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She-ology: The Definitive Guide to Women's Intimate Health. Period.
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.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2017
79 people are currently reading
1533 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 7, 2018
The only thing that bothered me about the book was the overuse of the word vagina when the author really meant vulva. Talk of "shaving your vagina" makes me cringe. No one is taking a razor blade to their vagina; that would be the vulva. Accurate terminology is important, especially coming from a medical professional. She had a chance to educate on the difference between the two terms but didn't really do so.
February 16, 2020
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.
March 25, 2019
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.
November 19, 2023
I loved the concept of this book but I did not care for the execution of it. I felt like the entire book the answer to everything led to taking birth control. I would love to find a holistic health approach to this type of novel.
April 3, 2018
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
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
September 21, 2023
I learned SO much reading this book. It almost begs the question... how am I 24 learning this for the first time? How have I been housed in this body for so long without knowing its proper function? There are so many little nuances about being a woman that we're never taught. It's almost like society forces us to figure it out by being chronically uncomfortable. Dr. Sherry Ross is committed to open and honest conversations about every aspect of owning a uterus or identifying as a woman.
There are certain elements of the book that turned me away, BUT as an overall review, I felt like it was a great overview and educational tool that I will use in discussions with my OBGYN moving forward. Also, I've never read the word "vagina" so many times in my life.
There are certain elements of the book that turned me away, BUT as an overall review, I felt like it was a great overview and educational tool that I will use in discussions with my OBGYN moving forward. Also, I've never read the word "vagina" so many times in my life.
March 23, 2025
Insightful and empowering in an approachable way but a bit too Hollywood
January 4, 2022
Hm. I have some thoughts. As an aspiring OB/GYN and someone who’s always looking to learn more about my own sexual health, this was very informative. It was easy to read (though sometimes felt a bit like an infomercial) and I appreciated the stories and anecdotes throughout. The celebrity introductions were unnecessary, but fine.
That being said, I was quite disappointed by how narrow minded the focus/ intended audience was. There’s a note before the forward acknowledging the spectrum of gender identity but this is where the recognition stopped. The book completely conflates “womanhood” with “having a vagina” and I think there’s a big missed opportunity here. This book is SUch a good consolidation of information about vaginas, sexual health etc but constantly addressing the reader as a woman a) doesn’t feel necessary to the overall message and b) alienates whole groups of people. Also it felt quite heteronormative in more than a few places (most sex was assumed to involve a penis or was otherwise acknowledged in parentheses), which I found ironic given that she also talks about being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community quite a bit.
So, solid 3 stars. Learned a lot, appreciate the intention, don’t need to read it again.
That being said, I was quite disappointed by how narrow minded the focus/ intended audience was. There’s a note before the forward acknowledging the spectrum of gender identity but this is where the recognition stopped. The book completely conflates “womanhood” with “having a vagina” and I think there’s a big missed opportunity here. This book is SUch a good consolidation of information about vaginas, sexual health etc but constantly addressing the reader as a woman a) doesn’t feel necessary to the overall message and b) alienates whole groups of people. Also it felt quite heteronormative in more than a few places (most sex was assumed to involve a penis or was otherwise acknowledged in parentheses), which I found ironic given that she also talks about being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community quite a bit.
So, solid 3 stars. Learned a lot, appreciate the intention, don’t need to read it again.
April 2, 2021
The book claims to be scientific and objective, and in the parts where it speaks about physiology, it is both scientific and objective. But generally, it is normative, and it is crookedly normative. This book might help women understand more about their reproductive organ, especially the methods of taking care of such an organ -- the vagina being much more intricate and complicated than the penis. And that can be helpful and informative.
