I’ve been working to read more nonfiction, and this looked like it was going to be an important read. And I was right.

This is a thorough explanation of everything you never knew you needed to know about gynecological health.

Wow! I was blown away. There’s a part of me that’s embarrassed about everything I didn’t know in this book, but more of me is angry. For most of my life I thought debilitating pain & long heavy periods was all normal. It was nearly 20 years with a period before a doctor took me seriously. I should have known better. I should have been taught better.

Every chapter breaks down common and more rare issues that can affect gynecological health. Then there are sections about possible treatments. No matter what is being discussed, the writing is frank and matter of fact, with lots of information without being overly technical.

Thank you to both NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the opportunity to review this arc.

More than half of the world population are born with a uterus, yet it’s the one organ whose diseases and conditions are under-researched, under-funded, and highly misunderstood. More than 9 out of every 10 people with a uterus experience some sort of reproductive health problem, including endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, pelvic floor dysfunction, and more. Many times, those of us suffering are told that “it’s normal” or “it’s in your head” when experiencing these debilitating symptoms, even by physicians. Dr. Tang has not only dedicated her career to understanding these conditions, but treating them and the patients with them. She goes into scientific detail about each ailment, with both proven and hypothetical causes, common treatments, and suggestions for living better. Each chapter describes a different common reproductive health problem, and ends with take-home points, to easily wrap-up the content. This book is easy to read and easy to understand, written in everyday words for the layman.

I rate this book five stars. It is a tool that everyone with a uterus, or who cares for someone with a uterus, should utilize.

The only thing missing from this book were diagrams for us visual learners. Otherwise, it was fantastic. The female reproductive system shouldn't be such a mystery, especially when you consider how that "mystery" is being used against us in the form of uninformed propaganda and anti-choice laws.

I also really appreciate the author using inclusive and thoughtful language throughout. While some like to argue that baby-making equipment is a women's only issue, that's simply not true. Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals have a seat at the table too. We call all commiserate together, as we navigate regular bleeding, pain, and safe sex. 🖤

...

Also, why do we still call uterus removal, hysterectomies? Like I understand the origin and the Greek name, but it's interesting that that was never renamed to avoid the negative and incorrect historical connection to hysteria and wandering wombs making women crazy. 🤔

It’s not Hysteria by Dr. Karen Tang has been a blessing to me! It has taught me so much about my body and especially my body now that I’m hitting midlife. I would recommend this to anyone young or old. It’s packed with great information.

I'm so happy this book is out there for young women to read and finally learn more about their bodies that they need to know. It goes into details about how women of color were mistreated and misdiagnosed - and, honestly, failed by medical professions. This is great to learn more about your body and how to advocate for your health. It's definitely one I'll be buying a physical copy of so that I can use it when teaching my own daughter about her body as well.

Dr. Tang hits the nail on the head with this book! It’s so nice to have someone who understands & believes what women go through. I wish she was my OBGYN!!

This book is a must-read for any women's health provider--primary care, emergency, OB/GYN, specialist, etc.--and definitely for any woman who needs to know more OR needs to know how to start a conversation about their health. The material is presented in a straight-forward and easy to understand way. Also, the organization of the book makes it very easy to jump straight to a particular topic.

As a woman with endometriosis and have undergone multiple fertility treatments, including medicated cycles, IUI, and two rounds of IVF, this book even answered some of my own questions and also supported information I have talked about with my doctor. I truly believe I could have found an endometriosis diagnosis years earlier had I known this information back at the onset of symptoms.

This book is going to be a great resource going forward and will hopefully add so much more knowledge to the women's healthcare field.

Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron Books, for my advanced copy!

Wonderfully informative book about the stuff most vagina owners just don’t talk about! Nothing will make you feel more normal than knowing that half the people around you are going through the same stuff. I think this is also a great resource to help you have a “jumping off point” with your doctor! Well-written, and very relatable! Thank you!!!

Everything we should have been taught, but weren’t, in a way that’s easy to read and understand! Such important topics were addressed, ones that we typically don’t talk about but NEED to. This book is an important step to normalizing talking about anatomy & sexual health.

Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 5 ⭐️ where has this book been all my life?! I’ve been following Dr. Tang on social media for a few months and find your content to be so informative. When I heard she was writing a book, and specifically about topics that aren't widely known and yet affect many, I was so excited to read it. Her accessibility and inclusivity in her writing about sensitive topics is something to be admired. I wish I had read this as a teen before my first few visits to the gynecologist and saved myself some very difficult and uncomfortable moments. I would highly recommend this to anyone and will be purchasing a copy for myself.

