The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant

Psychology professor Twenge (Generation Me) cuts to the chase in this wonderful (and often humorous) guide to getting pregnant—and fast. The author explains that when she was trying to conceive, she read everything she could get her hands on—and found that much of the commonly accepted information was false. She decided to set matters straight and help women get pregnant as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Twenge takes a active and confident approach from the get-go, assuring women that if they use her methods of “fertility awareness,” there’s a good chance of getting pregnant on the first try. She offers three ways to determine the time of ovulation: charting, ovulation predictor kits, and fertility monitors, advising that the “Very Impatient Woman” use all three. Twenge details the vital importance of timing, citing research on the best days—and hours—to procreate as well as to synchronize ovulation with the chances for a boy or girl. This is a fine science, indeed, but Twenge explains her approach with clarity and precision. She debunks the myth that a relaxed attitude affects outcome and shoots down outdated statistics (e.g., oft- cited research about the fertility of women over 35 culled from birth records from France in the 1600s). Women hoping to conceive will swiftly find very helpful information in this manageable, informative, and entertaining guide. (Apr.)