Considering that half the population has one, the vagina has been plagued by an inordinate amount of myth and misinformation. There are many reasons. Prudery inhibits public discussion of anything having to do with sex, women are embarrassed to talk about their private parts, patriarchal attitudes still prevail, religions have taught that women are inferior, most doctors have traditionally been men, and the vagina has been thought of as unclean. Dr. Jen Gunter has done women everywhere a great service by writing The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine to set the record straight. Her declared “vagenda” is “for every woman to be empowered with accurate information about the vagina and vulva.” She is the perfect person to write such a book. She has a wealth of clinical experience, with thirty-three years in medicine and twenty-four years practicing gynecology. She is a gifted communicator with a long and successful career writing about medical matters. She is frank, unashamed, and generous about sharing details of her personal experiences, such as the time she embarrassed herself by putting a condom on a man inside out. And her sense of humor shines through.
The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine. Jen Gunter, MD. New York: Citadel/Kensington Books, 2019. ISBN: 978-080653931. 432 pp. Paperback, $18.95.
I am not a gynecologist, but gynecology was a big part of my practice as a family physician; I couldn’t begin to guess how many vaginas I’ve peered into and palpated. I thought I knew about vaginas, but reading this book taught me much that I didn’t know. I discovered that a lot of what I thought I knew was wrong. I learned a lot, and I’m sure the average woman would learn even more. The book is not only educational but also entertaining, fun, and conveniently organized into easyto-read short chapters. Each chapter ends with a “Bottom Line” summary of the important points. As an additional bonus, the book provides an education in science, critical thinking, and evaluating medical claims.