Interesting book with lots of different information on women related issues but for me as someone who’s read a lot of books about similar topics I felt it was just a sort of redo of everything I’ve read. Definitely check it out though if your looking for a more basic introduction to all the types of topics the book covers

I received an arc of this book from NetGalley for an honest review. Some interesting stuff, most of which I knew. Not all people are going to check out a bright pink-covered book that makes you look at it twice. If you want people to check this book out from a library, consider toning down the cover.

I think this book should be read by all women because of how important the subject is and the lack of public education related to women's bodies and women's health. I learned so much from this book and took a lot of notes as I read it because of how useful and beneficial it was. I enjoyed learning from this book and really hope to pass it a long with what I learned, to other women.

Thank you Netgally and the author for the free review copy

Ummm, this book was for lack of a better term "different". I assumed it was going to be more science based. Like proven facts. It in turn was quite spiritual. I'm not the intended audience for this book.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This book sounded fantastic and did have some great information in it that is worth a read but some of it was abit too spiritual for me and I wasn't sure what to make of these parts as they just weren't connecting to me. However if you are a very spiritual person you will probably feel very differently.
The book is split into 5 parts and each part is focused on a different topic relating to the vagina.

Self-Care Down There: From Menstrual Cups and Moisturizers to Body Positivity and Brazilian Wax, a Guide to Your Vagina’s Well-Being is written by Taq Kaur Bhandal, who happens to live in my neck of the woods.

I’m all about embracing our bodies and getting to know them and how they work, so I went in expecting to enjoy this book. It didn’t quite go as planned.

The book is divided into five different sections: getting to know your garden, savvy self-care, the wisdom of menstrual cycles, getting wet and wild, the modern-day vagina. For the most part, each page covers a subtopic, and there’s a box at the bottom of the page dedicated to sacred self-care, i.e. ways to practice self-care with regards to that particular topic.

From the book’s description, I wasn’t prepared for the woo-woo factor, for lack of a better term, that made an early appearance in the book. I’m pretty anti-New Age in general, so being told that my vagina is a spiritual energy centre connecting me to the earth didn’t really go over so well.

There was a mix of sensible and somewhat out-there suggestions. For example, the useful bits of advice on preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs) were accompanied by the suggestion that you create an affirmation for the urethra to practice daily. The harms of douching were discussed, which is great, and then along came the idea of steaming your vagina. And yes, that’s pretty much what it sounds like.

The book encourages the reader to drink lots of water. Great suggestion, but this was accompanied by a rather odd explanation that the hydrogen in water helps to acidify the vagina; the actual explanation for the low pH in the vagina relates to Lactobacillus bacteria producing lactic acid when they metabolize sugars.

Where the book really lost me was with the hormonal contraceptive-bashing. This wasn’t just mentioned once or twice; it was a recurring theme emphasized throughout the book. Birth control pills and other hormonal methods were presented as factory-made cyborg hormones that give you cyborg ovaries and put you into cyborg menopause, which can disrupt your whole life, including your spiritual health.

While these types of birth control methods are far from perfect, and they can unquestionably cause side effects, they are a choice made by a whole lot of women. If the book is supposed to be about empowering women, slamming a method preferred by many women probably isn’t helpful.

The book also covers topics like pubic hair maintenance, period products, sex, and masturbation. Menstrual periods are explored, and the author suggests making a vision board for your menstrual cycle. I think I’ll skip that.

So, clearly this book wasn’t a great fit for me; I think it’s most likely to appeal to people who are already New-Age-inclined.



I received a reviewer copy of this book from www.netgalley.com.

This book is a self help book on discovering your body.I would say it is geared more towards a young person who wants to know more but doesn’t know where to start.Its a tad bit on the spiritual side.Descriptions are more flowery than clinical
Thankyou Netgalley for this ARC

Covers a lot of vaginal health and daily life issues. Would make a good book for a young girl just starting life into womanhood (just be aware it talks of sex, a lot, LOL, so if the girl doesn't know that yet, this could be a bit jarring)
I did feel a bit 'left wanting' with this as, though it delves into a lot of how we as women can and should come to know about our bodies down there, I felt the author could've gone deeper. She talks a lot of 'ancient wisdom passed on by your ancestors, etc.' but I wanted to know more about this ancient wisdom - I might be reading this book to find out things I don't know because it's not my culture or my geographical purview to know the immense knowledge women have been passing on through generations.
All in all, felt very much a 'primer' and I would've wanted to cover more ground regarding what to do and how/why do it for vaginal and sexual/reproductive health

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Very interesting read!

This is not a book for people who are looking for hardcore scientific facts, it's very much about getting in touch with your body and learning about some of the most sensitive parts of yourself, it is about letting go of thoughts of shame surronding your body, and instead learning to love every part of yourself.

"Self-Care Down There" covers everything you could possibly think of such as anatomy, a deep dive into hygiene and lifestyle, menstruation, sexual pleasure, and vaginal self-care trends.

If you want to get in touch with your womanhood, or feel more comfortable with your body i would strongly suggest this book, although, i would be careful as i would with any informational source and do your own research before following any tips that may affect your physical health.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This would be a good book for young women who want a pretty basic understanding of pelvic health. It was a bit too "spiritual-y" for my taste but overall, has good information.

Pretty basic information geared more towards young women. I think this would be a useful resource for those too embarrassed to ask.