But the book starts out with wrongheaded claims: It tells us that we disrespect women and that we see them as inherently illogical and sentimental, and therefore, societies generally pay women less for the same job and for the same work; i.e., the pay-gap and the gender wage-gap. That's both erroneous and silly, and it's wrong. The pay-gap, if it objectively exists, is a matter of statistical representation. This is not me mansplaining to women, as this is a purely scientific and economic question, and it should be addressed by such questions. The pay-gap is usually got by dividing the total wages of men in the same job, by the total wages of women in the same job. But working hours also affects any statisitical representation: If people who work over 8 hours in a week-day are lumped together, the data on how many more hours, and productivity per hour cannot be counted within. In fact, many economists accurately calculated the number to discover that unmarried women often get paid more than unmarried men. The reverse happens for married men and women. Is it because of the roles both men and women take? Is it because married people and unmarried people do not behave similarly? That is a sociological question that ought to be addressed scientifically. Blaming group X or Y for any disparity means nothing more than virtue signalling. In fact, if the author paid more attention to the excerpts from the married women (some even lesbians) who choose to have one woman in the family focus more on child-raising, she would understand that the issue is not simplistic. It doesn't matter what men or women or feminists, men and women, think. It's a matter of truth, and she broke that trust between author and reader in the first chapter.
As for the normative topics, she keeps telling women that there is really no moral issue with polyamory if all parties consent. Well-and-good. We'll accept that as many of us, myself included, truly hold that and believe it. The representation she gives about the problems of polyamory: That if many healthy men sleep with one healthy woman, it can alter the biochemistry of the vaginal cavity. She addresses that, but masks it with her professionalism. This is one problem I like to call an entangled error. If what she says might give the wrong impression to the people, then why does she find it problematic when people say things that give the wrong impressions to others? She did the same thing she does not like others to do. That's not very consistent (or nice).
The book, I cannot deny, is very informative, on female biology and especially reproductive biology and chemistry. It also offers very helpful advice for women, in the health and sanitary department. And that is implorable. The book's structure, though, is lame and boring. For me, at least. I don't care much for the lifestyle choices of the celebrities from Hollywood, and so I found little appeal in that. But it could have been better. It could have chosen to be either an exclusively scientific book, or a normative book that seeks to normalize certain dispositions and opinions. I find it that it reduced the aesthetic appeal of the book. She, however, seems to be an authority on the subject, so maybe that's the best way to approach the subject for the common people.
But the book starts out with wrongheaded claims: It tells us that we disrespect women and that we see them as inherently illogical and sentimental, and therefore, societies generally pay women less for the same job and for the same work; i.e., the pay-gap and the gender wage-gap. That's both erroneous and silly, and it's wrong. The pay-gap, if it objectively exists, is a matter of statistical representation. This is not me mansplaining to women, as this is a purely scientific and economic question, and it should be addressed by such questions. The pay-gap is usually got by dividing the total wages of men in the same job, by the total wages of women in the same job. But working hours also affects any statisitical representation: If people who work over 8 hours in a week-day are lumped together, the data on how many more hours, and productivity per hour cannot be counted within. In fact, many economists accurately calculated the number to discover that unmarried women often get paid more than unmarried men. The reverse happens for married men and women. Is it because of the roles both men and women take? Is it because married people and unmarried people do not behave similarly? That is a sociological question that ought to be addressed scientifically. Blaming group X or Y for any disparity means nothing more than virtue signalling. In fact, if the author paid more attention to the excerpts from the married women (some even lesbians) who choose to have one woman in the family focus more on child-raising, she would understand that the issue is not simplistic. It doesn't matter what men or women or feminists, men and women, think. It's a matter of truth, and she broke that trust between author and reader in the first chapter.
As for the normative topics, she keeps telling women that there is really no moral issue with polyamory if all parties consent. Well-and-good. We'll accept that as many of us, myself included, truly hold that and believe it. The representation she gives about the problems of polyamory: That if many healthy men sleep with one healthy woman, it can alter the biochemistry of the vaginal cavity. She addresses that, but masks it with her professionalism. This is one problem I like to call an entangled error. If what she says might give the wrong impression to the people, then why does she find it problematic when people say things that give the wrong impressions to others? She did the same thing she does not like others to do. That's not very consistent (or nice).
The book, I cannot deny, is very informative, on female biology and especially reproductive biology and chemistry. It also offers very helpful advice for women, in the health and sanitary department. And that is implorable. The book's structure, though, is lame and boring. For me, at least. I don't care much for the lifestyle choices of the celebrities from Hollywood, and so I found little appeal in that. But it could have been better. It could have chosen to be either an exclusively scientific book, or a normative book that seeks to normalize certain dispositions and opinions. I find it that it reduced the aesthetic appeal of the book. She, however, seems to be an authority on the subject, so maybe that's the best way to approach the subject for the common people.
January 13, 2023
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.
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.
May 24, 2025
I really wanted to like this book because I believe strongly in education on women’s bodies. Sadly this book really did not work. My main complaints are the discrimination rampant in the book. First of all there is a major lack of diversity representation. I fear this author is one of those “I’m gay so I don’t need to care about diversity” types. She includes a chapter on being gay and references “gay, bisexual, and straight” women several times. There is no mention of women that fall outside of this, asexual, whatsoever. She also doesn’t mention anything specific to WOC. She also mentions a couple of times that you shouldn’t eat “Chinese food” which is extremely culturally insensitive. The only things she says about fat women are basically that they need to lose weight. There’s also nothing about intersex women.
Overall the book is boring, lackluster, and not even all that accurate considering that she continuously refers to the overall vulva as the vagina.
Oh and also she mentions “Eastern medicine doctors” in negative ways many times.
Overall the book is boring, lackluster, and not even all that accurate considering that she continuously refers to the overall vulva as the vagina.
Oh and also she mentions “Eastern medicine doctors” in negative ways many times.
July 23, 2017
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.
August 15, 2018
This only reason I rated this book 3 stars is because I don't think this type of book is right for me. I am reading this book at 16 years old. Therefore, I am old enough to understand the topics being discussed in the book but not old enough to actually like a book of its kind I feel as if only adults should read this book because teens just might not be interested. However, some teens might actually really like this book, I just personally don't. In conclusion, I would've given this book a 5-star rating if I was old enough to like this genre of book. Other than that the set up of the book is nice and it gives really good advice.
March 12, 2021
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.
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.
December 28, 2020
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
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
May 4, 2022
This book gave lots of helpful information and tips for keeping your vagina healthy and happy in a variety of circumstances! I will probably reread it at a different stage in my life in order to get the "Mature V" and "Mama V" information when I actually need it.
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible while going for walks. It was a good one to passively listen to (I don't know if I'm missing anything by not seeing the pictures).
I listened to this as an audiobook on Audible while going for walks. It was a good one to passively listen to (I don't know if I'm missing anything by not seeing the pictures).
June 8, 2022
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!!
September 28, 2022
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 😭
March 21, 2023
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.
May 19, 2018
While extremely informative this made me extremely anxious. I’m about to enjoy everything my 30s and while it’s never to think about the future I’m not sure i fall into the same financial class as some of Dr. Sherry’s patients.
February 15, 2022
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.
February 7, 2024
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.
July 9, 2017
Whether you have your very own vagina or know know someone with a vagina, this book is a must!
September 2, 2017
I think that anyone that has a vagina, or anyone with a relationship with someone that has a vagina, should really read this book!
April 13, 2018
I heard Dr. Sherry on a podcast recently and was taken with her presentation style. She writes well, too, and knows her stuff.
June 27, 2018
fairly interesting and informative for a guide. learned some stuff! great for women advice on our bodies
April 7, 2021
Basic knowledge, that should be available to everyone.
January 28, 2022
Informative but long and drawn out. I learned a few things but it bored me a few chapters in.
July 4, 2022
Too many celebrities and too many stories. Have to listen to 30 minutes for two sentences of information.
April 28, 2023
too vague and coming from a very medical approach
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews