“In Vagina Problems...Lara Parker unpacks the personal and economic costs of endometriosis.” —Vanity Fair “A refreshingly honest read about living with chronic pain.” —Hello Giggles With unflinching honesty, Lara Parker, the Deputy Director for BuzzFeed, shares her day-to-day challenges of living, working, and loving with chronic pain caused by endometriosis in this raw, darkly humorous, and hopeful memoir. I wasn’t ready to be completely honest about my vagina yet, and the world wasn’t ready for that either. But I was getting there. I wanted the world to know that all of this pain I had been feeling...that it was related to my vagina. Thus, Vagina Problems was born. It was a cutesy name. It was my way of taking this pain and saying, “Whatever. I’m here. I have it. It sucks. Let’s talk about it.” In April 2014, Deputy Editorial Director at BuzzFeed Lara Parker opened up to the world in an article on the website: she suffers from endometriosis. And beyond that? She let the whole world know that she wasn’t having any sex, as sex was excruciatingly painful. Less than a year before, she received not only the diagnosis of endometriosis, but also a diagnosis of pelvic floor dysfunction, vulvodynia, vaginismus, and vulvar vestibulitis. Combined, these debilitating conditions have wreaked havoc on her life, causing excruciating pain throughout her body since she was fourteen years old. These are her Vagina Problems. It was five years before Lara learned what was happening to her body. Five years of doctors insisting she just had “bad period cramps,” or implying her pain was psychological. Shamed and stigmatized, Lara fought back against a medical community biased against women and discovered that the ignorance of many doctors about women’s anatomy was damaging more than just her own life. One in ten women have endometriosis and it takes an average of seven years before they receive an accurate diagnosis—or any relief from this incurable illness’ chronic pain. With candid revelations about her vaginal physical therapy, dating as a straight woman without penetrative sex, coping with painful seizures while at the office, diet and wardrobe malfunctions when your vagina hurts all the time, and the depression and anxiety of feeling unloved, Lara tackles it all in Vagina Problems: Endometriosis, Painful Sex, and Other Taboo Topics with courage, wit, love, and a determination to live her best life.

Instant New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller! Boston Globe bestseller #1 Canadian Bestseller OB/GYN, The New York Times columnist, host of the show Jensplaining, and internationally bestselling author Dr. Jen Gunter now delivers the definitive book on vaginal health, answering the questions you’ve always had but were afraid to ask—or couldn’t find the right answers to. She has been called Twitter’s resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN, and one of the fiercest advocates for women’s health…and she’s here to give you the straight talk on the topics she knows best. Does eating sugar cause yeast infections? Does pubic hair have a function? Should you have a vulvovaginal care regimen? Will your vagina shrivel up if you go without sex? What’s the truth about the HPV vaccine? 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. Discover the truth about: • The vaginal microbiome • Genital hygiene, lubricants, and hormone myths and fallacies • How diet impacts vaginal health • Stem cells and the vagina • Cosmetic vaginal surgery • What changes to expect during pregnancy and after childbirth • What changes to expect through menopause • How medicine fails women by dismissing symptoms Plus: • Thongs vs. lace: the best underwear for vaginal health • How to select a tampon • The full glory of the clitoris and the myth of the G Spot . . . And so much more. Whether you’re a twenty-six-year-old worried that her labia are “uncool” or a sixty-six-year-old dealing with painful sex, this comprehensive guide is sure to become a lifelong trusted resource.

Fungal infections in the female play an increasingly large role in everyday gynecological practice. This is the first book to deal comprehensively with vulvovaginal candidosis. Following an introduction outlining the incidence of yeasts in man, genital colonization in the female sex, yeast in pregnancy and neonatal mycoses, there is a description of the modes of infection and the known host reactions, as well as of the symptoms for diagnosis and therapy. Some 150 color illustrations depict all known facultative pathogenetic candida species and other potentially pathogenetic yeasts in pure culture and under the microscope. Clinical examples help explain the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. The volume provides the physician with handy, concise and practice-oriented guidelines to correct diagnosis and effective treatment of yeasts in the female patient.

