You're past your due date and desperate to get this baby out of you. You want to be safe, of course, but you've heard enough stories about how people have naturally induced labor at home — "My mom ate ...

If your doctor or midwife has concerns about your or your baby's health toward the end of your pregnancy, they might suggest speeding up the process. This is called inducing labor, or induction.

There are times you may wish you could plan the timing of your menstrual cycle around a life event. Or, you may want to induce a period to get an irregular cycle under control. But is it possible to ...