5 stars!

This book is absolutely essential reading for anyone with a uterus.

The audiobook is very well read by the author.

*It's Not Hysteria* contains no-nonsense descriptions of what can, and (potentially) does, happen to anyone who has a uterus (and associated parts), along with potential remedies, what to ask your healthcare provider for, and the limits of the current medical science. This book is incredibly inclusive, denoting the very real pitfalls and lack of essential research of a medical field within a patriarchial, racist, ableist, capitalist system. And, unlike some similar books, refrains from adding in unnecessary personal experiences/opinions.

For those of us who have (or have had) very real and serious problems with these areas of our bodies, we know only too well how challenging getting effective help can be. Occasionally, there is no good answer, though more often than not, there is a lack of good information and good help available - which way too often leads to life-altering consequences. For too long, those of us with uteruses have been left without hope or the right information to make the best decisions about our own bodies. This book is the answer that we have long needed.

Simply knowing what can happen with our bodies, and what is more common in certain times in our lives, gives us the knowledge that we need to make better decisions. By giving all women and other peoples with a uterus the facts, we are better able to care for our own bodies and seek help when we need it.

I love that this information is broken down into very specific chapters, each of which has a summary of the most important takeaways at the end. Sometimes we just need to know about a certain aspect of our health, and this allows readers to access exactly what they need, when it is needed.

I will be purchasing a physical copy of this book for my own reference, going forward.

I would personally like to see this book updated every five years, with the most up-to-date information.

Huge gratitude to NetGalley, and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for an AudioARC of this title, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I was drawn in by the pacing and overall quality of the reading by the narrator, and the information that was within the book itself was extremely useful and well formatted. I was a little taken aback by how much this book read like a high school sexual health class. I would have enjoyed it more if the information also included some more stories (whether from the author directly or others) and if the narrative had flowed a little more freely. It read like a textbook at times, but those moments were few and far between. I would highly recommend this to others who may be interested in learning more about the female body.

Dr.Tang is a talented science communicator and does a wonderful job of walking the narrow path between speaking down to the layman and inundating one with too much jargon. Instead she introduces nuanced concepts, uses the proper medical terms but also takes the time to explain them in a respectful and helpful manner. This isn't a book meant for reading cover to cover but is better used, I think, as a reference material. The beginning of the book should be standard education, but as it's not, this would be, in my opinion, a fantastic gift for any woman as it covers medical concerns spanning the lifetime, and does a good job of covering the intersectionality of medical care for women. Each section includes detailed information, succinct but complete enough for anyone trying to understand their own needs, and includes a helpful "Key Takeaways" summary for quick reference and suggestions for questions to pose to your medical professional to help you advocate for yourself. The succinct nature of the chapters does mean that there is certainly information that is not included and questions the reader may have that are not answered, but what is provided makes for a sturdy launching point for informed questions for your doctor, or further research, giving one the means to avoid misinformation. Because of the broad range of the target audience this would be a great fit for anything from a personal library to a public or academic library collection.

This book addressed topics that can be so tricky to understand in such an approachable and respectful manner. I learned an incredible amount about my body just from listening to this book that I hadn’t learned in 15+ years of medical care. It was easy to follow, clear, and the summaries at the end of the sections were the perfect review of the subject matter.

I loved this book and have already recommended it to several people. I listened to it all the way through and it was easy to understand as a person with no medical background. There are nice summaries at the end of each chapter. I think if I had the physical book I would have flipped through to look at ailments I am more interested in, reading those full chapters, and just read the summaries at the end of other chapters. I'm glad this book exists!

Thank you to @macmillan.audio and #netgalley for the audiobook of It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health by Dr. Karen Tang- all thought are my own. Usually when I see that a book is read by the author (excusing comedians or autobiographies), my ears and I run the other way, FAST. I now have another exception- this book. Dr. Karen Tang did an excellent job narrating, she has a great voice with the right energy to keep facts interesting, and her information was perfectly expressed. Cudos to the author for a book well-written and well-spoken!

In the beginning of the book, she explains that this is not meant to be a textbook (and FYI it doesn’t read like one), and it isn’t necessarily meant to be read from cover to cover. She describes it as being the greatest hits collection of gynecological topics. I did read it from cover to cover and I can’t think of one flaw in it. I mean, yes, the medical field could name things in shorter, easier to memorize names, but that isn’t her fault. Ideally, most people won’t have every problem in this book, so I am with her that you should have it at your disposal should you have any questions or concerns, and then look up that topic. There are also take-home points at the end of each chapter.

Some of the topics are (and I’m sure I left some off):
The background of gynecology and the concept of hysteria
Anatomy and sex ed (You may learn things!)
Endometriosis (did you know that it can take 7 years and seeing 3 or more doctors to get a diagnosis?)
PCOS
Ovarian cysts
Pelvic floor disfunction
Pelvic organ prolapse
Urinary incontinence
Sexual disfunction
Vulva and vaginal conditions including STDs
PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder
Perimenopause and Menopause
Infertility
Miscarriages
Gender Diversity (so informative)
Cancer
Birth control
Hysterectomy
Tubal sterilization
Abortion
Gynecologic Exams and office Procedures
Weighing your options

5/5 stars
9 hours 39 minutes at 1x on audio, I read it at 1.25x

This book is a easily digestible desk reference on women's reproductive health that's thorough without being overly saturated in medical jargon and minutiae. Not only is there a run down of many gynecological issues, there are also tips for engaging with healthcare providers effectively. This isn't the type of book you sit down and read cover to cover, but one you'll want to keep on hand a go back to if/when you or someone you know has questions that you aren't sure how to articulate.

If anyone was in the room with me while I was reading this book, you’d find me jaw dropped in shock and disbelief, nodding in full understanding while feeling seen, angry that I have never received so much of the information I’ve been given here by any doctor, and hopeful that more books like this are being written for the education of those around.

I started this arc to try something new and see if I could learn anything and was more than pleasantly surprised. I have already recommended this book to many I know and will continue to do so!

Dr. Tang is a gift to anyone with a uterus, and everyone without one too. This is such a wonderfully articulated, approachable, informative addition to the reproductive health nonfiction catalogue. Everyone needs a copy of this book.

While none of the stuff that was discussed in this book was new information to me, I am so glad I listened to it. I highly recommend that everyone does, whether the information directly would apply to them or not. I think that this book was organized well and the inclusive language used was extremely appreciated. While sometimes it felt a bit dry, I still think that generally the way that the information was told was done well. It got the information across that needed to be shared. I also appreciated how whenever something was stated about a way of treating something, the author shared different studies, if any, where available that tested out that method. Overall, I really did end up enjoying my time listening to this book and I would recommend it for everyone.

Earlier this year while discussing upcoming medical appointments with friends, I was absolutely floored to learn that a friend who is asexual, does not have sex, and has a deep hatred of pap smears did not know either what pap smears are testing for (and primary risk factors) or even that she could choose to say no.

While this text may not have been revolutionary for me personally, I am so so so grateful it exists and that it can help other women who are not empowered to understand their bodies or advocate for themselves in healthcare.

I think men and women alike should read this textbook just to be more familiar with the human body. Do we not all find it useful to know the signs and symptoms of various diseases so that we can better help our loved ones seek treatment and get optimal care? Even just knowing the options that are available can be such a huge help. Or being able to have additional empathy as we gain a greater understanding of their pain and what they're going through. Granted, some of the chapters may be more or less useful depending on life circumstances and you may want to target certain chapters in particular, but I found the whole book to be well-researched, well-written, and full of useful information.

I also really liked that each chapter ended by summing of the main points of that chapter. (You could use this as a sort of CliffsNotes version if you wanted to look through it rapid-fire and come back to particular chapters at a more sedate pace or as they were relevant to you.)

Inclusivity:
I have mostly defaulted to 'women' in my review as I'm sick and words are hard right now, but I appreciate that the book took the time to always remain inclusive in its language and even included an entire chapter that was solely dedicated to gender identity and sexuality and the differences between the two. Thank you.

Audiobook Notes:
The author narrates herself and does an excellent job with clear diction and a pleasant cadence.

This book reminds me of something that would be required reading for a health class. It gives quick overviews of many conditions relating to the female reproductive system. If you are looking for a deep dive into a condition you might have, then this is not it. I feel like every woman should read this in their late teens/early twenties. If you don't have issues or don't discuss things with family and friends, this book would be extremely helpful to spread awareness of common conditions.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and listen to this book. So much great information and love how it's a book you can keep on your shelf and in moments of uncertainty pull it out and go right to what you are wondering about. A great gift for women of all ages and backgrounds

This book was very informative. I knew of some of what was discussed in this book but she went into a very descriptive breakdown of what every condition is and she did it in such a way that it was easy to follow and not confusing at all. The conclusions of each chapter were very helpful as well.

