Blood by Jen Gunter

Title: Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation

Author: Jen Gunter

Publisher: Citadel 2024

Genre: Nonfiction - Science

Pages: 480

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nonfiction Reader; 52 Book Club - Nonfiction Recommended by a Friend

Most women can expect to have hundreds of periods in a lifetime. So why is real information so hard to find? Despite its significance, most education about menstruation focuses either on increasing the chances of pregnancy or preventing it. And while both are crucial, women deserve to know more about their bodies than just what happens in service to reproduction. At a time when charlatans, politicians, and even some doctors are succeeding in propagating damaging misinformation and disempowering women, Dr. Jen provides the antidote with science, myth busting, and no-nonsense facts.

Not knowing how your body works makes it challenging to advocate for yourself. Consequently, many suffer in silence thinking their bodies are uniquely broken, or they turn to disreputable sources. Blood is a practical, empowering guide to what’s typical, what’s concerning, and when to seek care—recounted with expertise and frank, fearless wit that have made Dr. Jen today’s most trusted voice in women’s health.

Dr. Jen answers all your period-related questions, including: What exactly happens during menstruation? How heavy is too heavy? How much should periods hurt? and provides essential information. Blood is about much more than biology. It’s an all-in-one, revolutionary guide that will change the way we think about, talk about—and don’t talk about—our bodies and our well-being.

Another amazingly informative yet very readable science text from Jen Gunter. I had previous read her older book, The Vagina Bible, and recommended it every single person I knew. I picked this later book up and remember why I enjoy her weighty tomes so much. Gunter writes with clarity and conciseness with a bit of a humor. Even in the most complicated medical sections, the reader can easily follow the explanations. I learned so much from this book. I can’t wait to pick up her other book about menopause next month.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Vagina Bible by Jen Gunter

Title: The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina - Separating the Myth from the Medicine

Author: Jen Gunter

Publisher: Citadel 2019

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 420

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Library; Monthly Theme - March

So many important questions, so much convincing, confusing, contradictory misinformation! In this age of click bait, pseudoscience, and celebrity-endorsed products, it’s easy to be overwhelmed—whether it’s websites, advice from well-meaning friends, uneducated partners, and even healthcare providers. So how do you separate facts from fiction? OB-GYN Jen Gunter, an expert on women’s health—and the internet’s most popular go-to doc—comes to the rescue with a book that debunks the myths and educates and empowers women. From reproductive health to the impact of antibiotics and probiotics, and the latest trends, including vaginal steaming, vaginal marijuana products, and jade eggs, Gunter takes us on a factual, fun-filled journey.

Wow! How I wish I had this book when going through puberty as a teen. This textbook like guide covers all the information you need to understand your body. Gunter dispels so many myths while imparting great advice. While I knew a lot of the factual information (I have learned a lot since I was 14), reading some of those sections was a great refresher. I really enjoyed the sections dealing with dispelling myths including the dangers of Toxic Shock Syndrome and the use of cranberry juice to stave off UTIs. This would be a great book to read once and then keep as reference for your shelf.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Birth by Tina Cassidy

Title: Birth: The Surprising History of How We are Born

Author: Tina Cassidy

Publisher: Atlantic 2006

Genre: Nonfiction, Medical

Pages: 312

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Nerdy Nonfiction - Health, Medicine; Women Authors; Library Loan; 52 Books in 52 Weeks -- W17

How I Got It: Library loan

Published to widespread acclaim, Tina Cassidy’s smart, engaging book is the first world history of childbirth in fifty years. From evolution to the epidural and beyond, Tina Cassidy presents an intelligent, enlightening, and impeccably researched cultural history of how and why we’re born the way we are. Women have been giving birth for millennia but that’s about the only constant in the final stage of the great process that is human reproduction. Why is it that every culture and generation seems to have its own ideas about the best way to give birth? Cassidy explores the physical, anthropological, political, and religious factors that have and will continue to influence how women bring new life into the world.

Another book that's been on my TBR list for a while now.  I finally grabbed it at the library and dove in.  Cassidy's writing reminds of Mary Roach.  Cassidy's not as funny, but definitely crafts a story out of a tons of medical knowledge.  I was entertaining, and at times, disgusted by the ignorance and misinformation in childbirth history.  Overall, the story makes me feel very lucky at giving birth in the 21st century.  I'm sure it will continue to improve, but my options are very good right now.  Just a warning: don't read if you're squeamish...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Title: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Author: Rebecca Skloot

Publisher: Broadway 2011

Genre: Nonfiction - Biography/Science

Pages: 382

Rating:   5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Fall into Reading

How I Got It: Loan from a friend

Her name was Henrietta Lacks, but scientists know her as HeLa. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells—taken without her knowledge—became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though she has been dead for more than sixty years. If you could pile all HeLa cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions.

A friend gave me this book to read for our newly formed book club.  I had seen it on a ton of book lists.  I had heard that I should read it, but just didn't get around to it.  Even J's friend told J that he had to read it.  So I dove in without many notions of what it was actually about.  And I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it.

My thoughts:

Skloot flips back and forth between the science of the HeLa cells and the life and rediscovery of Henrietta Lacks.  I instantly latched onto the science chapters.  I loved hearing the story of the HeLa cells and their impact on science and medicine.  I loved reading about the ensuing controversies over contamination, informed consent, and ethics.  I had known about the Tuskegee syphilis studies, but didn't realize how many more unethical experiments that were done in science's name.  I also had no knowledge of the so-called Nazi Law.  It was a revelation.  I felt that i added another piece in my understanding of society.  It was a fascinating read.  I would have loved to read what Skloot felt about the controversies, but she seemed to keep those parts much more factual.  The parts about Henrietta's life and death were heartbreaking.  The levels of misfortune, segregation, discriminationand just back luck pained me.  And then to see the cycle continue with her children was almost too much to bear.  At points the biography sections felt almost made up because they were so fantastic.  And yet, the characters inhabiting the story were all fantastic in their own ways.  True life can be more unbelievable than science fiction in many ways.  A fascinating book, now I'm off to book club to discuss.

Book club thoughts:

I'm back from book club to share some of our thoughts on the book...  We had a great discussion about many aspects of the book.  It's funny that the other ladies really loved the biography sections of the book and I gravitated toward the science sections.  But it did lead to some great discussions about the world of medicine and informed consent.  It seems we still don't have the issue clear.  Anyway, I had a lovely time and can't wait until the next meeting.  We're reading The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott for December.