This is a great read for all ages, from puberty to post menopause. Thorough and clear, the list of questions to ask your doctor and things to expect during pelvic exams and procedures was really thoughtful to add.

This book was very informative. It’s simple to understand because she goes over everything very clearly. I am wish this book came out 11 years ago. It had a lot of good information that all woman should know. I know I wish I was more educated when I was younger. I had my hysterectomy when I was 30 years old. It talks about anything and everything from PCOS, periods, prolapsed organs, pelvic floor therapy, different cancers, abortion, and many other things. I had severe severe endometriosis, andedmetriosis, and fibroids. I ended up getting a full hysterectomy. I was always in pain and curled up in a ball. They didn’t give any estrogen after that. Now, I have Licean Scelrosis and I have a prolapsed bladder. I really wish doctors would talk to women about more of these subjects because it’s just sad. Anyway, I really liked the book and every woman should read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Tang, and Flatiron Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book ended up being more academic and focused on the modern woman then I am. As someone who tracks fertility I tend to know more then the average woman. I would recommend this book to a family member who is a pediatric resident. Those who work in women's health should read this book to grow as practicioners

Thank you, NetGalley and Flatiron books for this advanced reader’s copy! I follow Dr Karen Tang on Instagram so I was already familiar with her advocacy in educating the general public on women’s health issues. I was super excited when I heard she was writing this book. This is a book everyone needs to read whether you are a woman or care about a woman. There is so much misinformation out there. Dr Tang touches on every question, clinic visit, or reason you may need to see a gynecologist in an easy to understand, inclusive, and caring way. A person could read this fully like I did or just use it as a go to guide for information about what you need at the time, like specifically infertility or menopause information. Thank you, Dr Karen Tang for writing a comprehensive book on women’s health that I will be referring back to as I progress in my life as a woman.

This book covers everything you would ever want to know in Women's Gynecological health. The book covers everything medical/nursing textbooks would cover and more in my opinion. The book cuts through the possible diagnoses and potential treatments. Some of the issues with healthcare is that many of the testing, research was never done with women subjects but was extrapolated out to include and diagnose women based off of research done on men. Don't get me started on the early gynecologic research done on women, that was barbaric and horrendous to learn about it. This book will help you cut through the "hysteria" surrounding Women's healthcare. No it is not "anxiety" that is causing your symptoms.
I would like to thank #NetGalley and Flatiron books for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

Let’s face it: we live in a world where the very mention of women’s reproductive organs are considered taboo. Our culture has something of a split personality when it comes to women’s sexuality in general: we leer with impunity at scantily clad ladies, but try to bring up the very reality of living with and having these body parts, and you’re a sick pervert who has gone too far! Just look at the hissies thrown over Turning Red merely mentioning that menstruation exists.

So women are left disturbingly ignorant when it comes to their own bodies, and men, in general, are even more so. Even male doctors can display a disturbing amount of ignorance about lady parts; many women, suffering from conditions like Endometriosis, often have to suffer for a long time before they get a diagnosis.

So books like this are needed, so women can better understand and talk about their own bodies, but also so men can understand women’s bodies better.

I first heard of Dr. Karen Tang when I came across a TikTok of her *rightfully* putting an ignorant man in his place. This book really expanded on that idea-- that women are often portrayed as overly emotional or hysterical when, in fact, that very idea is drenched in misogyny.

I loved getting to know both the science and history behind gynocology, as well as its social implications today. I would recommend this to anyone!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dr. Karen Tang, thank you.
I teared up reading chapter one of this book.

Some background, I'm an African-American woman with a history of miscarriage, childloss due to cancer, IVF treatment, fibroids, polyps, painful periods, long periods, and now infertility. It's been incredibly painful physically and mentally to get acknowledgement of my situation.

Your book goes into the history of the mistreatment of African American females. Some things I knew some things I did not. It hurt my heart to read BUT it was necessary or we're doomed to repeat history.

Your book is incredibly inclusive and informative to patients and providers alike. There are sections that address every need. This is a book I can share with other females. Thank you Dr. Tang and NetGalley. I will absolutely buy a physical copy of this book upon release.

As someone with endometriosis, I found this book very interesting and helpful. I personally know how so many doctors dismiss a woman's pain as its all in her head. Remarkable and well researched, I think this is a great book for any woman as well as anyone in the medical field!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

WHERE WAS THIS BOOK ALL MY LIFE? At almost 50 years old, I learned so much about my body and how and why it works the way it does. So many things I worried about are completely normal AND now I have resources for help with those issues. I feel more informed for the next time I go see my PCP.