Blood

The Science, Medicine, and Mythology of Menstruation

By: Dr. Jen Gunter

Narrated by: Dr. Jen Gunter

Length: 17 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER

The galvanizing new book from Dr. Jen Gunter, #1 bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto, dispels the shame, mythology, and misinformation around menstruation with scientific facts, medical expertise, and a fierce feminist perspective.

Most of us know about as much about how the uterus and ovaries function as we do about how the liver works. Add in societal shame around the menstrual cycle and it’s not surprising that misinformation is widespread. But, as women’s health advocate and trusted OB-GYN Dr. Jen Gunter writes, “you don’t have to think about your liver 5 days a month for 30 years, so I’d argue people should know more about the uterus." Enter Blood.

In her new book, Dr. Gunter offers a clear, no-nonsense guide to reproductive anatomy and answers all the questions you never knew you had about menstrual bleeding—for example, where does the blood come from? And where does it go if you miss a period? Why do we even menstruate in the first place? With her expertise and trademark wit, Dr. Gunter debunks myths and challenges patriarchal attitudes toward this natural bodily process, shedding light on:

• The endometrium's fascinating connection to the immune system
• The brain-ovary connection
• Legitimate menstrual products, and the facts behind toxic shock syndrome
• Irregular, heavy, and breakthrough bleeding
• Period pain
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
• Hormonal contraception, menstrual tracking, and FAM (fertility awareness methods)
• Abortion as menstrual management

And much more. Surprising, funny, and fact-filled, Blood is an essential and empowering resource from the doctor who "takes the mystery out of women’s health and replaces it with evidence-informed concrete recommendations." (Lori Brotto, Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health)

©2023 Dr. Jen Gunter (P)2023 Random House Canada

Critic reviews

"Jen Gunter’s Blood takes an unapologetically scientific approach to the menstrual cycle, written for anyone who wants to understand its often mystified ways and what medicine can do to help. . . . Without fear, favour or sponsor, Gunter is a cheerleader for professional expertise, informed consent and reproductive justice. . . . The book’s ability to make science sing and stick is impressive, but an even greater achievement of Blood is to expose the playbook of medical misinformation. . . . A compelling example of how science communicated with clarity, relatability and wit can satisfy our needs of belonging and care."—Kate Womersley, The Guardian

"Dr. Gunter delivers a superb overview of 'the menstrual cycle and the medical conditions and therapies with it'. . . . Gunter is a sharp critic of the ways in which menstrual complications have been dismissed by the medical establishment . . . and her talent for explicating the biology of periods will engage even the scientifically uninclined. Filled with piercing social analysis and enlightening science, this one’s a winner.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Funny, erudite, compassionate, and righteous—sometimes all in a single sentence—Jen Gunter is the period expert we need right now."—Emily Nagoski, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of Come Together