It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health

by Karen Tang

An inclusive and essential guide to reproductive health—including period problems, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility, sexual health, vaginal and urinary conditions, and overall wellbeing―from leading expert Dr. Karen Tang

Reproductive healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. The onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care they need. Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how women engage with their bodies and their healthcare.

Did you know that one in three women experiences menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues, yet these conditions are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed? The root causes for these issues, such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and pelvic-floor muscle dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite the potential to affect up to half the population.

It’s Not Hysteria is a comprehensive guide to common conditions and potential treatment options, with practical tools such as symptom prompts and sample questions to ask one's provider. In the face of uncertainty and misinformation, It’s Not Hysteria is destined to become a new classic that educates and empowers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Health, Science, Audiobook, Self Help, Womens

384 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2024

About the author

KAREN TANG, MD, MPH is a board-certified gynecologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon who is an internationally recognized leader in reproductive health. As @KarenTangMD on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, she reaches millions of viewers each month with her educational videos about period health, pelvic pain, and reproductive rights. Dr. Tang has been featured in the Washington Post, Self Magazine, NBC.com, and NPR, amongst others. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[DesanaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

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, fibroid, polyps, painful periods, long periods, and now infertility. I'm in my 40s it's been incredibly painful physically and mentally to get anyone to acknowledge 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.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Every gynecologic condition is linked by a common thread: a gross lack of information. [For example] eighty percent of Black women will develop fibroids in their lifetime, yet no one knows why they occur, so there is no way to treat the root cause or prevent them from returning. Imagine if there was a condition that affected 80 percent of white men and caused hemorrhaging, debilitating pain, severe bloating, constipation, frequent urination, and infertility. I'd wager that scientists would have long ago discovered the exact biological cause, and there would be a range of effective treatment options available and covered by insurance. . . . How are [most] gynecological health issues so abysmally under-researched, underfunded, and undertreated?"

Tired of treating women and people assigned female at birth (for simplicity's sake I am going to use the terms women and female from here on out) who had not previously been appropriately served by the medical community, Dr. Karen Tang wrote this book to educate our population and spark a change in how women seek gynecologic healthcare.

This book, written in clear, understandable language, begins with a brief history of medical treatment for women and an overview of female anatomy. Tang covers common gynecological issues including, and not limited to: fibroids, endometriosis, polycistic ovarian syndrome, pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, PMS, perimenopause and menopause, infertility, gender diversity, and cancer. She carefully explains the conditions, risk factors for them, and treatment options.

Tang also reminds me (and all of her readers) that I have the right to choose the treatment plan that best fits my personal health goals and values, and that no treatment is a valid option.

I am always on the lookout for informative, well written books that will serve my patients; this one meets that benchmark. A copy of this book will soon be on my work library shelf.

Publication 2024

[Maede · Rating 4 out of 5]

متن زیر بخشی از نوشته‌ایه که سال گذشته بیست روز بعد از جراحیم از اون تجربه‌ی سخت در اینستاگرام نوشتم

یک سال و نیم بود که یک روز هم بدون درد از خواب بیدار نشده بودم. درد همیشگی ای که بخشی از بودنت میشه. بهش میگن درد پنهان چون در ظاهر تو زندگی میکنی، کار میکنی و سفر میکنی و برای همین درک اینکه تو واقعا خوب نیستی برای اطرافیانت سخت میشه. در بهترین حالت روزهایی درد انقدر کمه که فقط در گوشه ای از ذهنت ناله میکنه و در بدترین حالت مثل بمبی که حتی روش تایمر نداره ناگهان منفجر میشه و دیگه زندگیت متعلق به درده، نه به تو

یکی از هر ده زن در دنیا آندومتریوز داره. همه مثل من به استیج چهار نمی رسن، مخصوصا در سن من. ولی بیشترشون مثل من دردشون کم اهمیت جلوه داده میشه. دردشون میشه «بخشی از زن بودن»، مثل درد پریود که بهت یاد میدن باید بکشی چون همینه که هست. اما آندومتریوز حتی بیماری رحم نیست. بیماری همه‌ی بدنه. خزنده‌ایه که توی شکمت رشد میکنه و کم کم به اندام‌هات نفوذ میکنه تا از بین برن. بدتر از همه؟ جراحی درمان نیست و فقط راهی برای کنترل آسیبه چون درمانی براش وجود نداره

این سری دیگه درد آروم نمیشه. فرقی نداره چند تا مسکن میزنم. فقط دولا خودم رو توی مطبش میکشم و میگه دیگه باید جراحی کنی. بعد از جراحی خیلی راحت بهم میگه شانس آوردی که اونجوری اومدی. (شانس؟) اوضاع خیلی افتضحاح‌تر از چیزی بود که من و دکتر فلانی تصورش رو میکردیم. همه چیز داغون شده بود و ریسک خونریزی داخلی داشت. برام همه‌ی اندام هایی که کامل یا بخشیش رو درآوردن رو لیست میکنه و میگه اگر باز مدارکت رو دیده بودم میگفتم فعلاً صبر کن. کی میتونست حدس بزنه وضع انقدر بده؟ (من)


اما دلیلی که این ریویو رو با این متن شخصی شروع کردم این بود که بگم چرا خواندن کتاب‌هایی مثل این و آگاهی از اینکه اصلاً وجود دارند مهمه. تجربه‌ی زندگی با بیماری‌‌ای که قرار نیست من رو هیچوقت رها کنه و قراره تا آخر عمرم همه‌ی روزها و قدم‌هام رو تحت تأثیر قرار بده به من خیلی چیزها یاد داده. اولیش اینکه به عنوان یک زن و مخصوصاً در رابطه با بیماری‌های زنان باید صدای بلندی داشته باشی و از خودت و حقت دفاع کنی. صدایی که من نداشتم و باعث شد پزشکانی که تعدادشون از انگشتان دست بیشتره، درد و وخامت شرایطم رو نادیده بگیرند. پزشکانی که به شانس وجود فرزند متولد نشده‌ی من بیشتر از درد واقعی‌ای که زندگیم رو نابود کرده بود اهمیت می‌دادند

بخشی از سکوت من به خاطر ندانستن بود. به خاطر اینکه تا مدت‌ها انقدر گیج، بیمار و ترسیده بودم که فقط گوش می‌دادم و می‌پذیرفتم. سکوت و پذیرشی که برام بسیار سنگین تمام شد. برای همینه که باید کتاب‌هایی مثل «این هیستریا نیست» رو خواند. اول به این دلیل که با مشکلات رایج سلامت زنان آشنا شد که در صورت بروز بیماری شوک و ترس افسار روان رو به دست نگیرند. دوم اینکه آگاه بشی که بزرگترین وکیل مدافع سلامت هر فرد در نهایت خودشه و سیستم درمانی و پزشکان به هیچ عنوان کامل نیستند (و نمی‌تونن باشند)

کتاب در بیست و پنج فصل به مشکلات اساسی سلامت افرادی که رحم دارند می‌پردازه و برای خواندنش اصلا لازم نیست از اول تا آخر کتاب رو بخونید‌. به نظرم بعد از مقدمه، به فصل‌هایی سر بزنید که براتون مهم‌ترند و سوالاتتون رو جواب میدن. این کتاب رو میشه مثل یک منبع برای سوالات آینده هم نگه داشت. علاوه‌ بر این، توضیحات کتاب مختصر هستند و اصلاً وارد جزئیات نمیشن که برای این سبک کتاب نقطه ضعف محسوب نمیشه

کتاب و صوتیش رو می‌تونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books

۱۴۰۳/۹/۱۶

[Rachel]

dnf @ 20%

this book started out interesting, because i wanted to learn more about women’s reproductive health because why not. however, i had a few issues with the short parts i read of this book.
1. i just lost interest. the author was just naming different reproductive issues that women could have and possible solutions. don’t get me wrong—this information is very important for some people to know if they may be experiencing these issues. however, this writing style just didn’t grip me and all seemed like easily accessible information.
2. i get that inclusivity is in (especially given that this is a TikTok doctor), but this is a book talking about WOMEN’S health and the author uses terms like “female assigned at birth” and the dreaded “pregnant people.” now, i don’t want to get into political/social topics, but i fully support a grown adult’s decision to transition as a result of gender dysphoria. however, sex and gender expression are still different, and this was not acknowledged. by a doctor. make it make sense. i just think if you’re writing a book aimed at a specific part of a population, you shouldn’t have to bend to the inclusivity gods of the modern era. by definition, a book about women’s health is going to be exclusive, that’s just a given. hypothetically, a book about men’s health or trans folks’ health would also not be inclusive.
3. these two quotes seem diametrically opposed: “While the causes are complex, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other professional organizations within the field of OB-GYN acknowledged the role that racism has played in a joint statement issued in 2020: Recognizing that race is a social construct, not biologically based, is important to understanding that racism, not race, impacts healthcare, health, and health outcomes.” “Vitamin D deficiency is more common in Black people because melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, absorbs UV rays from sunlight, which is necessary for vitamin D production.” How is she going to agree that race a social construct while discussing melanin??

tldr: this was not for me but i think other people could appreciate the info in this book.

thank you to 2024 Macmillan Audio Influencer program for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as I expected. Need to buy it and hold onto it as a personal reference book. Very inclusive of all female genders (basically everyone other than cis men), as well as intersex. Covers topics relevant to all ages. Starts out with a little etymology and Greek health history as well as acknowledging the impact of racism on women’s bodies. A book all women should have. It talks about everything we need to know, much of which was new to me. Has changed the way I have discussed my health with my gynecologist.

[🌺 Hannah 🌺 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: discussion of inhumane treatment of women and BIPOC community, abortion, miscarriage, fertility issues, cancer, and multiple medical topics

I’ve been in debilitating pain since I was 9 years old, and I was always told it was “normal.” It’s not. We need to stop normalizing suffering and start talking about it. These conversations are vital, because silence is exactly what keeps people from getting the care they need.

As someone who is 27 and recently had surgery for fibroid and polyp removal and may still need a hysterectomy in the coming months, I feel this deeply. Women’s health, and health for trans men and non-binary people with uteruses, needs to be researched and taken seriously.

For centuries, people with uteruses have been mistreated, dismissed, and outright harmed by medicine. Women were literally called “hysterical” and had their ovaries removed for it, in the late 1800s, which wasn’t that long ago. And even today, society still pressures people with uteruses to think they must have children, that they’re “too young” to make decisions about their own reproductive health, or that they’ll inevitably regret something like a hysterectomy. It’s sexist, it’s controlling, and it ignores the reality of our pain.

The truth is, the uterus can cause an immense amount of suffering. Endometriosis alone can cause organ damage, kidney failure, migraines, fatigue, and infertility. PCOS doesn’t even make sense as a single diagnosis because of how widely the symptoms vary, yet it’s often treated dismissively. Ovarian cysts are the most common finding with pelvic pain, many are harmless, but others rupture or grow large enough to cause serious pain. PMS and PMDD need to be recognized and validated instead of mocked or minimized.

And still, the average diagnosis for endometriosis takes 7 years. That’s seven years of being told it’s in your head, that it’s “just bad periods,” that you should push through it.

Fibroids are another massive issue. They’re benign tumors caused by a cell rapidly multiplying, and they affect 70% of white women and 80% of Black women in their lifetime. They can cause hemorrhaging, crushing fatigue, and severe pain. They are not the patient’s fault. But fibroids will often grow back after treatment, and hysterectomy remains the only definitive option. And yet, despite how widespread and devastating they are, there’s still no known cause and no cure.

And here’s where systemic racism and misogyny comes in: if 80% of white men were developing tumors that caused pain and hemorrhaging, there would have been a cure decades ago. But because it’s primarily people with uteruses, especially Black women and other BIPOC communities, the suffering has been minimized. Black women are also at far higher risk of maternal mortality than white women, a gap rooted not in biology but in racism and bias in medical care.

The stigma around menstruation and reproductive health only makes this worse. If we don’t normalize conversations about periods, pain, and reproductive health, people won’t get treatment early. As a society, we must destigmatize period talk and validate people’s experiences.

And it’s crucial to emphasize: sex and gender are not the same. These conditions don’t only affect cis women. Trans men and non-binary people with uteruses are impacted too, and they’re often excluded from both research and care. Inclusive, affirming treatment is non-negotiable.

At the end of the day: it’s not hysteria and it never was. It’s very real, very physical, and it deserves attention, funding, and solutions. If we want true health equity, we need to dismantle the sexism and racism that is rooted into gynecological care and finally take people’s pain seriously.

We don’t need to suffer in silence anymore.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earlier this year while discussing upcoming medical appointments with friends, I was absolutely floored to learn that a friend who is asexual, does not have sex, and has a deep hatred of pap smears did not know either what pap smears are testing for (and primary risk factors) or even that she could choose to say no.

While this text may not have been revolutionary for me personally, I am so so so grateful it exists and that it can help other women who are not empowered to understand their bodies or advocate for themselves in healthcare.

I think men and women alike should read this textbook just to be more familiar with the human body. Do we not all find it useful to know the signs and symptoms of various diseases so that we can better help our loved ones seek treatment and get optimal care? Even just knowing the options that are available can be such a huge help. Or being able to have additional empathy as we gain a greater understanding of their pain and what they're going through. Granted, some of the chapters may be more or less useful depending on life circumstances and you may want to target certain chapters in particular, but I found the whole book to be well-researched, well-written, and full of useful information.

I also really liked that each chapter ended by summing of the main points of that chapter. (You could use this as a sort of CliffNotes version if you wanted to look through it rapid-fire and come back to particular chapters at a more sedate pace or as they were relevant to you.)

Inclusivity:
I have mostly defaulted to 'women' in my review as I'm sick and words are hard right now, but I appreciate that the book took the time to always remain inclusive in its language and even included an entire chapter that was solely dedicated to gender identity and sexuality and the differences between the two. Thank you.

Audiobook Notes:
The author narrates herself and does an excellent job with clear diction and a pleasant cadence.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Connie Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, great overview of WOMEN'S bodies, the history and hype that surrounded drs through the centuries and how we have been largely ignored. Some chapters were great although I learned nothing new or earth shattering. That said, 3 stars deducted because this is a book for WOMEN. Only women bleed and have a menstrual cycle. The alphabet club and supposed gender dysmorphia is nothing more that liberal ideologies over the last 20 plus years telling us we can be whatever we want. Um, no. No we cannot. You are male or you are female (minus the very small percentage, less than 1% that are truly intersex - you can thank the modern diet, governments, and pesticides for that). Your assigned gender starts in the womb and is not changeable. You cannot be one sex and then "feel" like the other.

And if anyone wants to come for me, grow up. This is a huge problem in many first world countries because people are coddled and allowed to play pretend throughout their adult years. Because of this junk being included in a book on WOMEN'S health, I cannot recommend this to anyone.

[Krystle Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Marinna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will start by saying that I love the title and cover of this book! One of my all-time favorite "fun facts" is that the word hysteria/hysterical comes from ancient times to describe the ailments of women. I enjoyed the exploration of this term. I was excited to see a book about women's health, but again (this is the second book I've read this year on this topic) felt disappointed with the product. This felt like a list of all the problems women can have and then a little bit more of a synopsis and treatment of said problem. I didn't find anything in this book to fit the bill of "everything I need to know and was never told." It felt a bit like someone reading off what I could have googled.

