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Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care
A scorching examination of how we treat endometriosis today
Have you ever been told that your pain is imaginary? That feeling better just takes yoga, CBD oil, and the blood of a unicorn on a full moon? That’s the reality of the more than 190 million people suffering the excruciating condition known as endometriosis. This disease affecting one in ten cis women and uncounted numbers of others is chronically overlooked, underfunded, and misunderstood — and improperly treated across the medical system. Discrimination and medical gaslighting are rife in endo care, often leaving patients worse off than when they arrived.
Journalist Tracey Lindeman knows it all too well. Decades of suffering from endometriosis propelled the creation of BLEED — part memoir, part investigative journalism, and all scathing indictment of how the medical system fails patients. Through extensive interviews and research, BLEED tracks the modern endo experience to the origins of medicine and how the system gained its power by marginalizing women. Using an intersectional lens, BLEED dives into how the system perpetuates misogyny, racism, classism, ageism, transphobia, fatphobia, and other prejudices to this day.
BLEED isn’t a self-help book. It’s an evidence file and an eye-opening, enraging read. It will validate those who have been gaslit, mistreated, or ignored by medicine and spur readers to fight for nothing short of revolution.
Have you ever been told that your pain is imaginary? That feeling better just takes yoga, CBD oil, and the blood of a unicorn on a full moon? That’s the reality of the more than 190 million people suffering the excruciating condition known as endometriosis. This disease affecting one in ten cis women and uncounted numbers of others is chronically overlooked, underfunded, and misunderstood — and improperly treated across the medical system. Discrimination and medical gaslighting are rife in endo care, often leaving patients worse off than when they arrived.
Journalist Tracey Lindeman knows it all too well. Decades of suffering from endometriosis propelled the creation of BLEED — part memoir, part investigative journalism, and all scathing indictment of how the medical system fails patients. Through extensive interviews and research, BLEED tracks the modern endo experience to the origins of medicine and how the system gained its power by marginalizing women. Using an intersectional lens, BLEED dives into how the system perpetuates misogyny, racism, classism, ageism, transphobia, fatphobia, and other prejudices to this day.
BLEED isn’t a self-help book. It’s an evidence file and an eye-opening, enraging read. It will validate those who have been gaslit, mistreated, or ignored by medicine and spur readers to fight for nothing short of revolution.
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 2023
108 people are currently reading
2268 people want to read
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May 29, 2023
I hadn’t even finished the first chapter before I recommended this to a friend. I’ve lost track of how many people I’ve recommended it to since. It’s about endometriosis but it’s worth reading regardless of your connection or interest in endometriosis because of the way it addresses misogyny in healthcare. It covers the limitations of what’s been researched and where most reproductive care guidelines come from and how they’re not as evidenced-based as they should be. It was both concerning and enraging.
The author was diagnosed at age 35, after waiting 24 years for an answer to why her periods were so excruciating. But a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean anything will improve, as her experience shows, as well as those she interviewed and profiles here. Treatment is tied into and limited by fertility. Say you want to get pregnant and magically a whole bunch of options will appear. If you have silent endometriosis, that may be the only reason you’ll even get diagnosed. But if you don’t want to have a child, then the most you’ll get is hormonal birth control.
However, birth control doesn’t treat the actual problem. The pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in people staying on birth control even though it doesn’t help most endo patients. Plus, birth control has an extremely checkered history, including mass sterilization campaigns. Most egregiously, how little research had been done before FDA approval, including options that are available today. I was floored to learn this. This information alone is why I’ve been telling all my friends to read this. Misogyny in healthcare is not a new idea to me but it’s a whole other thing to see it laid out in print and see how pernicious it is in every aspect of our healthcare system. And that includes the medical association who recommends so-called best practices for endo that isn’t research-based either. The most helpful intervention is excision but surgery is reserved for the worst cases. And who determines which cases are the worst? So much bias goes into those decisions. This makes for a lot of unnecessary suffering.
This focuses on people who experience chronic and severe pain as a result of their endo. That’s not my experience. While I had horrible periods up until my early 20s, things mostly settled down after that. I still have bad cramps but nothing like the people in this book. My endo was detected when I had an ultrasound for kidney stones several years ago. I’d wondered if it was possible I had it before that but since I’m child-free and haven’t experienced the worst endo symptoms, I figured it would remain a mystery. I haven’t known what to do with that information but I feel much more equipped as a result of this book. It’s good timing for many reasons.
I’m so grateful to have read this. It’s insightful and engaging, despite how angry the content made me. I hope anyone working in gynecology will read it and better understand their patients as a result. Maybe that will lead to the industrial change we need.
Note 1: The language and terminology follows best practices from the Trans Journalists Association style guide. “Instead of using ‘women’ as shorthand to refer to sufferers, I use ‘endo patients’ and other similarly inclusive terms. I also use ‘female/male’ and ‘women/men’ when contextually appropriate, and sometimes I use ‘assigned female at birth’, shortened to AFAB. When I say ‘we’ and ‘us’, I am talking about all endo patients unless otherwise specified. Similarly, when I say ‘women’ without a qualifier, I mean all women.”
Note 2: while I normally take content notes for every book I read, I opted not to do so here as the topic is close to home. This deals heavily with medical abuse and discrimination and the ways this impacts and harms quality of life beyond reproductive care. The author and people profiled/interviewed have histories of many forms of abuse and mistreatment, as well as experiences of loss, suicidal ideation, and more. Exercise care as needed.
The author was diagnosed at age 35, after waiting 24 years for an answer to why her periods were so excruciating. But a diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean anything will improve, as her experience shows, as well as those she interviewed and profiles here. Treatment is tied into and limited by fertility. Say you want to get pregnant and magically a whole bunch of options will appear. If you have silent endometriosis, that may be the only reason you’ll even get diagnosed. But if you don’t want to have a child, then the most you’ll get is hormonal birth control.
