The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack

The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility Reviews

• 
  kswen

  There are two reasons why I docked stars for this book and I write this as a fan and regular listener of her wonderful podcast.
  
  The first big problem I had with this book was the section on Hormonal Birth Control causing women to choose the wrong partner.
  
  There are several issues with this. Saying the word 'cause' is misleading, she is implying that HBC directly causes women to choose the wrong partner. However, if you look at the research, they specifically state the study is too small to warrant a cause and effect conclusion. It goes on to state research must be done before broad conclusions, like that presented in the section, are made.
  
  The section is also small and doesn't have a conclusion or any advice on what to do if you met your partner while on HBC which makes it feel incomplete.
  
  I felt it was careless to present something as serious as HBC destroying a marriage without some sort of resolution. It made me feel scared to go off of HBC, which is already scary in itself because the FAM is going against current medical advice. I applaud the effort the FAM is making, but it's still a scary transition.
  
  When information like that is presented without a conclusion, who is your book for? Women who have never been on HBC and want further validation of their choices or married women like me, who want to go off of HBC but want to do it responsibly?
  
  Bottomline, I did not appreciate that section and it really turned me off to the whole book.
  
  The other issue I had was that this book is not everything you need to start charting successfully.
  
  She says outright that you should find a certified instructor to start charting 'because of all the nuances.' I bought this book assuming it would be enough for me to chart successfully. Instead, I could have bought a course that has the same information AND is comprehensive enough to start charting with confidence. Most courses include one on one time with the instructor and FB communities to ask questions. The author herself has several courses on this as well, which I'm sure covers everything in the book too.
  
  So, if you are the kind of person who wants to read everything there is about FAM as well as A LOT of info on why HBC is terrible, then this would be great for you. But if you’re like me and would prefer one comprehensive source to start charting successfully, look for a course instructor combo.
• 
  Laura

  This is the ultimate guide to understanding your menstrual cycles and charting (aka fertility awareness method). Lisa has combined over 20 years of experience as a fertility awareness educator + well over 1,000 scientific references to explain the importance of having regular, ovulatory menstrual cycles when it comes to maintaining fertility and having optimal health (whether or not you choose to have kids). This is the information you WISH you were taught when you were 12. Our cycles have so much to teach us than we've been told. They truly are a window into your health.
  
  The section on the effect of hormonal birth control on our health is,far, THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE I've seen anywhere. It's absolutely shocking how many health problems arise from being on the Pill and this book has made that clearer than any other women's health book to date (with soooo many research citations backing everything she says).
  
  If you've dabbled in charting your cycles, know that this book is even in depth than the classic, Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's truly a comprehensive resource that all women and healthcare providers who work with women should have on their bookshelf.
• 
  Sara Saxton

  To start with, I love fertility awareness and think it should be basic knowledge for all women. I initially came across this book because I had found the 'Fertility Friday' podcast and wanted to expand my knowledge on FAM. As another reviewer had pointed out, some of the studies cited are a bit suspect and need to be carefully looked over.
  Her chapter on lifestyle changes to aid in your fertility seem a bit extreme (not to mention expensive). Maybe it would be helpful, but maybe it won't. I suppose it would be worth trying, but there is no guarantee that they will boost your fertility.
  What really bothered me was her insistance that any preovulatory temperature below 97.4 is not normal and would indicate an underlying problem. Having been keeping track of my first morning temperatures for almost 1.5 years, it was fairly typical to get a reading around 96.5. This has not caused me problems and none of my healthcare practioners are at all concerned. The author's opinion goes against current research that would indicate that the average healthy body temperature may in fact be lower than 98.6 that we have all been taught. I had joined her Fertility Friday Facebook group and had asked her about this and asked for further explanation for why she felt anything below 97.4 was less than ideal (other than possibly indicating hypothyroidism). She respondedstating that there may be other causes, but insisted that anything in the 96 range was not healthy. When I asked for sources for her opinion, all I got in reply was her '20 years of experience' and to look into Wilson's Syndrome. A few minutes on Google quickly revealed that not only was it not a legitimate medical diagnosis, but that in fact the American Thyroid Association would not acknowledge it as a real medical condition and cautioned against using such a diagnosis. That was the final nail in the coffin for me. As you read through this book, take what you read with a grain of salt and follow it up with your own research.
  A plus I will give for the book is its indepth information on the anatomy and physiology of a woman's reproductive system and explanation for fertility awareness in general.
• 
  Chele G.

  This book is so important in understanding women's health! Not only should all women read this, but all doctors should as well. This should be a right of passage gift that every mother gives to their daughter when they hit puberty. If every woman knew how her body worked, what to watch out for in her cycle that can either help her avoid pregnancy, help her get pregnant and/or give her early signs of changes in her health women would have much control of their bodies and perhaps even their situations. It's truly amazing how many things your cycle can tell you and how many things we aren't taught. What we think is normal (like painful cramps with periods) has been blown out of the water. And, because I've educated myself through this book and through Lisa's podcasts I have been better able to talk with my doctor about what is happening with me (hypothyroidism) and see results from treatments immediately in my chart. Not only does Lisa present the information in an easy to digest way, but her passion for the subject, dedication to finding the scientific proof to back things up and her continued quest to help every woman take control of her own body shines through on every page. A must read!
• 
  Raquel Coelho

  I wish all schools had several copies of this book! Everyone needs to learn about healthy ovulation cycles so that people can stay away from hormonal birth control and so they can take better care of their overall health. Whether you are trying to conceive or not, learning about your cycle will give you many valuable health indicators.
• 
  Pieta

  My daughter is 11 and doesn’t need all of this information yet so I’ve marked useful pages for her to read. It is also on a shelf with the rest of our anatomy textbooks so she knows that it is a ready resource for when she has further questions that she doesn’t want to ask me directly..
• 
  Jun W.

  I have been following Lisa’s Fertility Friday podcasts for some time. She is really knowledgeable and her podcasts content are mega informative which has educated and saved me from taking the pills prescriptionGPs which have false claims about fixing your period. This is a book which every girl in puberty and woman in all stages of their lives should own and read. 5 stars
• 
  Eva

  This book is such an important read for every women. I felt so empowered and was shocked on how much I didn't know or didn't learn at school about my body. I will do my best in spreading the word on reading this knowledge rich book about connecting with our cycle and understanding and listening to our bodies.