I'm Taking Charge of My Fertility

Hi. My name is Dana, and I'm "Reproductively Challenged." It's rather uncomfortable for me to admit that I have difficulty conceiving. Factors like weight, heredity, genes, hypertension and other familial traits have contributed to my fertility troubles.

What's even more difficult is coming to the realization that I have to make certain the moon is aligned perfectly with Jupiter (...or is it the sun?), chart my reproductive cycles to determine ovulation, have sex on the "right days," and dance in a circle three times around the apple tree in my back yard, and then maybe, just MAYBE, I will get pregnant.

I've been through this ring-around-the-ovaries game before. It was 2+ years before I conceived Dawson, who is now almost four years old, and for the last year or more, I've been in baby mode. Conception is on my mind all the time. I want nothing more than to have a second child. Unfortunately my body isn't cooperating. I've ranted about that whole situation before.

After months of disappointment it's tough to get back down to "business". Those negative, mocking, pregnancy test sticks are extremely discouraging.

When I was offered the opportunity to review The Fertility Journal: A Day-by-Day Guide to Getting Pregnant, I was very excited and eager to check it out. Author Kim Hahn is the founder and CEO of Conceive Magazine and the online radio show, Conceive On-Air.

When Kim and her husband were trying to start their own family, she became disillusioned by the lack of consumer-friendly information available regarding fertility and conception. After Kim and her husband adopted a baby girl, Kim decided she'd devote her time to helping provide information to other women facing the same issues.

She left her executive position in the banking industry to launch Conceive Magazine, the first mainstream magazine for women who are hoping to start or expand their families, and Kim's own experiences helped her recognize the need for a fertility journal that was full of valuable information.

Hahn's guide is comprehensive and practical, a wonderful tool devoted to helping women track their monthly reproductive cycles to predict ovulation. This guide explains the steps every woman should take to prepare for pregnancy, starting with the pre-conception checkup. Kim offers tips on maintaining good health, exercise, relationships, sex and nutrition, and her guide is jam-packed with factual information about fertility.

There is also a dedicated section titled "When You Need a Little Help" which offers explanations of several diagnoses related to fertility, a thorough description of in vitro fertilization (IVF), and space to record appointments with fertility specialists.

When the book arrived in my mailbox I was happy to see a blank calendar, allowing me to fill in my cycle day, basal body temperature (BBT), and my overall thoughts and feelings. Each page has a health tip and suggestions for looking ahead to pregnancy.

I loved the organized format of this guide so much that I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to discuss some of the things I've learned.

If you're struggling with conception and wish to take charge of your fertility, Kim Hahn's guide is a wonderful supplement to your getting-pregnant-game-plan. For more information visit the publisher's website or any of the links above.