Fertility, Cycles & Nutrition: Self-Care for Improved Cycles and Fertility... Natrally!

by Marilyn M. Shannon

Book Overview

Third Edition How your diet affects your menstrual cycles and fertility... Self help strategies for PMS, infertility, painful periods, premenopause, repeated miscarriages, irregular cycles, heavy... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0926412345
• ISBN13: 9780926412347
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: Couple to Couple League Intl
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Hopeful and Helpful

Let me start by saying that I am 39 years old and expect to deliver my first child a few days before my 40th birthday!I give this partly to Marilyn Shannon. I was unwilling to do synthetic fertility treatment, and a bit discouraged (sometimes very discouraged) because of my age at the chances of getting pregnant. Some friends and most Medical professionals were very discouraging.Ms. Shannon's book was recommeded in 'Taking Charge of your fertility' , also a fantastic book. I learned things every woman past puberty ought to know about what the heck is going on in there.My cycle changed dramatically when I started to take Ms. Shannon's advice. I am also hypo thyroid which makes it less likely to conceive.So, I didn't meet my fella until a few years ago, and we were married only 6 months before we got pregnant.Don't give up hope!

Every Woman, RE, and OBGYN Should Read This Book

What a fabulous book! I have read (no, memorized) the second and third editions and become pregnant twice while following Shannon's advice. I've never written a review before, but I am so impressed by this book I have to take the time. Unlike other books I've read of the same genre, there is so much information packed into this little book that I find something new with every re-read. There is good information for young women struggling with PMS, or trying to generally improve their health or get pregnant. There is good information for women who are pregnant or nursing (indeed I wish I'd had this book when I was doing both). There is good information for women struggling with infertility or miscarriages or age-related infertility. There is good information for menopausal women. And there's even good information about the vitamins and minerals that can enhance your husband's fertility. The initial section on general nutrition is a great guide to healthy eating with valuable tips about shopping and preparation. (I found Shannon's information about essential fatty acids particularly helpful.) The subsequent chapters hold invaluable information about the role that different vitamins (like B6, folic acid) and minerals (like magnesium and selenium) play in regulating and enhancing a woman's cycle and her fertility (including topics like controlling PMS and handling menopause). Table V, on recommended supplements, has become my personal "bible" for vitamin supplementation - something I never "believed in" before reading this book. As Shannon suggests in chapter 15, I hired a local (Chicago-area) nutritionist to help me with supplements. She read Shannon's book for the first time at my request and confirmed my opinion that this book is excellent. For example, not only does Shannon list recommended daily amounts for vitamins and minerals in her Table V, but she also tells you in a separate column what the latest research shows about toxicity, i.e., at what amount this vitamin or mineral may become harmful. As a trained lawyer, I appreciate knowing where facts and figures come from, and Shannon provides that in spades in her many footnotes. She is clearly experienced and knowledgeable and she conveys her information well. She's both done her research, and shared her sources with her reader. A special note for women like me struggling with age-related infertility: this book is a great place to start. Shannon herself had a healthy baby at age 47 (almost 48) without using fertility drugs (see the "about the author" section). And she gives examples in her book where her nutritional strategy has helped other older moms to conceive. The rest of my personal story is that I unfortunately miscarried both times I became pregnant recently, but at 39 I'm still hoping for another child, and am following Shannon's advice as carefully as I can, while also trying clomid under an RE's supervision. Women owe the Catholic Church and the Couple to Couple l

Getting results!

I have recommended this book to a variety of people and in many different stages of their female life. It was even helpful to a few males, as Marilyn adds proven ideas to them, also. Just her recommendations for vitamins at different stages, and sources to abtain, them have improved my and my sisters lives tremendously. In fact, I bought her recommendations for my mother-in-law and daughters. They can be gotten at discount stores such as Marc's in our area. Her suggestion about flax oil seed sounded "Greek to me", but I ventured into a health food store for the first time and bought it (capsule form only!) My peri-menopause time is going so smoothly I can't believe it. Neither can my doctor! My four sisters have thyroid problems needing prescription medicine. I started to see a doctor about a thyroid problem but with her suggestions, I was recently released and told I wouldn't need medicine after all! Marilyn gives down-to-earth advice knowing that we have to enjoy life, too. Whether in her values, which are beautiful, or scientific knowledge, you'll get your money's worth in this easy to read gem. Hint: Buy a high-lighter, also, as you'll be marking up the details like we did. My only regret is that the book wasn't published when I was younger and ... I paid full price...and could have gotten it even cheaper here!!

Direct turnaround from infertile to fertile after...

I have now read this book a total of 4 times. Every time I learn something new. Infertility is not the monster it used to be now that I am taking supplements and changing dietary habits, as the book recommends. What I like best about the book is its straightforward manner of presenting the information. It's condensed and no-nonsense. And all the advice is based on the results of scientific studies. I just want to highly recommend the book to any couple who is dealing with infertility. Additionally, the book should be read by every adult woman seeking to understand fully the effects of what she eats on her cycles.

a valuable book for women!

by following the suggestions in this book, i have been able to overcome my PMS and dysmenorrhea. this book also motivated me to eat healthier and exercise regularly even though i am not overweight. most of all, marilyn shannon actually convinced me to cut down drastically on my consumption of chocolate and other sweets! what a difference all this has made: no more headaches! no more afternoon slumps! more energy! a smaller waistline! the information in this book is definitely NOT common knowledge. the author is pro-life and has some extreme beliefs (for instance, that masturbation is immoral), but this should not detract from the wealth of information and knowledge that this book offers. the index is one of the most detailed i've ever encountered. there are numeours typos and the design & lay-out could be much improved. nevertheless, i give it five stars. it is an excellent complement to toni weschler's "taking charge of your fertility", because shannon gives more detailed explanations for irregularities in temperature, cervical fluid, and luteal phase. the ultimate good news: on my last visit to the obgyne, she confirmed that i was ovulating again!