I also felt a bit frustrated with some of the topics. I understand that inclusivity is in-vogue, but it's really frustrating to get a lecture gender affirming care and the differences between gender and sex every time I pick up a book about women's health. This always makes a book feel a bit political. I don't think that changing the decor in OB/GYN offices to cater to a few patients makes sense... among other things.

This was another author I chose not to look into until I finished the book and lo and behold it is a doctor on TikTok. I think this book was probably better as short videos snipits, as it doesn't feel like a valuable resource for the bookshelf. I did appreciate that this was narrated by the author, as this is always ideal for non-fiction texts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Dr. Karen Tang for an ALC of this audiobook!

[Mehrnaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

هیستری (ترجمه هیستریا) عنوانی که سال‌ها به بیماری‌های ذهنی یا فیزیکی زنان داده میشده!
افسردگی داری؟درد فیزیکی داری؟ هیستریا داری. شغلت جادوگریه؟ احتمالا بیماری هیستریا باعثش شده.

کتاب فوق‌العاده‌ی yellow wallpaper هم دقیقا قسمتی کوتاه از زندگی زنی که تشخیص داده شده این بیماری رو داره رو، نمایش میده.

این کتاب به بیان مختصر مشکلات و بیماری‌های مرتبط با زنان می‌پردازه و اولش بیان میکنه که بعد از فصل ابتداییش و توضیح آنوتومی میشه فقط بخش‌هایی از اون رو که نیاز دارید یا باهاش درگیر هستین بخونید.شخصا به عنوان افزایش آگاهی عمومیم خوندمش. و به نظرم درک کتاب با اینکه ادبیات سنگینی نداره، برای کسانی که مثل من با لغات انگلیسی علم پزشکی اونقدری آشنایی ندارند، میتونه چالشی باشه. ولی ارزشش رو داره.

مثلا آیا میدونستین صاف کننده‌های مو جزو فاکتورهای موثر ابتلا به فیبروم رحم هستند؟؟

[stephani iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

unless I totally missed the mark, I thought this was going to be a very different book - this is literally an anatomy and physiology book about folks with vaginas and uteruses. I thought it was going to be a bit more insightful into the social and cultural implications of it all. think that's why I was let down? this is basically a reference book that doctors should use for research and knowledge. not really something you just sit down and read.

[Jessica McKenney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I will start with the positives: I liked the narrator of the audiobook and I enjoyed how the book was laid out, especially since there was "take home points" at the end of each section.

That being said, the full price for the physical book is $40 CAD and I do not think that this is anywhere near worth that. I think almost all of this information could be found very quickly, easily, and accessibly online. The author is popular on TikTok and I think all of this information completely fits in a quick TikTok video and makes sense for that format. I do not think it made sense to make a whole book out of this as it just isn't worth your time or money. Additionally, there was nothing extra there to keep me engaged or interested. Perhaps this would be a good book to have as a reference guide, but like I said, you could easily just use google. While, in general, I like the narrator of the audiobook I do think the audiobook itself was hard to follow since it was basically a list of facts.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced listener copy of this audiobook! I received a copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Karen Tang blew my mind with this, which truthfully is embarrassing because I'm an owner of a vag!na myself and thought I knew what was going on in my own body.

When MDs write to an audience outside of their own field I often find myself lost - in searching through context for definitions, pausing to Google procedures, nervously WebMDing the likelihood I'll be their next patient. Tang doesn't leave you hanging; the effort put into ensuring layman's terms must have been enormous.

I am genuinely thankful to have read this book. I feel WAY more in the know on my body, how and why it works the way it does, how science has clarified and muddied up our understandings of living things, where our impossible standards for body image likely began, and the list goes on.

I know I've found a killer nonfiction book when I hit everyone I know with fun facts from it. This had so many fun facts I couldn't even share them all.

Updating to add that this is so good, I got a trophy copy!

(Thank you bunches to NetGalley & publisher McMillan Audio for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for an honest review!)

