HEALTH & MEDICINE

Blood: The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation

Citadel. Jan. 2024. 560p. ISBN 9780806540689. $30. HEALTH
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Gynecologist Gunter, author of a myth-busting book about menopause (The Menopause Manifesto) and host of a podcast focused on disrupting false and fearmongering health information (Body Stuff with Dr. Jen Gunter), presents this work that’s sure to change the way people talk about menstruation. She combines her clinical expertise with copious research to provide readers with an overview of concerns and an analysis of everything from inane historical fears (e.g., that menstruating women may wilt plants) to contemporary restrictions that promote prejudices about sexuality. “The menstrual cycle is the wheel that drives humanity,” she argues. Gunter disrupts historical myths along with more recent ones, such as cycle-syncing or the idea that sex during menstruation is medically unsound.
VERDICT Requisite reading. A no-nonsense, educational, science-backed, in-depth title about menstruation and the impact it can have on one’s body. This title will empower readers to better understand their bodies and to advocate for themselves in medical situations.
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