reporductive cycle.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025My husband purchased this for me when we first got married, along with the Daysy Thermometer. I have always questioned how things work and the why of it. This book is educational and informative. We all could learn something from this book, thank you to my husband.
5.0 out of 5 starsMy husband purchased this for me when we first got married, along with the Daysy Thermometer. I have always questioned how things work and the why of it. This book is educational and informative. We all could learn something from this book, thank you to my husband.The thanks goes to my husband...
Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2025
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2019No matter what stage of life you are in, this book is an invaluable resource for female health. I had tried talking to my ob/gyn about natural family planning after suffering through debilitating side effects of multiple types of birth control, and she basically told me "You just need to be on the pill, there is no way you can prevent pregnancy without it-and if you try nfp, you need to use a spermicide to be sure, and even then you're not guaranteed." So I researched on my own, and made it 6 months until I ended up pregnant...twice...and miscarried both times. I was frustrated and my hormones were all over the place, and then my friend recommended this book to me. I now understand that relying on an app was misguided, and the role that cervical fluid plays in fertility is crucial!
Toni is a life saver! I learned more about my body from the first chapter of her book than I ever had from my ob/gyn! I'm sure others have had better experiences with their doctor (and I have since found an amazing one for myself!), but for me this book has empowered me to take control of my health and not have to muddle through the experiments my previous dr was putting me through to find the right answer for me. Toni goes into great detail, including helpful pictures and diagrams that give you the confidence to understand the information and feel capable of putting her methods into practice. I read through most of the book (skipped the parts regarding menopause since thats a long way off, just focused on the rest for now), and I really appreciated her no-nonsense, factual approach. She gives plenty of information not only about how our cycles work (and signs that they aren't), but also important nutrients and medical processes that are necessary in some circumstances. She gives a truly open-minded approach to understanding fertility, and it has helped me stay pregnancy-free for 10 months now while I work with my dr and Toni's methods to get my hormones on track. I am so grateful for her work, getting this knowledge in the hands of women! I appreciate the fact that I can use the information now while avoiding pregnancy, but also later in my life when my husband and I choose to attempt it again, and beyond! I bought a copy for my sister, my friend, and plan to buy more to share with others, and keep my own copy on hand for reference as needed.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2024TLDR: This book is rich with helpful info on the menstrual cycle and enabled me to naturally family plan with ease.
I have had this for yrs now, was recommended to me when I decided to quit birth control because I was tired of the side effects and being ignored by health professionals when I brought them up (the same ones who repeatedly pressured me into taking the pill/getting the god awful IUD)
I read this cover to cover and implemented almost all the tracking methods into my daily routine and was able to easily avoid getting pregnant for two years. Then the instant we wanted to get pregnant, I knew what to do so boom one try and now I have a beautiful daughter. The knowledge I received from these pages is priceless; I truly understand my body now and tracking my fertility is like second nature to me.
This book made me feel seen, heard, understood, and worthy of the truth and empowered to weild it. I return to it for reference often and will for the rest of my life. If you are a woman, GET THIS BOOK.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024With It Starts With the Egg by Rebeca Fett. It is the PERFECT combination.
I have wanted to get this book by Toni Weschler since I first heard of NFP in 2017. I'm so happy to finally have it! She totally sheds to like why OPK tests can be helpful in getting to know your body but not at all dependable for tracking ovulation days (whether you're preventing or trying).
I was using the strips and just getting frustrated. Now have a thermometer just for me (the Premom one) and app to plug in that number in addition to LH strip. On top of that I have my own charts in the bathroom and BOY it's honestly fascinating! I'm not tracking to either prevent or try. We are tracking to see that my cycles are normal and to get to know my body better (I have inflammation issues and back stuff and the list goes on). The first couple chapters of the book were honestly very basic, but it's extremely helpful once you get into it. For both women (born with a uterus) and man (born without a uterus and other external parts). My husband has learned a lot and finds the writing captivating and its been a great conversation between us two for a few days now. I'm almost half way through!
If fertility (your own health at all) health is important to you check out Rebecca Fetts book too. She delves into why certain vitamins, minerals and dietary changes impact your cycle the wa they do.)
5.0 out of 5 starsWith It Starts With the Egg by Rebeca Fett. It is the PERFECT combination.Reading in conjunction
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2024
I have wanted to get this book by Toni Weschler since I first heard of NFP in 2017. I'm so happy to finally have it! She totally sheds to like why OPK tests can be helpful in getting to know your body but not at all dependable for tracking ovulation days (whether you're preventing or trying).