[Michaela Okland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yayyy this rocks. It took me a while to get into this book, but that’s because its purpose is truly just sharing facts. So much of the information here felt so empowering to finally know. Women’s reproductive health is under-researched and under-discussed, and a book like this is so important. If you’re looking for a fun narrative story, this isn’t it. But if you’d like to be equipped with knowledge about your body, this is a great read!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic overview of women's health. From anatomy to surgical procedures, if you want to learn more about your body and how to advocate for your health, this is for you.

I appreciated the layout of the book that made it easy to skip over passages that didn't apply and to find things easier that you were interested in reading about.

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.

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal resource about reproductive health that is easy to read and understand, from fibroids and periods to fertility matters to what to know before a gynecology appointment. I think this could be a great option even for teen girls and will pass a copy along to my niece once she's old enough. Tang uses inclusive language throughout. Highly recommended.

[paige (paigesofbookss) · Rating 4 out of 5]

first half was sounding so text booky to me but the second half had me super intrigued. I learned a lot and am encouraged to know more about the female anatomy. I have further questions, I want a good female doctor to go to, and I’m angry. As our author said, if males got endometriosis wouldn’t there be a cure by now? Being a female in this world is tough, no wonder they think we’re hysterical.

[Sandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is an excellent reference book for all. It has an accessible text that's written so that people can understand and explains reproductive health. It's written inclusively, which I loved, but for ease, I'll use the broad term women for my review. A text for medical professionals and lay people alike. I learnt a lot. It goes from an introduction of Anatomy and sex and has chapters on individual gynaecological issues. You can cherry-pick chapters and skip to a particular issue that you are interested in or wish to learn more. Personally, I read the entire book and, with all non-fiction books, broke the reading up with fiction. It's a superb resource summed up in the blurb. "You are not alone. Up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic problems in their lifetime. Yet these issues are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed." Thank you Dr Tang it was a resource that I didn't know I needed. Excellent and highly recommended.

[Rissa (rissasreading) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 - This is a really important book and one that I think every uterus having person should read, hell even men should read it because I learned y'all can suffer with endometriosis too in this. I really wanted to read this one as someone who has been mistreated by medical professionals and treated with the modern day "hysteria" by being told what I experience is "normal" etc. etc..... it's beyond frustrating to be told that or be dismissed when you're experiencing excruciating pain and discomfort and you know as the patient that something isn't actually "normal". I enjoyed that this book provides you with so much information on various diseases and treatment options as well as symptoms and how diagnoses are typically done. I especially like that this book also provides you with a list of questions that you'll likely be asked to provide you with an opportunity to advocate for yourself beforehand. The patriarchy sucks and it's even worse when so many people suffer needlessly because of it, myself included. Definitely recommend this book.

The reason why I give it 4.75 instead of 5 is simply because I found the format very repetitive and I do wish we were provided with a bit more basic health information on our female anatomies because I think that along with a lack of education and knowledge on the diseases, there is a lack of basic knowledge on this as a whole.

[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I read this as a companion book to Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation by Jen Gunter. It was good! It was a lot more to the point than the previous novel, but still had some interesting details not mentioned by Gunter. I'd recommend this for an objective view on the subject without interjections about the author's personal life.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is shocking to me how uninformed many people, especially women, can be about their bodies. While I was not unaware of most information in the book, it was still interesting and I see where it could be considered essential reading - although not really meant to be read straight through as I did. More like.... an advanced owners manual. Read sections at a time or topics as needed.

[Camelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive women’s medical health book.

[Elizabeth Deters · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
This book is important. It thoughtfully makes medicine accessible to people with vaginas. The author continually uses intention and inclusive language. Each chapter focused on a different aspect of women’s health—from cysts to menstrual cycles to menopause.
I read this book via audiobook. I think that perhaps it would be a better format as a paper book. I found myself zoning out on chapters that seemed like they do not (or maybe do not presently) impact me—like the menopause chapter for example.
The content was helpful and approachable. One of the aspects I thought was so key was when the author would go through things someone should think about before addressing an issue with their doctor—preparing folks for their appointments and what they might experience or be asked!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy audiobook!

[Weronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very educational, detailing many reproductive health concerns for women as well as gynecological issues for transgender women. I appreciated the narration done by the author herself, it really showcased her knowledge about the various topics and her passion for healthcare really stood out. The historical background and the treatment of women’s healthcare since recorded times was really eye opening. Truly to this day, many women’s issues are dismissed and not taken as seriously as men’s, especially for women of color.

Split into three parts, Dr. Tang explains many known health conditions, possible causes, as well as currently available treatments. Reiterating that many of the issues lack medical studies because women of child bearing age were not allowed to be tested. Overall, this is a very informative collection of work, that I think would benefit medical professionals or someone interested in their own reproductive health.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy to review.

[Tiffany Case · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't mind over sharing, especially if it will help other women. For a year and a half I have seen neurologists, autoimmune specialists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, you name it... No one could figure out what was happening. Finally, my OB got her hands on me (quite literally? 😅) and I have a diagnosis of PMDD.

PMDD is a debilitating form of PMS. People are unable to function physically, mentally, and emotionally. Panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts are VERY common and happen very frequently for nearly 2 weeks. I have exhausted all treatment options, and now need a hysterectomy.

Chapter 13 is about PMDD and I could have cried, I was SO grateful for all of the information the author included.

This book has everything a woman would want to know about her reproductive health. This should be a textbook given to women and doctors everywhere.

Thank you so much for this incredible book, Karen Tang 💕

[Karlyn Marcantonio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

It's Not Hysteria is exactly the kind of book that is needed. Dr. Karen Tang writes in a way that makes this material accessible to non-medical staff, while still giving all the information needed to understand a variety of different topics. This book made me feel seen, supported and normal. It makes me want to learn how to take care of myself better, and even advocate for myself more. We shouldn't have to fight for good medical care, and the "taboo" topics in this book are exactly the things we need to start discussing.

[Jess B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super informative! I wish that something like this book had existed when I was younger.

There was amazingly a lot of conditions that I didn't know that people with vaginas could have -- or that they were completely common conditions.

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Becky Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing compilation of useful info for those with uteruses. A little dry at times, but I learned so much! I am thinking about getting a hard copy of this in case I need to flip through it later.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hesitate to rate this, not only because it’s a nonfiction medical text which I’ve never read nor rated before, but also because I can’t easily confirm the accuracy of most of what I read. To which my own initial response to my statement would be “it’s 2024, you can’t just publish fake shit” and then I laughed, but not in a humorous way. But it gave me several things to take with me to my next appointment, since all my labs/ultrasound came back “good” - in the verbiage of my male doctor - despite the seemingly-gallons of blood I’m losing in 6-week long cycles. Hey, look at me, trying to normalize speaking about my reproductive health issues (which I touch on how awkward it is for me just below!).

Anyway. I think I learned a lot of shit I should’ve already known. That could be the fault of the Southwestern Indiana public schooling circa 2000-2006, the fault of a fairly conservative but thankfully NOT religious family, and the fault of my own self because I hate talking about this stuff; its uncomfortable and awkward, which could lead right back to the schooling/familial faults too, who the fuck knows, because I sure don’t.

However, many of the socioeconomic statements are absolutely true. If 80% of white men experienced ANYTHING near what the majority of women face, and even more so in Black women, science would’ve done found 14 different cures for each issue as of 5 decades ago. And it’s disgusting. The chapter on, but also constant validation of, transgender people, nonbinary people, anyone who doesn’t check a “cis” box was powerful and incredibly important.

The information on each subject was thorough and exhaustive, from symptoms to treatments (medications, holistic approaches - even if there are no firm numbers, surgeries, therapy, etc.) to what you can expect after. We went through basic menstruation, PMS, pregnancy, infertility, abortion, fibroids, various cancers, gender-affirming treatments/surgeries. I mean, if there is something related to assigned-female at birth reproductive organs, it’s covered in here. This should be required reading/covered teachings starting in 5th grade for all.