My Pelvic Health Book Recommendations

Hi, Bestie! You might not know this about me, but I am an avid reader. I try to read at least a couple of books per month and I adore audiobooks, as well. Novels tend to be my favorite books (who doesn’t love a little escapism amiright?), but I also continue finding myself drawn to pelvic health-related books (are you even surprised?). So, I thought I would put together a little list of some of my favorite pelvic health-ish books for you to enjoy!

1.     Come as You Are by Emily Nagoski, PhD: This book focuses on female sexuality. I love Come as You Are because the author, Emily Nagoski, uses a scientific approach to look at the female experience with sex and intimacy. She touches on desire, arousal, sexual experience, and emotions in an easily digestible way. Throughout the book, Dr. Nagoski shares stories describing some of the difficulties her clients have faced and how these challenges were overcome. These short stories allow the reader to connect with the book and potentially see themselves in the writing. If you are a woman or you have an intimate relationship with a woman (or hope to), I would highly recommend this book. There are so many assumptions that are made about feminine sexuality, assumptions even shared by females themselves, so learning about the actual science behind feminine sexuality is super empowering and will leave you feeling more connected with yourself and/or your partner.

2.     Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma by Peter A. Levine: Waking the Tiger focuses on the history and management of psychological trauma. While not specific to pelvic health, I have found this book to resonate among my patients dealing with pelvic pain or other chronic conditions. Pelvic pain can be the result of trauma. In fact, one study found that nearly 50% of women with chronic pelvic pain had a history of sexual and/or physical abuse (1). This book provides its reader with an explanation for the reasons psychological trauma can manifest in physical symptoms. It talks about how we, as humans, are biologically made to assess and combat trauma. There are short exercises woven in throughout the text that make the book feel interactive. I like this book because it can be enjoyed over a long period of time and digested at one’s own pace.

3.     The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Klok, M.D.: This book, while quite different from Waking the Tiger, also focuses on the impact of trauma on the human body and mind. It is not specific to pelvic health, but, again, I still feel that it is a brilliant read for folks with chronic pelvic pain (or any type of chronic pain, for that matter). This book contains a lot of information and may feel dense at times, but overall conveys a really important message. Not only can folks with chronic pain benefit from reading this book, but it is a great read for anyone who cares for someone with a history of trauma. Books like this are an important reminder that conditions of chronic pain are treated best with a team of experts. This team could include the patient’s physician, therapist/psychologist, physical therapist, and more.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and therefore don’t have the hardcopy.

4.     The Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden, ND: This book talks about the science of the menstrual cycle and aims to educate readers about what it means to have a normal period. Females are taught from a young age that periods come with painful cramps, heavy bleeding, and other symptoms such as irritability and crankiness. The Period Repair Manual seeks to change that thinking, arguing instead that a normal period should involve very little pain and minimal mood changes. Author Lara Briden spends time on individual diagnoses, such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), discussing common symptoms and treatments. Much of the book is focused on the potential negative impacts of hormonal birth control and, at times, it may feel overly persuasive, but it allows for a new way of thinking when it comes to periods and conventional birth control options. Remember to talk with your medical doctor before taking any medical advice from the books you read.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and therefore don’t have the hardcopy.

5.     Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming, M.D. and Carol Tavris PhD: Estrogen Matters is a book that goes into the hormone estrogen and its impact on the female body. This book is pretty technical and science-y, but it provides the reader with a ton of useful information. The book places substantial focus on a study performed by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) which claimed that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not a safe treatment. This study has long been debunked and HRT has been proven time and time again to be a safe and effective treatment for many women, but the initial reporting of the study has had a lasting impact and many women are still worried about the safety of HRT. In Estrogen Matters, the authors discuss what went wrong in that WHI study and why HRT is a safe and potentially hugely beneficial treatment. This is a great book for folks who are approaching or undergoing menopause and want to learn more about estrogen.

6.     Menopausing: The Positive Roadmap to Your Second Spring by Davina McCall and Dr. Naomi Potter: Menopausing is a lovely book talking about the menopause journey. Author Davina McCall instantly becomes your bestie as she shares her own experience with menopause while co-author Dr. Naomi Potter sprinkles in some of the more medical bits. This book is very easily digestible and fun to read. The authors include dozens of short stories shared by friends, family, and acquaintances that are bound to make you feel less alone in your menopause journey. I also love that this book discusses ways to support folks going through menopause. It is a great read not only for peri-menopausal and menopausal women, but for people close to them, as well. I even think employers, bosses, and the like should read this book!

Thanks, Bestie, for chatting with me today. It gives me such great joy to share my love for reading with you. I hope one (or all) of these books piqued your interest! Remember to talk with your medical provider before initiating any of the treatments discussed in these books. Have you read any books about pelvic health? Which books do you recommend? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Until next time, happy reading!

XOXO,

Your Pelvic Bestie

References:

1. Meltzer-Brody S, Leserman J, Zolnoun D, Steege J, Green E, Teich A. Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. Obstetrics & Gynecology.

*The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives