It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told) by Karen Tang

It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Were Never Told) Reviews

• 
  DesanaRose

  Dr. Karen Tang, thank you.
  I teared up reading chapter one of this book.
  
  Some background, I'm an African-American woman with a history of miscarriage, childloss due to cancer, IVF treatment, fibroid, polyps, painful periods, long periods, and now infertility. I'm in my 40s it's been incredibly painful physically and mentally to get anyone to acknowledge my situation.
  
  Your book goes into the history of the mistreatment of African American females. Some things I knew some things I did not. It hurt my heart to read BUT it was necessary or we're doomed to repeat history.
  
  Your book is incredibly inclusive and informative to patients and providers alike. There are sections that address every need. This is a book I can share with other females. Thank you Dr. Tang and NetGalley. I will absolutely buy a physical copy of this book upon release.
• 
  Me, My Shelf, & I

  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 CliffNotes 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.
  
  Thank you to Macmillan Audio for granting me an audio ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
• 
  Krystle Rouse

  This book was very informative. It’s simple to understand because she goes over everything very clearly. I am wish this book came out 11 years ago. It had a lot of good information that all woman should know. I know I wish I was more educated when I was younger. I had my hysterectomy when I was 30 years old. It talks about anything and everything from PCOS, periods, prolapsed organs, pelvic floor therapy, different cancers, abortion, and many other things. I had severe severe endometriosis, andedmetriosis, and fibroids. I ended up getting a full hysterectomy. I was always in pain and curled up in a ball. They didn’t give any estrogen after that. Now, I have Licean Scelrosis and I have a prolapsed bladder. I really wish doctors would talk to women about more of these subjects because it’s just sad. Anyway, I really liked the book and every woman should read it.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Karen Tang, and Flatiron Books for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Katie

  Fantastic overview of women's health. From anatomy to surgical procedures, if you want to learn more about your body and how to advocate for your health, this is for you.
  
  I appreciated the layout of the book that made it easy to skip over passages that didn't apply and to find things easier that you were interested in reading about.
  
  This is a great read for all ages, from puberty to post menopause. Thorough and clear, the list of questions to ask your doctor and things to expect during pelvic exams and procedures was really thoughtful to add.
• 
  Karlyn Marcantonio

  Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.
  
  It's Not Hysteria is exactly the kind of book that is needed. Dr. Karen Tang writes in a way that makes this material accessible to non-medical staff, while still giving all the information needed to understand a variety of different topics. This book made me feel seen, supported and normal. It makes me want to learn how to take care of myself better, and even advocate for myself more. We shouldn't have to fight for good medical care, and the "taboo" topics in this book are exactly the things we need to start discussing.
• 
  Jess B

  Super informative! I wish that something like this book had existed when I was younger.
  
  There was amazingly a lot of conditions that I didn't know that people with vaginas could have -- or that they were completely common conditions.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
• 
  Weronika

  This book was very educational, detailing many reproductive health concerns for women as well as gynecological issues for transgender women. I appreciated the narration done by the author herself, it really showcased her knowledge about the various topics and her passion for healthcare really stood out. The historical background and the treatment of women’s healthcare since recorded times was really eye opening. Truly to this day, many women’s issues are dismissed and not taken as seriously as men’s, especially for women of color.
  
  Split into three parts, Dr. Tang explains many known health conditions, possible causes, as well as currently available treatments. Reiterating that many of the issues lack medical studies because women of child bearing age were not allowed to be tested. Overall, this is a very informative collection of work, that I think would benefit medical professionals or someone interested in their own reproductive health.
  
  Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audiobook copy to review.
• 
  Ashley Saxman

  Karen Tang blew my mind with this, which truthfully is embarrassing because I'm an owner of a vag!na myself and thought I knew what was going on in my own body.
  
  When MDs write to an audience outside of their own field I often find myself lost - in searching through context for definitions, pausing to Google procedures, nervously WebMDing the likelihood I'll be their next patient. Tang doesn't leave you hanging; the effort put into ensuring layman's terms must have been enormous.
  
  I am genuinely thankful to have read this book. I feel WAY more in the know on my body, how and why it works the way it does, how science has clarified and muddied up our understandings of living things, where our impossible standards for body image likely began, and the list goes on.
  
  I know I've found a killer nonfiction book when I hit everyone I know with fun facts from it. This had so many fun facts I couldn't even share them all.
  
  (Thank you bunches to NetGalley & publisher McMillan Audio for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for an honest review!)
• 
  Rachel

  dnf @ 20%
  
  this book started out interesting, because i wanted to learn more about women’s reproductive health because why not. 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 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 expression 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 folks’ 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!
• 
  Tiffanellie

  An introductory book for women’s reproductive health and a guide on how to navigate the top reproductive health diagnoses in the 21st century. I highly recommend this book to anyone who identifies as a woman, or has been assigned female at birth, or has friends/family/partner who is a woman or was assigned female at birth AKA everyone would benefit from reading this book.
  
  I learned so much and enough to look out for my friends and family. This book is gender inclusive and pro choice backed by scientific reasoning.
• 
  Jessica McKenney

  I will start with the positives: I liked the narrator of the audiobook and I enjoyed how the book was laid out, especially since there was "take home points" at the end of each section.
  
  That being said, the full price for the physical book is $40 CAD and I do not think that this is anywhere near worth that. I think almost all of this information could be found very quickly, easily, and accessibly online. The author is popular on TikTok and I think all of this information completely fits in a quick TikTok video and makes sense for that format. I do not think it made sense to make a whole book out of this as it just isn't worth your time or money. Additionally, there was nothing extra there to keep me engaged or interested. Perhaps this would be a good book to have as a reference guide, but like I said, you could easily just use google. While, in general, I like the narrator of the audiobook I do think the audiobook itself was hard to follow since it was basically a list of facts.
  
  Thank you, Macmillan Audio for providing me with an advanced listener copy of this audiobook! I received a copy of this audiobook from Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
• 
  Crimson

  Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Where can I sign up for this author to be my doctor? As you can infer by the fact that I felt the need to read this book, my gynecological medical team has been subpar at best, terrible at worst, over the years. When dealing with complex issues, you just can't find a doctor who is willing to listen or help, or as the ability to do so, if you get past the first two hurdles.
  
  This book was extremely comprehensive and informative. My one complaint is that the author recommended Nancy Nook for endometriosis, when as of late, it has been show that the information there may not be as valuable as it once seemed and she runs a very biased and toxic community.
  
  But aside from that, this book is very detailed and explains all the conditions and treatment options very well. It was written in a way that was easy to understand and really taught me a lot.
• 
  Elizabeth Deters

  3.5 ⭐️
  This book is important. It thoughtfully makes medicine accessible to people with vaginas. The author continually uses intention and inclusive language. Each chapter focused on a different aspect of women’s health—from cysts to menstrual cycles to menopause.
  I read this book via audiobook. I think that perhaps it would be a better format as a paper book. I found myself zoning out on chapters that seemed like they do not (or maybe do not presently) impact me—like the menopause chapter for example.
  The content was helpful and approachable. One of the aspects I thought was so key was when the author would go through things someone should think about before addressing an issue with their doctor—preparing folks for their appointments and what they might experience or be asked!
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy audiobook!
• 
  Vic

  Everyone needs to read this book, I highly recommend it! This book is great regardless of your age, but I would’ve especially loved to have read as a young adult when I started birth control or before my first pap. The author provided so much important information about reproductive health in an easily digestible, non-condescending way. There are so many things that I loved about this book and I even annotated it because I most certainly will be referring back to it. Please read it!! Buy it for yourself/your friends/family members/everyone!
• 
  Allyce |

  After reading It's Not Hysteria, I believe this book should be required reading for females age 13-18. I had heavy, painful, irregular periods throughout my teens and used prescription painkillers for my cramps and missed school every single month, ultimately accepting birth control pills as my only option for relief at 19. 10 years later, my husband and I decided we wanted to try and conceive and had challenges with that. I believe birth control masked issues that I was having rather than getting to the source of the problem. I was so uneducated I just accepted my doctor's word that birth control was the only choice that I had.
  
  I'm not knocking birth control as bad, but I just wish that I had been armed with more information that I could have brought to my doctor to find a solution for the issues I was having. In It's Not Hysteria, Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how women engage with their bodies and their healthcare. This book was very informative about common conditions that women face with their bodies and potential treatment options, as well as sample questions one could bring to their provider.
  
  I would give It's Not Hysteria a 4.5 star rating. The thing that would have knocked this book out of the park for me would have been if there was a chapter about efforts women have taken to get female reproductive health to be further recognized. Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Dr. Karen Tang for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Marinna

  I will start by saying that I love the title and cover of this book! One of my all-time favorite "fun facts" is that the word hysteria/hysterical comes from ancient times to describe the ailments of women. I enjoyed the exploration of this term. I was excited to see a book about women's health, but again (this is the second book I've read this year on this topic) felt disappointed with the product. This felt like a list of all the problems women can have and then a little bit more of a synopsis and treatment of said problem. I didn't find anything in this book to fit the bill of "everything I need to know and was never told." It felt a bit like someone reading off what I could have googled.
  
  I also felt a bit frustrated with some of the topics. I understand that inclusivity is in-vogue, but it's really frustrating to get a lecture gender affirming care and the differences between gender and sex every time I pick up a book about women's health. This always makes a book feel a bit political. I don't think that changing the decor in OB/GYN offices to cater to a few patients makes sense... among other things.
  
  This was another author I chose not to look into until I finished the book and lo and behold it is a doctor on TikTok. I think this book was probably better as short videos snipits, as it doesn't feel like a valuable resource for the bookshelf. I did appreciate that this was narrated by the author, as this is always ideal for non-fiction texts.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and the author Dr. Karen Tang for an ALC of this audiobook!
• 
  Sahitya

  While I’ve read a couple of books in the last year about the female reproductive system, the parts and even about periods, this is the first book I’ve read from a purely gynecological perspective, written by a specialist, and I’m so so glad that I’ll always be able to refer back to this book in the future.
  
  This is written in layman’s terms and is really helpful to women of all ages, from menarche to post menopause. The book is organized in a manner that lets the reader pick the chapters to read which maybe related to the conditions they suffer from or just pick any topic which is of interest to them. The book starts off with the dubious history of how women’s health has been sidelined for ages, how some very breakthrough gynecological procedures came to be, and how even now research dollars invested in finding out about conditions specific to women are very very less.
  
  The second part of the book is a very informative encyclopedia of the various issues women/peope with uteri face including PMS, periods, fibroids, endometriosis, abortion, cancer and more. The author gives a helpful explanation of the various symptoms of each condition, how they can be diagnosed, the detailed procedures involved and pain management, the available treatment options available and how to choose among them. The chapters on birth control and abortion were quite detailed, busting some of the common misinformation about them which even prolife politicians and judges make liberal use of to get their desired outcome. The final part of the book is about how to advocate for ourselves when we meet a healthcare provider, what we can ask and how we can arrive at the treatment that best suits us, and also what to do when the providers don’t take our condition seriously.
  
  Overall, this is a brilliant and one of a kind book that can work as a quick reference guide for everyone, maybe including medical professionals. The author also does a great job of being inclusive of transgender men and non-binary people, dedicating chapters to the importance of gender affirming care and how providers can support such patients. I’m glad I read this and I’m sure I’ll find it helpful for years to come.
  
• 
  Shannon

  Dang, if only people throughout the ages could have had access to such an excellent and educational resource. It's Not Hysteria centers on the reproductive health of all who identify as women, people assigned female at birth, inclusive of non-binary, trans, and intersex people.
  
  I really appreciated the breadth of information and topics that Dr. Tang covers, aiming to give all readers a baseline for understanding reproductive health of people with female reproductive organs. She clears up myths and misinformation and educates on ways to communicate concerns and advocate to healthcare providers.
  
  Each chapter is full of facts, definitions, and explanations of conditions and procedures. It may feel like a lot if you are reading the book all at once. But each chapter also concludes with a list of takeaways to distill the critical points. I anticipate going back through this book as a resource for my own health and questions, and I foresee the "Take Home" chapter sections will be helpful in reminding where to look.
  
  Don't sleep on this approachable, inclusive, and much needed guide that sheds light on taboo topics surrounding the female reproductive system. Really, this stuff should be taught in high school biology or health classes so people can be educated about their own bodies (or the health of their loved ones).
  
  Dr. Tang narrates the audiobook herself and she does an excellent job. She has a nice tone of voice and pace that are easy to take in. There is a lot of information dumping by virtue of the subject matter, though, so I anticipate picking up a hard copy as a reference. I'm grateful to have received this audiobook through Macmillan Audio's influencer program and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Shelby (allthebooksalltheways)

  AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
  
  Thank you #partner @macmillan.audio for my #gifted audiobook. #macaudio2024
  
  It's Not Hysteria
  Karen Tang, MD, MPH
  
  It's Not Hysteria is the ULTIMATE guide to reproductive and gynecological healthcare! It's inclusive, clear, and concise. While not a book that delves deep into every medical condition (which would take dozens of books to cover), it instead serves as a basic overview of sex education, anatomy, and common gynecological issues. But most importantly, Tang empowers and educates AFAB people as to when and how to seek care for their symptoms.
  
  As someone who deals with reproductive health issues, I found this book to be incredibly impactful. I especially appreciate the historical components, as well as the focus on self advocacy. It's written in an accessible, conversational tone, and as I read this one with my ears, hearing Tang's words in her own voice made it all the better.
  
  Truth be told, this is a must read for folks of all genders.
  
  📌 Available now!
• 
  Carlee

  I wish I had purchased this book instead of gotten it from the library. It was much more of a reference text than a sit down and read book. Unfortunately/fortunately (depends on how you look at it), I knew a lot of this information because of the many women I have already spoken to about reproductive issues that they have experienced. Something like this would be great to have on hand for those types of conversations--instead of saying "I learned from a tik tok..." I would recommend this for someone who is struggling with their reproductive health who feels anxious/lost on how to approach these things with their doctor.
• 
  Rachel Sweigart

  I feel like all people with a uterus should listen to this book! Very informative and reassuring to listen to. I especially liked guidance on what questions to ask relating to different medical issues, and tips on advocating for yourself.
• 
  Mary Nolan-Fesmire

  Interesting & informative!
• 
  Emily McKee

  What an interesting book! There is so much going on in the female reproductive system that we are just not taught. Worth a read if you have the requisite anatomy.
• 
  Holly Hurst

  It’s Not Hysteria
  Dr Karen Lang
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  
  This book is a must read for anyone who identifies as a female or anyone who loves anyone who identifies as a female. It should also be required reading for anyone running for any office anywhere since they have decided to make uninformed decisions about laws that impact half of the population.
  
  I listened to an advanced audiobook copy (thanks Netgalley and Macmillan Audio) but I’m considering purchasing a hardcover copy to have on hand as a reference copy for me (51) and my daughter (17). I rarely do this unless I absolutely LOVE a book.
  
  Thanks @karentangmd for sharing this important information with us!
  
  Publication date 5/7/24
• 
  Alexis Katherine

  4 ⭐️ An accessible guide to reproductive health. I appreciated how the author explained things using medical terms to educate but explained conditions in a colloquial manner.
  
  The inclusive language of this book is a huge step forward in making reproductive health representative of all.
• 
  Steen

  This book was wonderful!
  
  I've been searching for books to better understand my own health. What makes this journey difficult, is many of the books out there are either intended to frighten women or they're overtly religion based.
  
  This book was exactly what I've been looking for: it's science based, educational, and broken up into easily digestible sections. There's also an entire part of the book dedicated to sex ed and explaining the functions of the reproductive system piece by piece. Something I didn't know I needed. Some facts I'd learned from tiktok over the last year (hello, egg alternating which ovary it drops from), but much of it was new to me. Which is incredibly sad!
  
  The author encourages readers to skip around and use this book as a resource. It's formatted perfectly for this.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC!
• 
  Erica

  Thank you NetGalley and Flatiron Books for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. 5 ⭐️ where has this book been all my life?! I’ve been following Dr. Tang on social media for a few months and find your content to be so informative. When I heard she was writing a book, and specifically about topics that aren't widely known and yet affect many, I was so excited to read it. Her accessibility and inclusivity in her writing about sensitive topics is something to be admired. I wish I had read this as a teen before my first few visits to the gynecologist and saved myself some very difficult and uncomfortable moments. I would highly recommend this to anyone and will be purchasing a copy for myself.
• 
  Erin (Brooklyn Book Fanatic)

  An absolute must-read!