This is an honest and unflinching look into the life of a woman struggling with chronic pain caused by endometriosis. While I don't suffer from this particular health issue, I deeply resonated with much of Parker's experience dealing with societal expectations and taboos surrounding women's bodies and women's health. An absolute eye-opener and must-read.

As someone who has and still deals with this, I was beyond excited to read another woman's story of her "vagina problems." Like the author, I started early in life and struggled to work my way through the healthcare system to get diagnosed. Many times I was screaming along with the book. The familiarity of it all was enraging yet comforting at the same time. It can be a lonely place and hearing more and more people bring it to light has been really great to see. Advocating for you and your health is SO important. So thankful for this copy.

I thought I wanted to read this but in the end I was just not interested. I did not finish it and I am not sure I see myself picking it up again in the future.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lara Parker is bravely tackling an issue that even today gets discussed in hushed tones, in case someone overhears you: vagina problems.

The author points out that a large percentage of the female population suffers debilitating pain as a result of being born with a vagina. Dysmenorrhea, cystitis, recurring UTIs, vaginosis, endometriosis, dyspareunia.... the list goes on and on. I felt very badly for this young woman, whose entire life, once she started menstruating, was one unending wave of pain. The title of this book caught my eye, because I also suffered from painful dysmenorrhea for most of my life, with little or no help from the medical profession. Going on the pill helped, as did extra strength Advil - and learning to take it a few days before my cycle was due to start, etc., but I can agree with the author that this type of pain was not taken very seriously forty-plus decades ago.

I think I would have given this book a five instead of a 3.8-star rating if there had been more focus on the cures and help available for women suffering from these issues. Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with a person who tells you every excruciating detail of a recent serious illness or surgery? In the beginning, you are very sympathetic, but after a while, you realize that you've had your fill of listening to her terribly sad monologue about her pain and suffering. For me, I'd reached my limit when the author described at great length an episode where she was writhing in pain on the workplace unisex bathroom floor, rolling around in all those pee and poop spores. This phrase was repeated one too many times for my liking.

Hey: Hats off to Lara Parker for seeking enlightenment and answers to her questions about her many medical issues. I agree with the author that too many women have been left to suffer for so long and in silence. More funds need to be invested in research to find cures or medical treatments for all of these issues affecting women's health.

Be prepared to become enraged by the unequal allocation of resources when it comes to women's health. I recommend this book for women who have suffered or want to know more about, vagina problems. I rate this 3.8 stars out of 5.

It's more of a memoir of the medical adventures of one person, not a general overview book I expected.

I felt that this book was interesting for personal read but because I don't currently teach a class on Gender, I wouldn't add it to my syllabus. This would be a great book for a course that delves deep into Gender, especially gender and health. Overall, I thought it covered an under-discussed topic because of. which I enjoyed it!

After reading some other reviews, I've decided to DNF this at 18% (~40 pages). After the introduction and two chapters, I feel like I've already read everything Parker is going to say. This is an incredibly repetitive book, with some of the exact same phrases being repeated word-for-word over and over again. As someone with "vagina problems" I did find some of this very relatable and I fully agree that it's a vital topic to talk about -- but Parker's writing is clearly better suited to blog posts than a full-length book. And I'm sure her blog posts are very worthwhile and will bring a lot of awareness to the disorders she suffers from! But I can't say this is a book I recommend reading. I'd actually point to Ask Me About My Uterus for a better read about vagina problems (specifically endometriosis). I'm really disappointed that Vagina Problems didn't work out for me and I want to acknowledge that Lara Parker is doing important work -- this book just didn't quite hit the mark.

The topic matter covered here is so important--we don't talk enough about women's reproductive health, many doctors don't really understand vulvodynia and vaginismus, and overall women are not believed or treated as authorities on what their bodies are experiencing. So this book is shining a light in the darkness in that regard. Hopefully many people can realize they are not alone in suffering with vagina problems.

However. I really didn't enjoy the tone of this book. It's a memoir of a person who is (understandably) frustrated, angry, and in pain. It tends to be repetitive and harsh, and not as informative as it could be. The internet-speak gets old quickly. Or as the author might phrase it, "We understood what you were talking about the first five times, CAROL."

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

Endometriosis. The seldom-diagnosed, much suffered condition. With very little research, a multitude of symptoms, and no cure or very effective treatment. I read anything I can get my hands on about it, because I have it and hate it every single day of my life.

This book was not about this at all. This book was about the author whining about her symptoms--the strongest of which seemed to be painful intercourse. Sure, that is a symptom, and sure it can be the worst for some people. (Although I don't personally understand how.) But there are much more persistent and difficult symptoms, in my opinion,

If you want a book that's actually backed by research and talks more about living with endometriosis, I HIGHLY recommend "Ask Me About My Uterus" by Abby Norman. Absolutely amazing and I honestly cannot recommend it enough!

Although this book focuses on endometriosis I found things very relatable. I don’t personally have endometriosis. I have PCOS but my sister does have it. This is a valuable book I think all women should read.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Women should be able to talk about their vagina and reproductive equipment above a whisper and Lara Parker, the Deputy Director of Buzz Feed does so with eloquence.
She writes of her chronic pain and her 5 year journey to find answers for it (endometriosis).
She holds nothing back about what she went through, discussions with physicians, and how she learned to advocate for herself.
For anyone who has a uterus or knows someone who does, this book can certainly help empower you to talk about your body without whispering.


I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Vagina problems was such a fun yet heartfelt read with lots of relatable stories. I really enjoyed getting to know the women in this book.

While this book could verge into a little bit of "TMI," it is very insightful into what goes on with someone who experiences Vagina Problems. The book could be a little repetitive, but that just goes to show how much someone can deal with the same struggles and problems over and over again throughout their life. Also, the fact that 1 in 10 women worldwide has endometriosis, but yet women STILL struggle with getting a diagnosis or being taken seriously by most doctors is just ridiculous and a shame. I recommend this to any woman who has every dealt with Vagina Problems of any kind or anyone who wants to find out more about the problems and how they can help their family or loved ones with their struggles.

As someone with Endometriosis, this book was validating, important, but also incredibly hard to read about an experience closely resembling your own. I'm not sure I would necessarily recommend this to people with Endo (or other "vagina problems") but I've already recommended the book to people in my life to read it and understand my perspective.

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a really important topic with too little information out there for women struggling with reproductive health issues, and I deeply respect the author for putting her life story and struggles on the page. At the same time, I really struggled with the writing style, which was quite repetitive and walked around in circles without much narrative flow.

Very informative book and something that women and girls can get a lot out of. Easy to read, maybe repetitive in terms of simple things but its interesting.

This book is so raw and real and resonated with me in a huge way. I'm A stage 4 endometriosis sister and yes, we've gotta stick together and hope and pray for a cure! This hereditary disease is no joke, I felt every single word on the page. My heart is with you, Lara #endoStrong

Thanks Netgalley for giving me the PDF so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 💛

Buzzfeed editor Lara Parker shares her personal experiences with endometriosis in this raw and honest memoir. Lara spent years dealing with undiagnosed pain and other symptoms. Many doctors implied that it was all in her head. Finally, she received a diagnosis of endometriosis.

She talks about her own experiences and also relates them to women's experience in healthcare. Many times women express concerns or symptoms to healthcare providers they aren't taken seriously or told it is because of anxiety or depression. Also, women aren't given a faire share of medical research due to the pesky effects of female hormones. Lara also talks a lot about the difficulty of living with any chronic illness and how it takes a physical and mental toll on someone's life.

This book reminded me of [book:Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain|35605474], which is another memoir about living with endometriosis. Both books really help shine a light on the imbalance in healthcare for women and men. I recommend to anyone who is into feminist reads or looking for a memoir about chronic illness.

I have been reading what I call "feminist vagina" books for a while. I have read from a journalist, a gynecologist, and a sex educator. But this book from someone who experiences "Vagina Problems" is amazing. I loved that it was from someone who has had to go through all the trials of being diagnosed with endometriosis, along with pelvic floor dysfunction, vulvodynia, vaginismus, and vulvar vestibulitis. I don't love that Lara Parker has to deal with all of it, but I like that she has come out and started talking about it. I feel like pain involving the vagina or the uterus in any form is considered so taboo and so hard for women to talk about. I think this book is so important and I definitely think I'm going to end up getting a "feminist vaginas" starter pack for my friends and family!

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lara Parker is bravely tackling an issue that even today gets discussed in hushed tones, in case someone overhears you: vagina problems.

The author points out that a large percentage of the female population suffers debilitating pain as a result of being born with a vagina. Dysmenorrhea, cystitis, recurring UTI's, vaginosis, endometriosis, dyspareunia.... the list goes on and on. I felt very badly for this young woman, whose entire life, once she starting menstruating, was one unending wave of pain. The title of this book caught my eye, because I also suffered from painful dysmenorrhea for most of my life, with little or no help from the medical profession. Going on the pill helped, as did extra strength Advil - and learning to take it a few days before my cycle was due to start, etc., but I can agree with the author that this type of pain was not taken very seriously forty plus decades ago.

I think I would have given this book a five instead of a 3.8 star rating if there had been more focus on the cures and help available for women suffering through these issues. Have you ever been stuck in a conversation with a person who tells you every excruciating detail of a recent serious illness or surgery? In the beginning, you are very sympathetic, but after a while, you realize that you've had your fill of listening to all her terribly sad monologue about her pain and suffering. For me, I'd reached my limit when the author described at great length an episode where she was writhing in pain on the workplace unisex bathroom floor, rolling around in all those pee and poop spores. This phrase was repeated one too many times for my liking.

Hey: Hats off to Lara Parker for seeking enlightenment and answers to her questions about her many medical issues. I agree with the author that too many women have been left to suffer for so long and in silence. More funds need to be invested in research to find cures or medical treatments for all of these issues affecting women's health.

Be prepared to become enraged by the unequal allocation of resources when it comes to women's health. I recommend this book for women who have suffered, or want to know more about, vagina problems. I rate this a 3.8 stars out of 5.