In recent years advances in laparoscopic technologies have led to renewed interest in the vaginal approach to hysterectomy, which has many proven benefits for patients. This volume, dedicated to explaining and promoting the vaginal route of hysterectomy, is written and edited by an international team of experts and provides a much-needed source of up-to-date information and instruction. Importantly, the authors caution that laparoscopic technology can provide a valuable source of assistance for the gynaecological surgeon in certain circumstances, though only in a percentage of cases. This book, beautifully illustrated with line drawings and full-colour photographs, contains step-by-step surgical techniques, enabling the surgeon to gain confidence and experience so that gradually more challenging operations can be managed successfully via the vaginal route. Acknowledged authorities from around the world take the reader through the indications and contra-indications for the vaginal approach, explain crucial preoperative assessment procedures, and offer an evidence-based elucidation of the 'why', 'when' and 'how' of vaginal hysterectomy. Specific topics considered here include: the nulliparous patient, uterine fiboids, debulking, the use of gonadtrophin-releasing hormone agonists, oophorectomy and prophylactic oophorectomy, adnexectomy for adnexal pathology, genital prolapse, the place of sacrospinous colpopexy, urethral sphincter incompetence, hormone replacement therapy, and the psychological and sexual outcomes of hysterectomy. In addition, the authors set forth the arguments for and against vaginal hysterectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopic assistance, and transcervical resection of the endometrium. Combined with a full review of the potential complications, morbidity and mortality associated with the vaginal approach, this book provides the reader with a well-balanced, thorough and considered appraisal of vaginal hysterectomy. As the incidence of hysterectomy worldwide continues to rise, Vaginal Hysterectomy will be an indespensable reference for practising gynaecologists, surgeons, consultants and postgraduates.

The leading single-source book in women's health care, reproductive medicine, and pelvic surgery A Doody's Core Title! Thorough review of all of obstetrics & gynecology Covers more than 1,000 diseases and disorders The latest screening and management guidelines More than 450 clear clinical photos and illustrations in two colors Formatted to facilitate quick retrieval of information Concise, current coverage of treatments for common gynecologic infections Extensively revised throughout Covers underlying pathophysiology when relevant to diagnosis and treatment Helpful references to classic and important new sources

Presents almost 100 common and uncommon gynecologic problems encountered in urgent and emergency settings with an emphasis on practical management.

Drawing on conversations with hundreds of women about their genitalia, the author presents a collection of performance pieces from her one-woman show of the same name.

Endometriosis materializes when the endometrium – the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus – sheds, but does not exit a woman’s body during her period. Instead, it grows outside of the uterus, spreading to organs and nerves in and around the pelvic region. The resulting pain is so physically and emotionally insufferable that it can mercilessly dominate a woman’s life. The average woman with endometriosis is twenty-seven years old before she is diagnosed. It is one of the top three causes of female infertility. The pain it emits can affect a woman’s career, social life, relationships, sexual activity, sleep, and diet. It is incurable, but highly treatable. Unfortunately, though, it is rarely treated in a timely manner, if at all, because of misdiagnoses and/or a lack of education among those in the medical community. This book gives hope to everyone connected to endometriosis. That includes every woman and young girl who has it, and the women and men in their lives – the mothers, fathers, husbands, children, and friends – who know something is wrong, but do not know what it is or what to do about it. This book is written at a level that everyone with ties to this disease can relate to and understand, but it is also for doctors with good intentions who lack the knowledge of how to diagnose or treat it. The Doctor Will See You Now is for women determined to let the world know their stories so that every woman with this disease – from the thirteen-year-old girl who is being told that her pain is “part of becoming a woman” to the woman who has been misdiagnosed for decades – knows she is not alone. Yes, her pain is real. No, she is not crazy. Yes, there is hope.

Learn how to navigate your life with endometriosis in this essential and hopeful guide--including tools and strategies to gain a deeper understanding of your body and manage chronic pain through diet, movement, stress management, and more. Endometriosis isn’t just about having “painful periods.” It can be a complex, debilitating, and all-encompassing condition that impacts one’s mental health, relationships, and career. Endo affects 1 in 10 women and girls across the globe, but even after receiving a diagnosis, many are still left in the dark about their condition. In Know Your Endo, Jessica Murnane breaks through the misinformation and gives essential guidance, encouragement, and practical lifestyle tools to help those living with endo have more control and feel better in their bodies. In this empowering and heartfelt guide, Jessica, who suffers from endo herself, shares a progressive five-week plan focused on learning a new management tool each week. Including sections on diet (with recipes!), movement, products, and personal-care rituals, Know Your Endo eases readers into a new lifestyle and arms them with the information needed to truly understand their condition. Insights and help from endometriosis doctors and experts are woven throughout, as well as first-person accounts of how endo can impact every aspect of your life. Finally, there’s a resource for all people suffering in silence from this chronic condition offering what they need most: hope.

Leading gynecologist Dr. Gail King presents a vivid description of the shocking breakdown that may be occurring in the muscle and tissue inside your vagina. Legs Up gives you a wealth of actions to take before it's too late--what to watch for and definitive treatment options. Don't wait until "OMG! Something's hanging out!" Women of all ages--reclaim your healthy, lovely and sexy va-jay-jay.