Advance Praise for The Fifth Vital Sign “I am so thankful to Lisa for writing The Fifth Vital Sign — a book that contributes immeasurably to the field of fertility awareness. Using impeccable research standards, she has made her book easily accessible while being scientifically sound — a goldmine of practical advice for women wanting answers to the myriad of questions that usually arise around fertility and the menstrual cycle.” — Toni Weschler, MPH, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility and Cycle Savvy “With The Fifth Vital Sign, Lisa dives deep into the menstrual cycle and fertility and provides valuable new insights gleaned from more than 150 interviews with women’s health experts! It's a reference that I will undoubtedly refer to again and again.” — Lara Briden, ND, author of Period Repair Manual “So many women struggle with reproductive health issues these days, often not knowing where to turn for accurate advice. Now they have a place to turn. The Fifth Vital Sign provides easy-to- understand explanations for the menstrual cycle and how to approach key problem areas — from hormonal imbalances to thyroid function. The nutritional advice is especially good for not only restoring fertility but achieving overall health. Highly recommended!” — Sally Fallon Morell, president, The Weston A. Price Foundation “The Fifth Vital Sign is an essential book for every woman’s library. Lisa blends science, tradition, and intuition in her writing — the result is a beautiful and practical guide to all things fertility!” — Dr. Fiona McCulloch, ND, author of 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS “At last, a book celebrating the menstrual cycle as the vital sign it is, an indicator of our overall health. Packed with useful information written in a warm, engaging style, The Fifth Vital Sign shows you how to take charge of your hormonal health and contraceptive needs in a way that nourishes and empowers. A must-have for all women in their menstruating years.” — Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer, co-authors of Wild Power and co-directors of Red School “If you menstruate, if you want to get pregnant, or if you don’t want to get pregnant — run, don’t walk, to buy this book! Lisa has produced a truly admirable, well-researched, highly readable resource for women, one that is sorely needed. Mainstream medicine has only recently begun to acknowledge the broader value of the ovulatory cycle and to seriously tackle issues such as endometriosis and dysmenorrhea, and it continues to be limited by two main factors: its complex relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and the institutionalized sexism that has allowed medicine to minimize female-only symptoms. In this impressive book, Lisa works at the intersection of these two worlds, bringing together cutting-edge medical science with the experiential knowledge of fertility awareness/menstrual cycle practitioners to create a vital resource of information and wisdom.” — Lara Owen, author of Her Blood Is Gold, researcher and consultant on menstruation and menopause in the workplace “In The Fifth Vital Sign, Lisa absolutely nails the case for fertility awareness as an essential and empowering healthcare practice for women. She elucidates key concepts with great finesse, like informed choice and the life-enhancing/life-saving power of understanding the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Her incredible passion for fertility awareness and sharing this life-changing knowledge with women shines through. I will be recommending The Fifth Vital Sign widely and vigorously!” — Jane Bennett, author and menstrual educator “The Fifth Vital Sign is a must-have for your polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) library. Hormone imbalances play a central role in PCOS. The body literacy, fertility awareness, and menstrual cycle optimization tools offered in Lisa’s book will be a game-changer in your healing process. The Fifth Vital Sign educates and empowers women to take control of their cycles and reach beyond to take charge of their total health. I could not recommend it more highly.” — Amy Medling, founder of PCOS Diva and author of Healing PCOS “The Fifth Vital Sign is THE book we should all have been given in preparation for puberty and beyond. From the very first page Lisa provides clear explanations for some of the most commonly asked questions about women's periods and hormones. In each chapter she walks you step by step through important concepts like what a healthy menstrual cycle should look like, how to expertly chart your cycle, different types of natural birth control options, and so much more! Lisa's book truly is a how-to guide for your menstrual cycle and I highly recommend it!” — Nicole Jardim, certified women’s health coach “Lisa’s The Fifth Vital Sign is highly informative, invaluable, and easy to read. It’s a compendium on everything you want and need to know to take charge of your menstrual health and the plethora of factors that impact it from hormonal contraceptives to lifestyle factors. Thoughtfully written, this is a must read for anyone who is looking for guidance to avoid or to get pregnant. — Mary Wong, author of Pathways to Pregnancy “Lisa provides an accessible lay meta analysis of literature pointing to the importance of understanding that menstrual cycle health is the fifth vital sign of health. She impresses upon readers the necessity of taking cycle health seriously and caring for it from menarche to menopause in order to preserve lifelong health. The anecdotal accounts are helpful and inspiring. Her fearless approach to the topic inspires and removes cultural, financial, and political obfuscation of the truth regarding menstrual cycle health.” — Geraldine Matus, PhD, founder of the Justisse Method and academic director and dean of Justisse College International “Lisa uses a blend of personal experience, expert opinion, and published data to provide this easy to digest, comprehensive guide to the menstrual cycle and fertility. It is approachable, engaging, and thoroughly informative. I believe this book should be given to every pre-teen girl when entering puberty to provide her the knowledge and resources to make healthy choices for her body for the rest of her life.” — Miranda Naylor, DO and functional medicine doctor “The Fifth Vital Sign is a must-have resource for women and healthcare providers. Packed with research and evidence-based facts, Lisa unfolds her message with a sincere and candid narrative. This book shares invaluable information regarding women’s menstrual cycle health, eloquently challenging the status quo. This book offers a platform to further the understanding of, and discussion for, menstrual cycle health, fertility management, and women’s health.” — Katelin Parkinson, ND and Justisse fertility awareness method educator “The Fifth Vital Sign is an incredibly detailed resource for the fertility awareness community. If you’re determined to improve your menstrual cycle and your fertility, Lisa has put together a wealth of evidence-based research to help you do just that.” — Rose Yewchuk, fertility awareness educator and holistic reproductive health practitioner “You can’t talk about fertility awareness without talking about The Fertility Friday Podcast. For years, Lisa has been sharing reliable and relatable information through her podcast. Now, she’s compiled well-researched, empowering information into this comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the power of the menstrual cycle. The Fifth Vital Sign is a tool to improve your health, transform your life, and become the best version of yourself. I’m recommending it to all of my clients.” — Chloe Skerlak, Justisse holistic reproductive health practitioner The Fifth Vital Sign Master Your Cycles and Optimize Your Fertility Lisa Hendrickson-Jack Publisher’s note: This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The information herein is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. It is sold with the understanding that neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering medical, psychological, or other professional services. You are advised to seek the services of a competent health professional with regard to matters relating to your health. The information in this book is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Neither the author, nor the publisher, accept liability of any kind for any damages caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, from the use of the information in this book. The names and identifying characteristics of certain individuals discussed in this book have been changed to protect their privacy. Published by Fertility Friday Publishing Inc. Copyright © 2019 Fertility Friday Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to digital copying and printing, or be stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases please contact: [email protected]. Cover design: Simon Avery Copy editing: Mary Ann Blair Proofreading: Dana Nichols Print ISBN: 978-1-9994280-0-6 Digital ISBN: 978-1-9994280-1-3 First edition, January 2019 Contents The Fifth Vital Sign Foreword Introduction The Fifth Vital Sign What Is a Vital Sign? The Value in Learning Your Fifth Vital Sign I Hate Love