However, birth control doesn’t treat the actual problem. The pharmaceutical industry has a vested interest in people staying on birth control even though it doesn’t help most endo patients. Plus, birth control has an extremely checkered history, including mass sterilization campaigns. Most egregiously, how little research had been done before FDA approval, including options that are available today. I was floored to learn this. This information alone is why I’ve been telling all my friends to read this. Misogyny in healthcare is not a new idea to me but it’s a whole other thing to see it laid out in print and see how pernicious it is in every aspect of our healthcare system. And that includes the medical association who recommends so-called best practices for endo that isn’t research-based either. The most helpful intervention is excision but surgery is reserved for the worst cases. And who determines which cases are the worst? So much bias goes into those decisions. This makes for a lot of unnecessary suffering.
This focuses on people who experience chronic and severe pain as a result of their endo. That’s not my experience. While I had horrible periods up until my early 20s, things mostly settled down after that. I still have bad cramps but nothing like the people in this book. My endo was detected when I had an ultrasound for kidney stones several years ago. I’d wondered if it was possible I had it before that but since I’m child-free and haven’t experienced the worst endo symptoms, I figured it would remain a mystery. I haven’t known what to do with that information but I feel much more equipped as a result of this book. It’s good timing for many reasons.
I’m so grateful to have read this. It’s insightful and engaging, despite how angry the content made me. I hope anyone working in gynecology will read it and better understand their patients as a result. Maybe that will lead to the industrial change we need.
Note 1: The language and terminology follows best practices from the Trans Journalists Association style guide. “Instead of using ‘women’ as shorthand to refer to sufferers, I use ‘endo patients’ and other similarly inclusive terms. I also use ‘female/male’ and ‘women/men’ when contextually appropriate, and sometimes I use ‘assigned female at birth’, shortened to AFAB. When I say ‘we’ and ‘us’, I am talking about all endo patients unless otherwise specified. Similarly, when I say ‘women’ without a qualifier, I mean all women.”
Note 2: while I normally take content notes for every book I read, I opted not to do so here as the topic is close to home. This deals heavily with medical abuse and discrimination and the ways this impacts and harms quality of life beyond reproductive care. The author and people profiled/interviewed have histories of many forms of abuse and mistreatment, as well as experiences of loss, suicidal ideation, and more. Exercise care as needed.
January 28, 2023
4.5 Stars
*its 4am and I am up thanks to endometriosis ravaging my body so thought I would review this. I will probably make changes at a later date because I doubt it'll be the most succinct!*
WOW.
Dare I say the best book I have read about life with endometriosis? This book is hard hitting and doesn't shy away from the tough facts or questions when it comes to endometriosis, women's healthcare and it's problems as well as it's history.
This is not an easy read, even for me. I am currently 34 and for half my life I have struggled with endometriosis which is now stage 4 and has completely ruined my life. The last 5 years in particular I have been nearly completely bed/house bound. It took 7 years to get my diagnosis despite at the age of 17 asking my GP if I could have endometriosis and being told I was too young (I wasn't). With surgeries I have had 1 ablation, 1 diagnostic, 2 excision, 1 total peritoneal excision surgery and my last was and excision surgery that last 7.5 hours as my insides were a complete mess. 3 years later and I am in need of another surgery ASAP. I have had every hormonal treatment under the sun and I say all this to show that I know about endo, I read medical articles, I keep up to date with research and despite all this, I was STILL shocked by a lot in this book.
Tracey Lindeman is obviously an incredible journalist, researcher and author. This book has more well researched history and facts than any other endo book I have read. This is NOT a self help book. It is a deeply detailed book about the disease itself, womens healthcare throughout the ages and the major issues within it, issues with certain hormonal drugs and their history among many other things.
I have read a decent amount of this book before from other books and my own readings but never in such detail. The information on the awful way in which women of colour are treated by medical professionals was truly shocking. I also really appreciate how inclusive this book it as it talks about and has case studies from many different types of peoples that struggle with endo. Lindeman covers all different races, she covers the struggles of the trans community as well as both young and older women. It is truly inclusive.
This book is very focused on the medical scene within the USA and Canada, which is fine because I learnt a lot but I wish a little more about some other countries that have a different medical set up (such as the UK with our NHS) would have been interesting. I am always so grateful for the NHS but never more so than right now after reading the hell women go through and the costs they have to pay for treatment rhatmay not even work.
The information on medical malpractice really hit home to be after being gaslit by doctors for years. I was utterly shocked by so much of this information even though I shouldn't be as I have lived it!
Hearing the author's journey through the book was really interesting and heartbreaking. I have never wanted to hug an author more. Alongside Tracey's story is tons of case studies from a variety of people that were incredibly interesting but also shocking and incredibly sad.
The only issues I had with the book was that there was a decent amount of repetition and some rambling paragraphs which I wish had been more to the point. Also I think the first section should have been about endometriosis and explaining what the disease is and lesser known facts about it (like the fact it produces its own oestrogen to feed on, and that menopause is NOT a cure). I think this would have better set up people that don't know much about it for the rest of the book. I also felt the layout of the book wasn't the best and needed some work. This is why I can't give it a full 5 stars, but I read an ARC so hopefully these issues are ironed out before release.
Overall, a brilliant book that I highly recomment. If you are ever wanting to understand the lives that women with endometriosis live and the struggles we face with the medical community, then read this book. It is full on with a lot of information so you certainly get your money's worth!
Please note that I was gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
*its 4am and I am up thanks to endometriosis ravaging my body so thought I would review this. I will probably make changes at a later date because I doubt it'll be the most succinct!*
WOW.
Dare I say the best book I have read about life with endometriosis? This book is hard hitting and doesn't shy away from the tough facts or questions when it comes to endometriosis, women's healthcare and it's problems as well as it's history.
This is not an easy read, even for me. I am currently 34 and for half my life I have struggled with endometriosis which is now stage 4 and has completely ruined my life. The last 5 years in particular I have been nearly completely bed/house bound. It took 7 years to get my diagnosis despite at the age of 17 asking my GP if I could have endometriosis and being told I was too young (I wasn't). With surgeries I have had 1 ablation, 1 diagnostic, 2 excision, 1 total peritoneal excision surgery and my last was and excision surgery that last 7.5 hours as my insides were a complete mess. 3 years later and I am in need of another surgery ASAP. I have had every hormonal treatment under the sun and I say all this to show that I know about endo, I read medical articles, I keep up to date with research and despite all this, I was STILL shocked by a lot in this book.
Tracey Lindeman is obviously an incredible journalist, researcher and author. This book has more well researched history and facts than any other endo book I have read. This is NOT a self help book. It is a deeply detailed book about the disease itself, womens healthcare throughout the ages and the major issues within it, issues with certain hormonal drugs and their history among many other things.
I have read a decent amount of this book before from other books and my own readings but never in such detail. The information on the awful way in which women of colour are treated by medical professionals was truly shocking. I also really appreciate how inclusive this book it as it talks about and has case studies from many different types of peoples that struggle with endo. Lindeman covers all different races, she covers the struggles of the trans community as well as both young and older women. It is truly inclusive.
This book is very focused on the medical scene within the USA and Canada, which is fine because I learnt a lot but I wish a little more about some other countries that have a different medical set up (such as the UK with our NHS) would have been interesting. I am always so grateful for the NHS but never more so than right now after reading the hell women go through and the costs they have to pay for treatment rhatmay not even work.
The information on medical malpractice really hit home to be after being gaslit by doctors for years. I was utterly shocked by so much of this information even though I shouldn't be as I have lived it!
Hearing the author's journey through the book was really interesting and heartbreaking. I have never wanted to hug an author more. Alongside Tracey's story is tons of case studies from a variety of people that were incredibly interesting but also shocking and incredibly sad.
The only issues I had with the book was that there was a decent amount of repetition and some rambling paragraphs which I wish had been more to the point. Also I think the first section should have been about endometriosis and explaining what the disease is and lesser known facts about it (like the fact it produces its own oestrogen to feed on, and that menopause is NOT a cure). I think this would have better set up people that don't know much about it for the rest of the book. I also felt the layout of the book wasn't the best and needed some work. This is why I can't give it a full 5 stars, but I read an ARC so hopefully these issues are ironed out before release.
Overall, a brilliant book that I highly recomment. If you are ever wanting to understand the lives that women with endometriosis live and the struggles we face with the medical community, then read this book. It is full on with a lot of information so you certainly get your money's worth!
Please note that I was gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2023
i went into this both due to personal and academic interests, as i am currently writing a paper on endometriosis in fiction. suffering endometriosis myself (not 100% confirmed, but we all know how that goes), i hoped this would be an informative read on the way endometriosis patients relate to their bodies and their pain, as the way i have related to other articles or short pieces of fiction on the matter has been almost therapeutical to my own pain. however, as a fellow reviewer said, the “angry” angle doesn’t really do it for me. inhabiting a chronically ill body is complex and obviously very painful, but i do think the isolating experience that lindeman describes here isn’t exactly destroying any myths at all, but rather reinforcing them. endometriosis patients need a support system (which will inevitably be made up of people who don’t suffer endometriosis), and they don’t need to fight their battles alone; we need structures of care that will enhance the quality of our day-to-day life while coping with an illness that does not have a definite cure so far, and that is therefore likely to stay with us for the rest of our lives. relational care ethics is the key to managing pain, and i think that lindeman’s approach was just too destructive for my taste.
trust me, i get that being in soul-crushing pain for a week every month can be infuriating (i myself feel angry a lot too), but most of the text just felt like an ill-intended ramble towards the healthcare system due to the author’s poor experiences with doctors in the US/Canada. and i really do get it, of course, but it just became a bit grating at times; i would have appreciated a more nuanced, factual approach to the subject, particularly while discussing contraception and other treatments that are being used for endometriosis nowadays. still, i’m glad there’s more accounts of what living with endo is like out there — even though i do wish it had been marketed as a biographical text, instead of simply as nonfiction.
trust me, i get that being in soul-crushing pain for a week every month can be infuriating (i myself feel angry a lot too), but most of the text just felt like an ill-intended ramble towards the healthcare system due to the author’s poor experiences with doctors in the US/Canada. and i really do get it, of course, but it just became a bit grating at times; i would have appreciated a more nuanced, factual approach to the subject, particularly while discussing contraception and other treatments that are being used for endometriosis nowadays. still, i’m glad there’s more accounts of what living with endo is like out there — even though i do wish it had been marketed as a biographical text, instead of simply as nonfiction.
November 13, 2025
I recommend this book 100% to anyone who has, or thinks they have, endo. I got a lot out of reading this book. Being that I have a lot of medical PTSD and trauma, reading it also made me cry - a lot. This book is invaluable to the endo community, and I'm so glad I found it. I borrowed it from the library, and I'll be buying it for my own collection right away.
August 7, 2023
Wow, this book is truly excellent.
There are so few books written about endometriosis and this one is so, SO accurate, I can’t recommend it enough. I lost track of the number of times I cried while reading this, as it’s incredibly overwhelming to see someone else listing off all of the, frankly ridiculous, things I’ve been through with this illness. It’s so affirming to hear that so many other people have had the same experience with the medical system that I have. It’s something that I knew in the abstract, but to have real accounts from others that so closely relate to my own experience was really affirming.
While this book was really difficult to read, it is also so important. As someone who suffers with endometriosis, I felt validated in my feelings, but it also gave me some things to think about in terms of my current medical care. For people who don’t have endometriosis, I think it’s something that would be important to read, as so many folks with uteruses suffer from this completely debilitating chronic illness, so even if you don’t have it, you probably know someone who does. And if you don’t have endo and decide to read this book, let me assure you that the descriptions of pain in the book are completely accurate. Thankfully I have my symptoms mostly under control right now, but before my doctor and I figured out the right medication, I have nearly passed out from the pain, I’ve been nearly bedridden with pain (and honestly, I probably should have stayed in bed instead of pushing through). Endometriosis is one of the ten most painful conditions there is and it’s really difficult to understand what that even means if you haven’t experienced it.
This book is incredible and if I could give it 10 stars I would.
There are so few books written about endometriosis and this one is so, SO accurate, I can’t recommend it enough. I lost track of the number of times I cried while reading this, as it’s incredibly overwhelming to see someone else listing off all of the, frankly ridiculous, things I’ve been through with this illness. It’s so affirming to hear that so many other people have had the same experience with the medical system that I have. It’s something that I knew in the abstract, but to have real accounts from others that so closely relate to my own experience was really affirming.
While this book was really difficult to read, it is also so important. As someone who suffers with endometriosis, I felt validated in my feelings, but it also gave me some things to think about in terms of my current medical care. For people who don’t have endometriosis, I think it’s something that would be important to read, as so many folks with uteruses suffer from this completely debilitating chronic illness, so even if you don’t have it, you probably know someone who does. And if you don’t have endo and decide to read this book, let me assure you that the descriptions of pain in the book are completely accurate. Thankfully I have my symptoms mostly under control right now, but before my doctor and I figured out the right medication, I have nearly passed out from the pain, I’ve been nearly bedridden with pain (and honestly, I probably should have stayed in bed instead of pushing through). Endometriosis is one of the ten most painful conditions there is and it’s really difficult to understand what that even means if you haven’t experienced it.
This book is incredible and if I could give it 10 stars I would.
Read
March 29, 2024I really enjoyed this, and I think me and the author might have the same surgeon lol
June 21, 2023
Great read and super important. I just knocked off a star for the birth control chapter — I actually agree with the author’s main point but found this chapter a bit sensationalized and bordering on a “hot take.”
January 4, 2026
Absolutely Incredible. Especially interesting since even though I’m halfway through my second year of med school, we haven’t learned anything about endometriosis. Per usual, the system needs to do better (and f*ck big pharma)
August 17, 2023
I was so hopeful that this book would address upcoming studies, trials and treatments that have been successful for others. I know the author was up front in the prologue that this book would only address the frustrations…I should have heeded that warning and stopped before starting.
The “anger” approach does not do it for me, so a huge portion of this book was a total miss. It was enlightening, but I was definitely forcing myself to continue.
I did appreciate someone shedding light to this condition without relief and I appreciated how she highlighted diversity with race and sexuality.
I completely agree and relate to a lot of her medical encounters, as I have also felt completely disregarded by OB/GYNs and Urologists. I have also needed to completely take matters into my own hands and advocate for myself with physicians who don’t have the time, patience or humility to listen. I just don’t think this needed to be an entire book, that no physician or researcher will bother to read or will be too offended to consider changing their ways. I also had a hard time with the author not taking into account that a hysterectomy isn’t the answer for everyone and (as she found out post surgery), the procedure doesn’t come without risks and adverse side effects! Also, since a lot of people with endo DO want children…so her fight seemed to be too personal to be generalized to most people with the condition.
I would have preferred this book to be a third of the length, given some of the author’s struggle, but then focused on what we can do from here…
The “anger” approach does not do it for me, so a huge portion of this book was a total miss. It was enlightening, but I was definitely forcing myself to continue.
I did appreciate someone shedding light to this condition without relief and I appreciated how she highlighted diversity with race and sexuality.
I completely agree and relate to a lot of her medical encounters, as I have also felt completely disregarded by OB/GYNs and Urologists. I have also needed to completely take matters into my own hands and advocate for myself with physicians who don’t have the time, patience or humility to listen. I just don’t think this needed to be an entire book, that no physician or researcher will bother to read or will be too offended to consider changing their ways. I also had a hard time with the author not taking into account that a hysterectomy isn’t the answer for everyone and (as she found out post surgery), the procedure doesn’t come without risks and adverse side effects! Also, since a lot of people with endo DO want children…so her fight seemed to be too personal to be generalized to most people with the condition.
I would have preferred this book to be a third of the length, given some of the author’s struggle, but then focused on what we can do from here…
October 7, 2022
I don't have endo or any female-coded diseases, but as a feminist and a strong supporter of reproductive autonomy, I found so much to connect with in this book, and it contains data, anecdotes, and historical research that blew my mind.
BLEED is a blend of memoir and journalism, a punk rock howl of rage and a scathing indictment of how millions of endo sufferers are robbed of their rights to health and self-determination. It delves into the history of misogyny in gynecology and health care, how concepts of hysteria are still with us and inform how we view mental health, how pharma has a stranglehold on the care protocols for endo, even though they’re not the most effective management strategy, how research is chronically underfunded, and how those who are further marginalized have even worse treatment outcomes.
Lindeman is a seasoned journalist, and her writing is lively, angry, and sometimes even funny. It’s filled with chilling stories of her own, and those who may have very different backgrounds — though what they have in common is outrageously bad care.
While this will appeal to feminist readers of Pain and Prejudice or Doing Harm, I can only imagine how important and cathartic it will be for all of the people who have been gaslit, ignored, and told their suffering doesn’t matter.
BLEED is a blend of memoir and journalism, a punk rock howl of rage and a scathing indictment of how millions of endo sufferers are robbed of their rights to health and self-determination. It delves into the history of misogyny in gynecology and health care, how concepts of hysteria are still with us and inform how we view mental health, how pharma has a stranglehold on the care protocols for endo, even though they’re not the most effective management strategy, how research is chronically underfunded, and how those who are further marginalized have even worse treatment outcomes.
Lindeman is a seasoned journalist, and her writing is lively, angry, and sometimes even funny. It’s filled with chilling stories of her own, and those who may have very different backgrounds — though what they have in common is outrageously bad care.
While this will appeal to feminist readers of Pain and Prejudice or Doing Harm, I can only imagine how important and cathartic it will be for all of the people who have been gaslit, ignored, and told their suffering doesn’t matter.
April 12, 2025
Growing up, I was told my pain was just in my head when I was on my period, even though I couldn't walk, sleep, or even sit without suffering. I would vomit from the pain. Although I have it under control now, I sometimes still think that maybe it wasn't enough pain. So, the piece on how the pain scale works was interesting to me. I still sometimes wonder what counts as a 5 on the pain scale versus a 6, 7, 8, or 9.
All I know, is that I've broken a bone and also sat through two 8hr tattoo sessions, and those hurt less than my periods lol.
All I know, is that I've broken a bone and also sat through two 8hr tattoo sessions, and those hurt less than my periods lol.
