The Knowledge: Your guide to female health – from menstruation to the menopause

by Dr Nighat Arif

THE ESSENTIAL WOMEN'S HEALTH BIBLE

Celebrated GP Dr Nighat Arif brings women's health to the forefront in this extensive guidebook designed to help everyone better understand each of the three key stages of a woman's the puberty years, the fertility years and the peri/menopausal years. Every step of the way, Dr Nighat will help you get to know the female body by explaining what is normal, what to expect, how to care for yourself and when to seek help. This book tackles many important from the help available for people with conditions like endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome to the symptoms of heart disease to look out for in women.

The Knowledge is for everyone - and this book encompasses all experiences, including the perspectives of women of colour, people of all abilities and cultures, and the transgender community to ensure that all groups affected by female health concerns are a part of vital conversations.

This is a life-saving book for all genders, ages and communities. From the young preteen hoping to understand their first period, to the couple experiencing fertility issues, to the single father raising teenage daughters, to the person unknowingly experiencing early signs of gynaecological this book is an indispensable asset for us all.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2023

Reviews

[H.A. Leuschel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comprehensive, very well written and backed up with all the relevant research! I true all round female health bible. Highly recommended to girls and women of all ages and backgrounds as the author really does include them all in her book.

[Chloe]

Essential reading for all ages. Packed with useful information and terrific illustrations. It felt very inclusive as well. Empowering.

On the whole it is written very accessibly and clearly. There were a couple of parts that I got a bit lost in the detail, but think those are the parts you would refer back to if/when those parts apply. Thinking here about sections such as comparing HRT treatments.

Overall it is a brilliant resource. I will be recommending this to everyone I know (so prepare yourselves).

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[Fleurtje Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a very inclusive quality, I do like dr. Nighat Arif's tone of voice, even with a hint of humor here and there. The topics she covers are very wide, even mentioning EDS and FGM for instance. However, somehow I expected a bit more depth - some subjects were a bit generic. But overall, I think this can be a really helpful book if you start looking for information on peri-, post-, and menopause generally, no matter your background or walk of life.

And then there is the issue I've personally got difficulties with because of statements like:

'Perimenopause is a natural transition that we should celebrate, because it means we made it to our second spring.'

Somehow society these days emphasizes that we should celebrate all parts of life, even or especially the ones that we women are having difficulties with.
How can I be ill with ME for well over 18 years, struggle with menopausal anxiety on top of that and still revel in this stage of my life? For me this borders on toxic positivity, but I'm not there yet to actually label it as such. I just don't understand how well-educated, feeling women who are in touch with all the misery we (all women, regardless skin color, troublesome health, background, history, sexuality, identity) suffer from the patriarchy can cheer us on while some of us might have trouble simply getting through a difficult day?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to see The Knowledge being offered by Netgalley as and E-ARC as I had been looking for a copy to buy but had no luck locally (since bought myself a physical copy) - Dr Arif I know better from her presence on local BBC Radio which also discussed her book coming out. I was not disappointed in that it was everything I had heard it was and more. It's the kind of book that as a woman you can pick up and put down throughout your life stages and learn something relevant to the you now - whether that is puberty, fertility or the menopause and beyond. I have learnt so much and I do so wish that this book had been around when I was a little bit younger.

If it's not apparent I really really recommend this book as a must read to anyone who wants to learn more about women's health!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now the absolute must for all women and those who love and care for them. I genuinely wish I had this book 30 year ago to help me understand puberty, 15 years ago when I struggled to get pregnant and I am so glad I have it now when it is like my actual bible in terms of women's health. Thank you Dr Nighat for writing this book, for helping us understand our own bodies and for being so honest and open about it all.. oh and massive shout out for having regular people pictures and for the diversity and inclusion.

[gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely incredible resource that everyone should read and it should 100% be in every school library. I follow Dr Arif on Twitter and she is so cool, she’s so informative & clear in the way she delivers her videos. I’m a huge fan.