I was using the strips and just getting frustrated. Now have a thermometer just for me (the Premom one) and app to plug in that number in addition to LH strip. On top of that I have my own charts in the bathroom and BOY it's honestly fascinating! I'm not tracking to either prevent or try. We are tracking to see that my cycles are normal and to get to know my body better (I have inflammation issues and back stuff and the list goes on). The first couple chapters of the book were honestly very basic, but it's extremely helpful once you get into it. For both women (born with a uterus) and man (born without a uterus and other external parts). My husband has learned a lot and finds the writing captivating and its been a great conversation between us two for a few days now. I'm almost half way through!
If fertility (your own health at all) health is important to you check out Rebecca Fetts book too. She delves into why certain vitamins, minerals and dietary changes impact your cycle the wa they do.)
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
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SamReviewed in Mexico on May 2, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars SÚPER RECOMIENDO
El libro está Perfecto, las pastas se pueden romper fácilmente pero por agradezco que no sea pasta dura ya que pesaría bastante que no haría muy incómodo para leer por primera vez y para consultar en el futuro. Por otro lado el contenido es invaluable!!! Ayuda a comprender mejor tu propio cuerpo y sentirte empoderada al entenderte y hasta predecir lo que pasarás, te ayuda a comunicarte mejor con tu médico y evitarte exámenes clínicos innecesarios y llegar al grano más rápido. Me encanta y lo recomiendo muchísimo a todas las mujeres, saludables y con enfermedades como síndrome de ovario poliquistico, TODAS debemos aprender a reconocer los ciclos en nuestros propios cuerpos
- FMReviewed in Canada on March 20, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Demystifies Fertility
A must read for young women!
- DKNEReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2012
5.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone struggling to get pregnant (+ result 2nd month after reading)
After trying to get pregnant for 7 months and getting very frustrated i seen this book recommended in the comments section of two blogs within one week, having never heard of it before seemed a very good sign. My husband and I had already been to the Doctors to have blood tests for any hormone deficiencies and a sperm test and both came back clear, so knew we had no obvious reasons as to why we weren't conceiving and would have to wait another 5 months to be referred to a specialist for any further tests. I read many of the comments of reviewers and decided it couldn't hurt ( i also bought a BabyMad thermometer that i think cost £5 and came with a temperature chart). The book is very informative and written in a very easy to read format. The first month things seemed to be all over the place (it didn't help that we went on holiday and a very different time zone which as the book says plays havoc with your cycle), It originally looked like my cervical mucus and ovulation were completely out of sinc but once i got to the end of the month i could identify roughly when i had ovulated, but as i say everything was all over the place because of traveling. Unsurprisingly this month ended with a period- no change there!!! But next month i was vigilant about making sure i got up and took my temperature at the same time ever morning and wrote done all changes in mucus type, had sex about 5 times over about 10 days (too much info sorry) and waited. I plotted this months temperatures on a Excel graph once i was about 3 weeks in and this showed more clearly that i had ovulated and had sex on at least three occasions during the 'right' times (this matched with the changes in mucus as well). I wasn't hoping for much this month, just thought i would be in a good position to know exactly when to have sex next month, but once i got to 16 high temperatures i got a little excited and then on 19 days of highs i done a test and it was POSITIVE!!!!! It's very very early days but 7 months of nothing and then on second month of tracking temperature and mucus and a positive test i am very happy. I think if i hadn't read this book we would still be waiting and getting even more frustrated. For what it costs it is definitely worth trying, if nothing else you learn an awful lot about your body that nobody else ever tells you. Good luck to anyone struggling, it is very frustrating, especially when as soon as you are everyone around you seems to already be pregnant.
- StellaReviewed in Germany on April 5, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars thank you for your enlightening book, what can I say more, reviews on amazon say it all
I thank you for your enlightening book, what can I say more, reviews on amazon say it all.
I have not much to add other than maybe the ‘dark chapter’ on miscarriages is not fully covered and it would be nice to have more information on this ‘taboo’ subject. I was unfortunately in this situation some time ago at the age of 44 but the medical advice I received was not much of a help. not to mention the ...support...
Thank you and please keep demystifying the good as well as the ‘ugly’ information around fertility (or not).
- Cliente AmazonReviewed in Italy on February 25, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars Great, simple and useful
The Bible of fertility. Every woman should have the right to know about her fertility. It's a great, useful book.