June 13, 2023
|| BLEED ||
#gifted/@ecwpress
✍🏻
This book is 🔥 absolutely phenomenal!
BLEED is a book that will make you informed, seen, heard, and angry. Lindeman expertly blends memoir with investigative journalism to give an eye opening look at endometriosis care. I was so engrossed in this book. Intelligent and passionately written, Lindeman takes us through her diagnosis and fight for care. She does not shy away from the tough questions or facts surrounding womens healthcare now and historically. Breaking down the system, misogyny, and failures in endometriosis care. I dont have endometriosis but this book is an excellent and fierce read regardless. Highly, highly reccomend!
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
#gifted/@ecwpress
✍🏻
This book is 🔥 absolutely phenomenal!
BLEED is a book that will make you informed, seen, heard, and angry. Lindeman expertly blends memoir with investigative journalism to give an eye opening look at endometriosis care. I was so engrossed in this book. Intelligent and passionately written, Lindeman takes us through her diagnosis and fight for care. She does not shy away from the tough questions or facts surrounding womens healthcare now and historically. Breaking down the system, misogyny, and failures in endometriosis care. I dont have endometriosis but this book is an excellent and fierce read regardless. Highly, highly reccomend!
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
August 12, 2023
“Instead of admitting the system is not calibrated to give endometriosis patients the care they need, actors within the system shift blame and responsibility onto patients themselves, and then hate it when we take the reins.”
A scathing cross examination of the past and current healthcare system; its mistreatment of uterine care; it’s ***horrific*** history; and relatable, frustrating stories
A wholly all encompassing examination, clearly outlining how the historic lack of understanding of the female anatomy coupled with sexism, racism, slavery, and patriarchy alike warped this experience to this day for all that suffer anything related the “female-dominated” health
I need to emphasize that through modern eyes, the long standing beliefs surrounding uterine health, let alone their treatment, are harrowing .. and of course do this date endometriosis eludes researchers
As much as there is historic research, current literature, interviews and such, there’s no shortage of personality in this authors voice that explores all factors from micro (individual) to macro (institutional) scales
Anger, frustration, disbelief, and plenty of rueful, justified spite
To unabashedly criticize the entire health care system (from the picture of a perfect patient, the de-empathized treatment, the lack of interconnection of fields, forcibly removed bodily autonomy, etc), armed with indisputable research, rightfully incensed, this deserves nothing but applause
“the medical system has world-class expertise in denial and gaslighting—meaning it has a special proficiency in being discriminatory while saying it’s not.”
Providing wide expose on: the ignorance and understudied effects of birth control; the destruction of informed consent; big pharma egregiously overprescribing women; big pharma and capitalism; the sick fixation of fertility above all else; disproportionate research funding between sexes; straight up American EUGENICS; the overall deprioritization of women’s health
As hard, and hopeless as it may seem, to acknowledge that these are universal experiences and how abhorrent they are is a monumental step forward.
“We need to demand change. We need to be angry”
“We need to be united in the idea that we all deserve to thrive and not merely survive. Improving our prospects for a good life depends on eliminating systemic barriers that stand in the way of patient-focused and patient-led care for everyone who needs it, and we must insist that healthcare gatekeepers either adapt to this or get pushed out.”
A thoroughly enjoyed(?) read .. personal, factual, enraging, engaging and unfortunately incredibly relatable
“Born to lose, live to win.”
Ps. Congratulations on your long aspired hysterectomy!
A scathing cross examination of the past and current healthcare system; its mistreatment of uterine care; it’s ***horrific*** history; and relatable, frustrating stories
A wholly all encompassing examination, clearly outlining how the historic lack of understanding of the female anatomy coupled with sexism, racism, slavery, and patriarchy alike warped this experience to this day for all that suffer anything related the “female-dominated” health
I need to emphasize that through modern eyes, the long standing beliefs surrounding uterine health, let alone their treatment, are harrowing .. and of course do this date endometriosis eludes researchers
As much as there is historic research, current literature, interviews and such, there’s no shortage of personality in this authors voice that explores all factors from micro (individual) to macro (institutional) scales
Anger, frustration, disbelief, and plenty of rueful, justified spite
To unabashedly criticize the entire health care system (from the picture of a perfect patient, the de-empathized treatment, the lack of interconnection of fields, forcibly removed bodily autonomy, etc), armed with indisputable research, rightfully incensed, this deserves nothing but applause
“the medical system has world-class expertise in denial and gaslighting—meaning it has a special proficiency in being discriminatory while saying it’s not.”
Providing wide expose on: the ignorance and understudied effects of birth control; the destruction of informed consent; big pharma egregiously overprescribing women; big pharma and capitalism; the sick fixation of fertility above all else; disproportionate research funding between sexes; straight up American EUGENICS; the overall deprioritization of women’s health
As hard, and hopeless as it may seem, to acknowledge that these are universal experiences and how abhorrent they are is a monumental step forward.
“We need to demand change. We need to be angry”
“We need to be united in the idea that we all deserve to thrive and not merely survive. Improving our prospects for a good life depends on eliminating systemic barriers that stand in the way of patient-focused and patient-led care for everyone who needs it, and we must insist that healthcare gatekeepers either adapt to this or get pushed out.”
A thoroughly enjoyed(?) read .. personal, factual, enraging, engaging and unfortunately incredibly relatable
“Born to lose, live to win.”
Ps. Congratulations on your long aspired hysterectomy!
July 12, 2023
Reading this book was such a cathartic experience for me. I have never felt such an overwhelming sense of validation.
BLEED gave me a name for something I have experienced time and time again but could never put my finger on, “medical gaslighting”. Women have been told for generations that their pain is “not real” or that we are just being “hysterical”, and this book serves as a reminder that your pain is valid and your experience with pain, of any kind, is valid. This may be my new favorite nonfiction book and I implore you to check it out.
MISOGYNY IN HEALTHCARE REAL
BLEED gave me a name for something I have experienced time and time again but could never put my finger on, “medical gaslighting”. Women have been told for generations that their pain is “not real” or that we are just being “hysterical”, and this book serves as a reminder that your pain is valid and your experience with pain, of any kind, is valid. This may be my new favorite nonfiction book and I implore you to check it out.
