She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period.

by Sherry A. Ross

Many women still suffer a long-ingrained dissociation with their own vaginas and a misunderstanding of what goes on “down there.” With expertise and a dose of humor, leading ob-gyn, educator and women’s health advocate Dr. Sherry Ross addresses every urgent, confounding, culturally taboo or embarrassing question women have about vaginas, with the goal of healthier, happier lives for all. She-ology describes the state of the vagina at every age and stage of a woman’s life. From first periods to postpartum to menopause, from the serious to the celebratory to the surprising, this book will make you feel a part of the vagina dialogue. Dr. Sherry—a leading ob-gyn, educator, and advocate in women’s health—is equal parts your best girlfriend, confidant and skilled practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in gynecology and obstetrics. With the help of many famous contributors she answers your questions and concerns such • Where the heck is my G-spot? • Since the vagina is self-cleaning, do I even need soap? • Can I get HPV if I don’t have actual intercourse? • Is it too late, at 45, to have an orgasm? • How can I be depressed after giving birth if I’ve always wanted a baby? • Is there a such thing as a perfect vagina? • I enjoy swinging or S & M, does that make me a pervert? • What does safe sex even mean? • What could possibly go wrong down there, and what do I do about it? Dr. Sherry’s goal is that of healthier and happier women through a revolution of vagina information. This book will help you form, mend or strengthen your relationship with that most commanding and complex of female organs—the vagina. Includes contributions Reese Witherspoon Brooke Shields Christina Applegate Jane Seymour Lisa Gay Hamilton Katherine McPhee Ashley Benson Meredith Baxter …and many more.

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

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2017

Reviews

[J. Lee Hazlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 overall. Definitely some good info - I suspect that just about everyone would close this book having learned something new about themselves or the ladies in their life - but there were many moments when the structure of the book struck me as odd or distracting. I found myself wondering who had edited some sections, as there were word confusions (e.g. 'insure' used in place of 'ensure') in at least a half dozen places. Call me nitpicky, but the say-so of even the most experienced professional loses some credibility when it is expressed with poor vocabulary or grammar. There were also an awfully large number of exclamation points. I understand that the author was taking an open and friendly tone to attract readers to what can be a touchy subject, but at moments I felt like I was reading an excitable fourteen-year-old's diary. I was torn on the use of personal essays from various Hollywood patients to introduce each chapter. Some of them were fun, and made sense with the next topic to be tackled. Others seemed to be trying to sell the author's practice more than anything, and ended up sounding like paid advertisements loosely clothed in a 'real live patient' disguise. The author used an essay of her own to introduce one chapter (and no, it wasn't the first one), which struck me as very odd. All of that being said, I do think that this is an important book for anyone who has a vagina or who loves someone who does to read. It will answer questions you didn't know you had, and will give you knowledge that may make you a better friend and/or lover (both to yourself and other vagina owners) moving forward.

[Roxann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a fine book if you don't know anything about vaginas. The celebrity introductions to each chapter are totally pointless though. We get it, you're a gynecologist to the stars! People keep describing the book as 'body positive,' and maybe it is by LA standards, but there's nothing groundbreaking here. Just goes to show how meaningless that term is now.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pros: Body positive; LGBTQ+ positive; lots of useful medical information throughout a vagina-owner's life
Cons: Some references to treatments that have not been scientifically proven; the celebrity intros to the chapters felt out of place; she sounds like a great doctor, but because she spends time with her patients, not because she delivered a Witherspoon baby

[Holly Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very interesting. I liked the format of different chapters being distinct topic changes because it meant I could easily skip through the fertility chapter as it's not relevant to me.

I will say though that this does not work as an audiobook at all. I much prefer to read nonfiction as an audiobook but this was so confusing. I didn't realise until about halfway through that Dr sherry was the author and that there were testimonials scattered through. The narrator didn't change and there was no indication that we were now hearing from someone else until their name was read at the end. At first I thought they were just weirdly placed one liners from celebrities. But then she talked about her first meeting with Sherry Ross multiple times and trying desperately to have their first kid at 40 when I thought she'd already had a kid at 38 and I was so fucking confused lol
Even once I realised they were stories from different people I could not for the life of me separate the personal stories of the author from the personal stories from other people as its all in first person. I think I would have loved this book if there was any kind of distinction put in like a different voice or even some reverb on the voice to differentiate but as it was, it just wasn't thought through at all. It's just jarring to be listening to a normal memoir and then hear randomly that you've been hearing about Christna Applegates life for an undetermined amount of time lol

The content was really cool and enjoyable to learn about but that element really took away from the reading experience for me.

[Larisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I seem incapable of passing up a book with a graphical representation of a vulva on the cover. This one is written by a late-in-life-lesbian gyno-to-the-stars. Overall the information is somewhat general and not too surprising. There was some new (to me) information about special considerations for LGBTQ patients and a few fetishes I'd never heard of, such as bugs crawling across your skin(!). She discussed menopause -vaginal atrophy anyone?- and various STIs, which is always interesting. Fun fact: 80-90% of men and women carry at least one strain of the >100 different types of HPV. I knew it was high but not that high. I think this book would be most useful to young women at the early end of their sexual life experiences or an especially clueless girlfriend.

[Julie Readsabit · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I'm giving this book any stars at all is because it was actually quite informative in parts. In particular, the chapters on fertility and hormonal changes were very relevant.

Dr. Sherry Ross has built herself a very successful practice with the rich and famous, and is not shy to share it. Their letters and comments about how incredible she is at the start of each chapter were a bit much.

There were also a few sections of the books that had an outdated view on women's health. Dr. Sherry's approach of "have a positive and empowered approach to your V" seemed a bit.. fluffy. The portrayal of men in a mostly naive and uneducated light were rather unfortunate, as well.

[Gaby Gabor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book when I found it!
I thought it was very educational and easy to read due to the different stories chosen for each chapter.
The book becomes very repetitive at the end, there is not much that she has not discussed but she keeps bringing more stories and reiterating what she already explained.
Overall, reading 200 pages of the book is worth it. Then, find the chapters you find interesting and read what you want to learn about

[Relyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super helpful and informative. I learned so much. It makes me sad that my doctors didn't help me half as much as this book, but I am very thankful that I had it. I do recommend reading this book instead of listening. I thought I would clobber someone if I heard the reader say, "your mature V" or "your teen V". GAH!!

[♏Vanessa♏ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dra Sherry goes through all the aspects of the v@gina. She addresses misconceptions and taboos as well as hygiene and health issues. It was very informative and enlightening and she clarified many wrongs I was thought as a kid and teen. I feel like I want to be her patient too, a shame I’m in another continent 😭

[Kara Marziali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very candid, very helpful... if you can get beyond the self-aggrandizing and self-promotion. Dr. Sherry Ross solicited letters from Hollywood hotshots that she has included. These letters seem only to fawn over the doctor rather than providing worthy content. All that said, I still recommend the book because it will answer questions you might have been too embarrassed to otherwise ask.

[Debbie Nicoletti · Rating 4 out of 5]

She-ology describes the state of the vagina at every age and stage of a woman’s life. Overall really good information for women of all ages. It was an easy read with good personal stories and lots of humor.

[Mckenna Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

such an important, funny, entertaining, and comforting book about women’s health. i believe every woman (and man) should read this book. dr sherry doesn’t hold back as she talks about the essential struggles and experiences associated with womanhood that society loves to ignore.

[Tamilyn White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you have your very own vagina or know know someone with a vagina, this book is a must!

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think that anyone that has a vagina, or anyone with a relationship with someone that has a vagina, should really read this book!

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Dr. Sherry on a podcast recently and was taken with her presentation style. She writes well, too, and knows her stuff.

[Marni Gellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

fairly interesting and informative for a guide. learned some stuff! great for women advice on our bodies

[Janeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic knowledge, that should be available to everyone.

[Chene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative but long and drawn out. I learned a few things but it bored me a few chapters in.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many celebrities and too many stories. Have to listen to 30 minutes for two sentences of information.

[Caroline Baginski · Rating 1 out of 5]

too vague and coming from a very medical approach