It's Your Body is such an empowering and important book. It helps provide the framework and then fleshes out the realities of being a young woman with sexual appetites, knowing more about your own sexual health is paramount.

I appreciated that there was zero shame in this book, and only empowerment to be the woman you want to be, safely.

This is a fantastic guide that helps women learn about their bodies. So many women have no idea what's happening to them or what they might experience simply because they were never taught. A book like this is worth its weight in gold because it highlights what education about our bodies we might be missing, and the author does a great job filling in the gaps and breaking down each topic so that it is easy to digest. More often than not, women are shamed for wanting to explore their sexuality and their bodies and how they can find pleasure. Still, this book tells us that nothing is shameful and that it's okay to enjoy these things. It breaks them down healthily and happily while also giving warnings when necessary. I love that this book exists because it's time women take their power back, and this book is such a significant first step in doing so!

I think this is a fantastic guide that helps women learn about their bodies. So many women have no idea what's happening to them or what they might experience, simply because they were never taught. A book like this is worth its weight in gold because it really highlights what education about our own bodies we might be msising, and the author does a great job at filling in the gaps and breaking down each topic so that it is easy to digest. More often than not, women are shamed for wanting to explore their sexuality and their bodies and how they can find pleasure, but this book tells us it's okay to want these things and that there is nothing shameful about it, and breaks it down in a healthy and happy way, while also giving warnings when necessary. I love that this book exists, because it's time women take their power back and this book is such a great first step in doing so!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dena Moes, and W.W. Norton & Company for the eARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I love a highly knowledgeable person writing a book, in their area of expertise, to provide practical knowledge to the layman. I don’t like when people tout that they are “experts” and use stories to enhance their books that are rough to relate (i.e The Red Tent example – will explain). Someone may be highly knowledgeable and yet I don’t think, in the vast research world we live in today, one can truly be an “expert”, knowing all that there is to know. However, her clinical experience is truly essential in the amazing detail and practicalities she put in this book.
Overall, this book was extremely knowledgeable; my only hesitation is the personal narrative that hung over some areas of the book. See the list that follows:
- For the “Red Tent” issue… Using a fictional novel to portray a historical idea and taking that side of the novel – is not my fave. In this book, Moes talks about how wonderful the red tent is and how women were vacationing together – as depicted in the story portrayed in Anita Diamant’s fictional retelling of the biblical story. However, I think using a religious reference was not the best idea for this informational book – and not only that, using the fictionalized story of a quick excerpt from a biblical text was maybe not the best. I know many people who view the stories of women having to leave society for a week during menstruation as an ostracization and an oppression of women – maybe just choose a different story? I get where she was coming from, but it might be risky to use in today’s climate. Diamant published her book in 1997… in a much different climate.
- Now for the section on IUDs… I did not intend for this to be a lengthy dissection of the books – and I started out really excited and enjoying the book; but as the book went on, I was just frustrated that, again, I had to listen to commentary on things other than the facts I was so excited for – I wanted a true manual, plain and simple. Anyway, back to IUDs. Please see the DOI source at the bottom of this narrative for a Cochrane review on local anesthetic. Please just mention this in your book, you do not need to support it, and I know there are side effects, but let the poor girls know it exists.
- Stating that the Pap Smear will not hurt – that is just invalidating to individuals who may actually experience pain during this experience.
- There was a lot of stereotyping against men. Male OBGYNs are not as kind/gentle, males are turned on only by visual cues, etc. It felt yucky and offensive.
- Again, supplements… probiotic supplements are not regulated (in fact, ALL supplements are not regulated by the FDA) and so more education on how to choose one that has what it actually says it has in it, is key.
- It might be helpful to talk about addressing insecurity when talking about feeling insecure during sex. I liked her approach that someone may not be ready if they are feeling this way. But many women still feel insecure after having a loving partner for years – maybe recommend therapeutic interventions.
- When describing masturbation, she explains that someone could imagine a fantasy with a celebrity or someone and creating a scenario… to me, that kind of still feels like porn. Would we be saying the same thing to males?
- Focusing on the gut as a way to guide feelings…? No. Individuals who have experienced trauma, especially in childhood, often do not have “the gut” sensation and may allow inappropriate things to happen to them if they go by their “gut” feelings. No.
- For the Rape Kit… please let individuals know they can refuse any aspect of the exam – I think it will help people feel better about keeping it as an option and can encourage them to advocate for themselves – also encourage them to bring a trusted friend.
- The story of the young college student experiencing her first herpes outbreak felt almost passive. Something along the lines of “she will move on” was stated. I get that in healthcare, we see the same thing over and over again… but to that one person, this may be life altering – yes, stigmatize it as little as possible, but don’t dismiss it… That is what it felt like reading this.


I think this book could have been so much more powerful and expressed such an amazing aspect of social commentary. I loved the practicality of this “guide”, but worry it is going to give unhealthy messages from what I listed above.
My ending thoughts are that there were many aspects of this book that were VERY informative and helpful for young women, and would be phenomenal without the extras.

Reference: DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015612.

Content Warning: talk about sexual assault, rape, sex, STIs – most topics have a “trigger warning”, so that is extremely helpful!

Would I Recommend: I really don’t know. I feel mixed… So many times we look for advice about our female bodies and always get a rhetoric included… It would be nice to have a simply factual book about our bodies & options available (showing all the research – especially coming from a medical provider) without sprinkling in other narratives.

2 Stars

Such a great information book for young women to get detailed information in a safe and informative space.