Our Shared Shelf discussion

Hello OSS Readers,

For all those who are still interested in reading with us, we have a new book.

Reproductive healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. The onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care they need. Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how women and female identifying persons engage with their bodies and their healthcare. (1)

“There’s an interesting perception that women’s health is not real medicine, like, say, studying cancer or strokes, that periods and menopause are not as worthy of medical attention or research funding,” says Tang. “Even in terms of insurance coverage, women’s health has always been some of the poorest among all of the different types of medical treatments.”

This inclusive book is dedicated to anyone whose health has been harmed by the patriarchy. In it, she lifts the veil on problematic periods, pelvic pain, endometriosis, PMS, menopause, fibroids, and more — issues that, she emphasizes, are incredibly widespread, yet still pretty hush-hush. (2)

It's time to talk about these items and raise our voices.

-The OSS Mods

(1): It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health book blurb
(2) "In It’s Not Hysteria, Dr. Karen Tang Translates Her TikTok Ethos To The Page. The gynecologist’s 600,000-plus followers expect no-nonsense facts about women’s health." by Sara Stewart for Bustle Magazine. May 30, 2024.

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OSS will be reading the following book in October - November 2024:


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

Very cool. Thank you for picking this book. It's been on my shelf for a while.

Nice! Gonna try to find it :) Thanks for the recommandation! :D

Excited for the resurgence!

Hello Pam
This book sounds incredibly important, especially given the ongoing challenges surrounding reproductive healthcare. Dr. Karen Tang's focus on empowering women and female-identifying people to take charge of their health is much needed. Her emphasis on bringing attention to issues like problematic periods, endometriosis, and menopause, which have been overlooked or dismissed for too long, is exactly the kind of conversation we need more of.

I appreciate how this book seems to bridge the gap between the clinical and personal, giving readers a chance to understand their bodies in a way that’s clear, accessible, and empowering. It’s great that Dr. Tang also draws attention to the systemic issues in healthcare, such as the lack of research and coverage for women’s health concerns. This book feels timely and crucial in today’s climate.

Looking forward to reading and discussing this with everyone. It’s time we raise our voices on these issues!

I just saw this… I’m definitely getting this book. It might inspire me to take action. Fuck. (I really thought she would win.)

Carly wrote: "I just saw this… I’m definitely getting this book. It might inspire me to take action. Fuck. (I really thought she would win.)"

Yeah, me too. I am devastated, I can't believe how many people hate women (including women who hate other women)

Georgia wrote: "Hello Pam
This book sounds incredibly important, especially given the ongoing challenges surrounding reproductive healthcare. Dr. Karen Tang's focus on empowering women and female-identifying peopl..."

I finished a bit ago but forgot to come back here! I have had this book on my TBR list for awhile because of the my personal health issues, my daughter, my best friend, and honestly just so many women I talk to. I was glad for an excuse to grab it from the library.

This book is everything I wish I had years ago when I started having unexplained pelvic pain that was repeatedly dismissed by gynecologists. As someone who has, therefore, done a lot of research to figure out what is happening, why, and what to do… I appreciated how Dr. Tang addressed common misconceptions, what gyns know, how they treat, and what our treatment options are. Beyond that, aiming to speak to everyone included in the term “women’s health” matters—we get very little research for health problems specific to us as it is.

Our experiences are all different, but we can all get good care and advocate for ourselves, especially when armed with knowledge like this.

This book is highly suitable for individuals looking to enhance their self awareness and emotional management skills, particularly in the workplace and daily life The perspectives and methods it offers can help readers remain calm in the face of difficulties and effectively tackle various challenges This is Not Hysteria is an inspiring and practical read worthy of attention providing readers with profound emotional insights and concrete actionable tools and techniques

This was such a good book, thank you for choosing it! I probably wouldn't have read it or heard about it otherwise.

It was so incredibly informative, I certainly learned a lot. I would say this is an essential read for anyone with a uterus really.

I hate that we have to advocate for ourselves in the healthcare system we have, but I loved that not only did Dr. Tang acknowledge that the system is problematic, but that she encouraged that we push back if we feel something is wrong. I've encountered so many doctors who think they know better just because they're doctors, so having Dr. Tang be like "No, it's your body. If something feels wrong or isn't working then you are absolutely allowed to say" was pretty great to read.

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Finally got a copy through my library. So glad this was recommended. I am buying this for everyone I know, and so glad the author's goal is to bring woman's (including in the LGBTQ+ community) to light. I am going to do everything I can to help by recommending and reference the booking any time I can.

Hello everyone!

I reached out to the author, the wonderful Dr. Karen Tang, to let her know that we read her book in October and everyone had such wonderful things to say. And she was so happy to know that it made an impact that she wanted to know if she could screen shot your comments here to share on her social media accounts.

If you would like to opt out, please tell me here or by direct message.

If you haven't added your review here or on our discussion page, feel free to do it as well. Add a (Free to screen shot) or send me a note.

Thanks! See you around the forum!