MISOGYNY IN HEALTHCARE REAL
March 29, 2025
This is a book about an awful disease that we can’t yet diagnose well or treat well. As a result, the many who have endometriosis suffer a lot. It is an area that needs tremendous research. However, I struggled to get through this book as it is a full-blown rant about the author’s interactions with the medical system (mostly the Canadian health system). I almost quit the book about 10 times. It’s unfortunate that the tone overpowers potentially helpful information. I would not recommend.
July 28, 2023
Realistically, in a perfect world, everyone should read this book. PERIOD.
March 14, 2024
Having recently been immersed in endometriosis research, I was seeking some ethnographic material of the disease aetiology that also incorporated social and cultural perceptions of the healthcare system. Lindeman situates this text in her Canadian experience of the biomedical system during her struggles with endometriosis.
I found this text really insightful, and I especially liked how she highlighted the social attitudes and history of ‘women’s diseases’, and the association of female physical illness and expressions of emotion with hysteria.
She poignantly describes the disbelief or reluctance to acknowledge female pain, to the extent of which it is being described by women, that is evident in the biomedical system, especially in relation to reproductive health. She expresses her feelings around medical injustice and the lack of control she had over her body when pursuing treatments, for example, being denied a hysterectomy multiple times because they felt she may ‘change her mind’, despite being very sure of her decision following thirty years of excruciating pelvic pain.
I feel that the rage the author expressed as a result of her experiences sometimes obscured the structural and system difficulties of lack of funding, facilities, and adequate education of doctors in the healthcare system, and instead they were received as personal. While I personally have no jurisdiction to comment on the Canadian healthcare system, I understand that biomedicine is deeply, deeply flawed, yet the author left the feeling that there was absolutely no salvation or positivity in the system whatsoever, despite trans care facilities. A part of me feels inclined to hypothesise that there are at least some compassionate, educated and trauma informed doctors providing a better service than described, but again, I have absolutely no personal experience in endometriosis care and therefore could be entirely wrong. I also do not wish to diminish the author’s suffering at all - she is completely valid in her fury and I agree she was treated extremely poorly by multiple individuals and the system as a whole.
Overall, it was a moving depiction of a crippling health struggle which encounters unproductive care, social stigma, and repeated obstacles. It made me even more passionate about improving female reproductive care and I would recommend a read to anyone who doubts the severity and debilitation that endometriosis can pertain.
I found this text really insightful, and I especially liked how she highlighted the social attitudes and history of ‘women’s diseases’, and the association of female physical illness and expressions of emotion with hysteria.
She poignantly describes the disbelief or reluctance to acknowledge female pain, to the extent of which it is being described by women, that is evident in the biomedical system, especially in relation to reproductive health. She expresses her feelings around medical injustice and the lack of control she had over her body when pursuing treatments, for example, being denied a hysterectomy multiple times because they felt she may ‘change her mind’, despite being very sure of her decision following thirty years of excruciating pelvic pain.
I feel that the rage the author expressed as a result of her experiences sometimes obscured the structural and system difficulties of lack of funding, facilities, and adequate education of doctors in the healthcare system, and instead they were received as personal. While I personally have no jurisdiction to comment on the Canadian healthcare system, I understand that biomedicine is deeply, deeply flawed, yet the author left the feeling that there was absolutely no salvation or positivity in the system whatsoever, despite trans care facilities. A part of me feels inclined to hypothesise that there are at least some compassionate, educated and trauma informed doctors providing a better service than described, but again, I have absolutely no personal experience in endometriosis care and therefore could be entirely wrong. I also do not wish to diminish the author’s suffering at all - she is completely valid in her fury and I agree she was treated extremely poorly by multiple individuals and the system as a whole.
Overall, it was a moving depiction of a crippling health struggle which encounters unproductive care, social stigma, and repeated obstacles. It made me even more passionate about improving female reproductive care and I would recommend a read to anyone who doubts the severity and debilitation that endometriosis can pertain.
March 28, 2023
Bleed is passionate, well-researched and upsetting to read. I don’t have endometriosis, the topic of this book, but I did have scary bad and undiagnosed fibroids, which led to all kinds of craziness (a herniated disk which landed me in hospital, all the cancer tests possible) and finally and blissfully a hysterectomy. So I found all the descriptions of uncaring doctors prescribing drugs instead of doing proper diagnostics and all the self-delusion of ‘this is normal’ when it really isn’t, very anxiety-inducing. But aside from the content warning that many women will identify with Tracey Lindeman’s story, it is an excellent feminist book on how misogyny in health care still maims and kills. I’m taking off one star because it was so damn memory-provoking.
January 18, 2026
DNF after four chapters. As someone who personally suffers from this condition, I was really hoping for an objective, educational perspective. I completely understand, and deeply empathize with, the frustration around women’s health being so underfunded and under researched that an illness affecting 1 in 10 women can be so consistently mistreated / misdiagnosed.
Unfortunately, this book felt more like a deeply personal, one-sided rant about the medical system and its biases. And while that anger is entirely valid, the book reads more like an angry memoir than a guide aimed at dismantling myths around endometriosis care.
I was looking for education and clarity. This just wasn’t that.
Unfortunately, this book felt more like a deeply personal, one-sided rant about the medical system and its biases. And while that anger is entirely valid, the book reads more like an angry memoir than a guide aimed at dismantling myths around endometriosis care.
I was looking for education and clarity. This just wasn’t that.
Read
April 9, 2024“Money has bought me the luxury to be treated like a human with valid concerns; it bought me belief. Fundamentally, the privilege of being believed is given to so few of us. To have a feminized sickness that makes you invisible seems like the ultimate punishment in a world that hates women.”
Don’t act surprised.
Don’t act surprised.
January 3, 2026
Lu pour le travail but daaaaaam’
Beaucoup beaucoup d’info, de sources, de rage, de « j’ai envie de foutre le feu au patriarcat » (et à la médecine).
J’ai beaucoup appris sur cette maladie mais aussi de façon plus large sur le traitement médical des affections dites « féminines »…
Que d’empathie pour l’autrice, pour toutes les personnes qui témoignent…
Beaucoup beaucoup d’info, de sources, de rage, de « j’ai envie de foutre le feu au patriarcat » (et à la médecine).
J’ai beaucoup appris sur cette maladie mais aussi de façon plus large sur le traitement médical des affections dites « féminines »…
Que d’empathie pour l’autrice, pour toutes les personnes qui témoignent…
August 2, 2025
4.5 stars - This book hit close to home. I was diagnosed with endometriosis and more recently with adenomyosis after years of being told my pain was “just part of being a woman”. Listening to the audiobook validated my frustrations with our medical system while offering some hope for the future of endometriosis care.
May 10, 2024
3.5. BLEED is not a self-help book; it's a rage book, and boy, was rage healing.
Endometriosis is a lifelong disease, even after a hysterectomy. Since treatment options are focused on either preserving fertility or reducing pain, there's unfortunately no way to self-help one's way to a cured body. I imagine I was not the only reader who felt validated (and saddened) seeing my experiences reflected throughout this book. Lindeman took great care to ensure everyone with a uterus was included, providing intersectional research that reflected trans, non-binary, and intersex experiences (A significant boon to the book, since trans and nonbinary individuals often experience additional hurdles in receiving endo care).
My biggest critique was her chapter on birth control. BLEED was part-memoir, and her negative experiences understandably shaped her perspective on the history of birth control & endo. However, in her efforts to drive her point home re: doctors treating hormonal pills as a universal treatment for endo (consequences be damned), the chapter's historical narrative felt conveniently simplified and the data/studies more sensationalized. (For example, while Lindeman celebrated doctors who advocated for increased gov regulation to protect women from the pill's side-effects, she criticized opponents of regulation, portraying them as naive or willing to put women in danger...rather than examining their concern that increased regulation was largely championed by pro-lifers who would weaponize it against women's bodily autonomy. She throws in a sentence admitting one of the heroic doctors concerned about side-effects was hugely anti-abortion, but she brushes past it quickly).
Additionally, while I deeply appreciate increased education on medical malpractice and birth control's origins in racism/eugenics, bad history does not negate modern studies that support the efficacy of some hormonal treatment options. (Although, as Lindeman later describes, endo studies can & do need to be better designed. Both can be true!).
Ultimately, BLEED provides so much good for endo patients: permission to be mad, knowledge that we aren't alone, hard facts about the medical system to chew on, and ideas in which patients can take back some power in their exhausting health journey.
Endometriosis is a lifelong disease, even after a hysterectomy. Since treatment options are focused on either preserving fertility or reducing pain, there's unfortunately no way to self-help one's way to a cured body. I imagine I was not the only reader who felt validated (and saddened) seeing my experiences reflected throughout this book. Lindeman took great care to ensure everyone with a uterus was included, providing intersectional research that reflected trans, non-binary, and intersex experiences (A significant boon to the book, since trans and nonbinary individuals often experience additional hurdles in receiving endo care).
My biggest critique was her chapter on birth control. BLEED was part-memoir, and her negative experiences understandably shaped her perspective on the history of birth control & endo. However, in her efforts to drive her point home re: doctors treating hormonal pills as a universal treatment for endo (consequences be damned), the chapter's historical narrative felt conveniently simplified and the data/studies more sensationalized. (For example, while Lindeman celebrated doctors who advocated for increased gov regulation to protect women from the pill's side-effects, she criticized opponents of regulation, portraying them as naive or willing to put women in danger...rather than examining their concern that increased regulation was largely championed by pro-lifers who would weaponize it against women's bodily autonomy. She throws in a sentence admitting one of the heroic doctors concerned about side-effects was hugely anti-abortion, but she brushes past it quickly).
Additionally, while I deeply appreciate increased education on medical malpractice and birth control's origins in racism/eugenics, bad history does not negate modern studies that support the efficacy of some hormonal treatment options. (Although, as Lindeman later describes, endo studies can & do need to be better designed. Both can be true!).
Ultimately, BLEED provides so much good for endo patients: permission to be mad, knowledge that we aren't alone, hard facts about the medical system to chew on, and ideas in which patients can take back some power in their exhausting health journey.
December 26, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of Bleed. While I don’t or have never struggled with endometriosis, or particularly difficult periods I am a woman with a uterus with absorbent amounts of compassion and empathy. Reading this book, which is part autobiography, part medical journal I was left sadden (surprisingly not shocked) at the lack of compassion by medical professionals. The amount of struggle that someone who gets periods has to go through to even have a medical professional even listen is ridiculous. I’m a white, cis gendered female and if the others described can be treated this way, I can only imagine what someone who doesn’t fit into tidy category must go through. I’m positive that Tracey’s words don’t even for a second begin to truly describe the paint caused by this disease. I am hopeful that this book is read by everyone who either has a uterus, or is a medical professional. Instead of just throwing some medication to those afflicted; it’s time to really start listening.
September 6, 2023
On the whole a really good and interesting book, but the chapter on birth control really undermined my faith in the rest of the text.... a lot of what she said just seems to be baseless fear-mongering, or weird logic along the lines of "birth control for endo paitents is bad because some early birth-control advocates were eugenicists." Which sounds compelling when you're reading it, but falls apart when you take a moment to think about it. When I went looking to verify some of her more shocking bombshells about the health impacts of hormonal birth control, because I was genuinely worried about the implications for my own health, what I found was a wealth of peer-reviewed articles refuting her points and almost nothing backing her up? So take it with a grain of salt I guess.
November 19, 2023
I met the author at a book fair in Montreal and when I picked up the book and said “I’ve been looking for something like this for so long!” she very humbly told me that she wrote it. She asked if someone in my life was going through ‘this.’ When I said the book was for me, she looked at me with so much care and thoughtfulness and told me how sorry she is that I am already going through this. So, Tracey, if you happen to read my review I wanted to say thank you.
I have been oscillating between feeling like I’m a hypochondriac for a while now. I don’t know what I have or what’s “wrong” but I definitely know that my symptoms are not normal, everyday pain. This book has given me the confidence to never stop advocating for myself.
I have been oscillating between feeling like I’m a hypochondriac for a while now. I don’t know what I have or what’s “wrong” but I definitely know that my symptoms are not normal, everyday pain. This book has given me the confidence to never stop advocating for myself.
October 19, 2023
Meh. I suffer from endo. I have also been care takers for my parents, trust me you have to be proactive and your own advocate regardless of your diagnosis. Unfortunately, the author has a lot or anger and medical trauma she needs to deal with. You are not responsible for your trauma but your trauma is your responsibility. Life is too short to listen (audiobook) droll on about their anger. DNF
June 26, 2023
I don't really know what to make of this book.
It is well written and flows nicely (no pun intended). Good information but not necessarily new information on the topic at large.
I think I wanted to see more actionables to be delivered on.
A possible solution was never really given besides that if someone tells you they are in pain believe them.
It is well written and flows nicely (no pun intended). Good information but not necessarily new information on the topic at large.
I think I wanted to see more actionables to be delivered on.
A possible solution was never really given besides that if someone tells you they are in pain believe them.
April 29, 2024
I'm 20 years old and recently I found out that my pain is not "normal" and that not everyone feels pain or discomfort so many days of the month. We, as AFAB people, are always taught that feeling pain is normal, so we dont question how much and what type of pain really is normal. My mom has endometriosis (or had, she's in menopause now) and thinks I might have it. Honestly, I kind of do too. Its hard for me to talk about it cause I'm used to diminishing my pain and discomfort, I always think I only have the right to complain when I cant take it anymore. I'm trying to stop that cause its pretty toxic. This book helped and validated me a lot (cause its easy to think I'm dramatic or crazy). It also made me burst with anger. I feel so much more prepared to investigate my suspicion after reading this.
I recommend this book to anyone who thinks might have endo, are interested in the subject or have someone close to them that have the disease. I also think its so important to have doctors read this!!!! Cause, only in my few months of suspicion, I already felt gaslit by two doctors.
I dont think I can properly explain all the reasons why this book is worth reading but I will try. This book is so inteligent, interesting, smart and well-researched that I feel I couldnt have read a better one on the subject. Even more so cause the author herself suffered with endometriosis her whole life. It has interviews with health practicioners, with endo sufferers, historical background, political background, narrative of the author's personal experience in the system and with pain, amongst other things. It adresses the power imbalance in our society and mostly in the healthcare system. This was truly groundbraking for me.
I recommend this book to anyone who thinks might have endo, are interested in the subject or have someone close to them that have the disease. I also think its so important to have doctors read this!!!! Cause, only in my few months of suspicion, I already felt gaslit by two doctors.
I dont think I can properly explain all the reasons why this book is worth reading but I will try. This book is so inteligent, interesting, smart and well-researched that I feel I couldnt have read a better one on the subject. Even more so cause the author herself suffered with endometriosis her whole life. It has interviews with health practicioners, with endo sufferers, historical background, political background, narrative of the author's personal experience in the system and with pain, amongst other things. It adresses the power imbalance in our society and mostly in the healthcare system. This was truly groundbraking for me.
October 7, 2022
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care releases March 21, 2023.
Bleed is part memoir, part journalistic prose.
Going into this, I knew that I would be able to relate to it. On many occasions, reading the experiences of others had me nodding my head and thinking all too well “yup”.
As someone that also suffers from some of the most debilitating chronic pains and symptoms, it was refreshing in a way to know that it isn’t just a figment of my imagination, yet, on the other hand, it’s frustrating to live in a world where so many individuals are still being gaslit and dismissed not only by men, but women as well.
The writing in Bleed is intellectual. I appreciated the emphasis on including terms such as “endo patients” that brought inclusion to everyone from cis-women, to non-binary, trans, and so forth.
There’s a lot of insight not only to endometriosis, but also the toll on mental health, medical facts, the way medications are prescribed and what kind of adverse side affects come with those.
Discourse includes detailed personal experiences, misogyny, gaslighting, marginalized people, racial inequality, suicide and suicidal thoughts, myths dating back to the early 1800’s, willingly choosing not to have children, and more.
Whether you have endo, pcos, a diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic illness, are a cis-woman or identify as something else, I think you’ll be able to either relate or hopefully gain a little insight as to how some individuals feel on a regular basis. Learning to cope to be high-functioning while in immense pain is a taxing skill in and of itself. Hopefully this brings necessary light and better advocacy to those who need it.
“Some may wonder why we put up with all this nonsense. To that I answer, do we really have a choice? We either live with it, or stop living.”
Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care releases March 21, 2023.
Bleed is part memoir, part journalistic prose.
Going into this, I knew that I would be able to relate to it. On many occasions, reading the experiences of others had me nodding my head and thinking all too well “yup”.
As someone that also suffers from some of the most debilitating chronic pains and symptoms, it was refreshing in a way to know that it isn’t just a figment of my imagination, yet, on the other hand, it’s frustrating to live in a world where so many individuals are still being gaslit and dismissed not only by men, but women as well.
The writing in Bleed is intellectual. I appreciated the emphasis on including terms such as “endo patients” that brought inclusion to everyone from cis-women, to non-binary, trans, and so forth.
There’s a lot of insight not only to endometriosis, but also the toll on mental health, medical facts, the way medications are prescribed and what kind of adverse side affects come with those.
Discourse includes detailed personal experiences, misogyny, gaslighting, marginalized people, racial inequality, suicide and suicidal thoughts, myths dating back to the early 1800’s, willingly choosing not to have children, and more.
Whether you have endo, pcos, a diagnosed or undiagnosed chronic illness, are a cis-woman or identify as something else, I think you’ll be able to either relate or hopefully gain a little insight as to how some individuals feel on a regular basis. Learning to cope to be high-functioning while in immense pain is a taxing skill in and of itself. Hopefully this brings necessary light and better advocacy to those who need it.
“Some may wonder why we put up with all this nonsense. To that I answer, do we really have a choice? We either live with it, or stop living.”
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