Dr. Karen Tang's "It's Not Hysteria" sheds light with clarity and empathy on a wide range of conditions that are often misunderstood or overlooked. She brings a wealth of expertise and compassion to her writing, and her approachable writing style ensures that complex medical information is accessible to all readers, regardless of their prior knowledge.

Overall, "It's Not Hysteria" by Dr. Karen Tang is a must-read for anyone interested in reproductive health. Its well-written, inclusive, and approachable nature makes it a standout in the field. Whether you choose the e-reader or physical copy, this book is a valuable addition to your library, offering insights and guidance that can profoundly impact one's understanding and management of gynecological health.

I love how inclusive and well-written this book is. It's a fantastic reference for anyone impacted by gynecological healthcare. It's not a textbook — it's written in a way everyone can understand, which is incredibly important. I could absolutely see myself picking up a physical copy of this book. I love that it provides you not only with information but also with questions you can ask. It really understands how personal everyone's healthcare is and promotes being knowledgeable about your own health and needs.

Thank you Netgalley for providing a digital ARC.

An excellent resource on all things gynocological health! This is one of the best books on women's health I have seen in the past 15 years. Tang has a wealth of knowledge and the ability to translate it into an easy to read, yet still information and entertaining book. Every library should have this on their list for their health collection.

this book started out interesting, because TMI, i have never been to a gynecologist and wanted to learn more about women’s reproductive health. however, i had a few issues with the short parts i read of this book.
1. i just lost interest. the author was just naming different reproductive issues that women could have and possible solutions. don’t get me wrong—this information is very important for some people to know if they may be experiencing these issues. however, this writing style just didn’t grip me and all seemed like easily accessible information.
2. i get that inclusivity is in (especially given that this is especially a TikTok doctor), but this is a book talking about WOMEN’S health and the author uses terms like “female assigned at birth” and the dreaded “pregnant people.” now, i don’t want to get into political/social topics, but i fully support a grown adult’s decision to transition as a result of gender dysphoria. however, sex and gender are still different, and this was not acknowledged. by a doctor. make it make sense. i just think if you’re writing a book aimed at a specific part of a population, you shouldn’t have to bend to the inclusivity gods of the modern era. by definition, a book about women’s health is going to be exclusive, that’s just a given. hypothetically, a book about men’s health or trans folk’s health would also not be inclusive.
3. these two quotes seem diametrically opposed: “While the causes are complex, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other professional organizations within the field of OB-GYN acknowledged the role that racism has played in a joint statement issued in 2020: Recognizing that race is a social construct, not biologically based, is important to understanding that racism, not race, impacts healthcare, health, and health outcomes.” “Vitamin D deficiency is more common in Black people because melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, absorbs UV rays from sunlight, which is necessary for vitamin D production.” How is she going to agree that race a social construct while discussing melanin??

tldr: this was not for me but i think other people could appreciate the info in this book.

thank you to 2024 Macmillan Audio Influencer program for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I received this as an ALC from Flatiron Books and had to read it immediately. As I get older, I realize how little I know about menopause in particular, but also many other things about reproductive health. We receive so much conflicting information about what is and isn’t normal for our cycles. Sometimes, we need a straightforward, no-nonsense book about our health. This book touches on period problems, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility, sexual health, vaginal and urinary conditions, and overall well-being. Dr. Tang also provides information on treatment options for various reproductive conditions and gives advice on how to talk to your doctor about your concerns. It’s written straightforwardly, making it easy to understand, even for someone without much medical literacy.

I love how Dr. Tang weaves history with practical medical advice. She also makes a point of being as intersectional as possible, including a chapter on gender-affirming care. We need more intersectionality and inclusivity in many areas of life, especially medicine. If you have or have ever had a uterus, you should read this book.

This book is one of the most important and informative books I’ve ever read. It’s inclusive and interesting, and should genuinely be required reading for everyone. The author breaks down large topics into digestible chapters with a flow and method that makes everything easy to understand. While I listened to the whole book, you can easily skip to the chapters most interesting or concerning to you. So grateful to have been given the chance to listen and learn. Thank you, netgalley!