It's Not Hysteria

Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (but Were Never Told)

By: Dr. Karen Tang

Narrated by: Dr. Karen Tang

This program is read by the author.

An inclusive and essential new resource for reproductive health—including period problems, pelvic pain, menopause, fertility, sexual health, vaginal and urinary conditions, and overall wellbeing—from leading expert and fierce advocate Dr. Karen Tang

Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic issues in their lifetime? Yet these conditions are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. The root causes for these issues, such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.

Dr. Karen Tang is on a mission to transform how we engage with our bodies and our healthcare. It’s Not Hysteria is a comprehensive guide to common conditions and potential treatment options, with practical tools such as symptom prompts and sample questions for your provider, to equip listeners to take control of their gynecologic health.

Reproductive healthcare, from abortion to gender-affirming care, is under siege. The onus continues to fall on patients to find and advocate for the care they need. In the face of uncertainty and misinformation, It’s Not Hysteria is destined to become a new classic that educates and empowers women and those assigned female at birth.

A Macmillan Audio production from Flatiron Books.

©2024 Karen Tang (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"As an emergency physician, public health professional, and mother, I've seen the harm caused by women's hesitance to ask questions about our own reproductive health. Dr. Karen Tang's book fixes this ailment! It's a 21st-century treasure trove of clear, useful information about how our reproductive systems work. It demystifies problems, helps explain how to get answers, and most of all, teaches us how to be our own best advocate."―Megan Ranney MD, MPH, Dean of Yale School of Public Health

"Dr. Karen Tang is a literal godsend to women in a time still filled with great ignorance in medical research and financing of women's health initiatives. Please read her book, follow her on Instagram as I have, and feel blessed as I do to have an advocate for our body, our health, and our human rights."―Sharon Stone, New York Times bestselling author of The Beauty of Living Twice

"It's Not Hysteria is the medical book everyone needs to read. It's everything they should have taught you about reproductive health in school—but didn't."―Abby Jimenez, New York Times bestselling author of Yours Truly

Instant classic on women’s health

Clear and compelling overview of key medical conditions. So glad this book exists and wish I had read it earlier!

I WISH I had this book decades ago!

I don’t know how to begin my review for my FAVORITE nonfiction writer and medical professional.

Let me say, I’m not a huge book reader, I typically go for the audiobooks. Second, I DEFINITELY do not check a lot of medically-based books because I feel out of place and so many things go over my head!

But… Dr. Karen Tang takes ALL of the advanced medical jargon/information, then makes it so incredibly easy to understand. She doesn’t water down anything, talk down to the reader, fear-mongers, or sells anything to you. She’s completely relatable (to all ages), and wants to arm the reader with REAL facts, with a demand they advocate for the best medical care/treatment.

We should not have to bounce through so many physicians like we’ve done in the past, and neither should our children, younger family members, or friends. (Personally, I lost track of how many male physicians medically gaslit my symptoms, concerns, and my voice.)

In this book, I learned infinitely MORE medical history in one tiny section (on how women were treated) THAN ANY documentary, school course, book, show, movie, etc. She was incredibly smart to put that in the beginning!! Puts everything in perspective. Wowza.

As a first-gen American on one side, which also happens to be the maternal side, there were SO MANY THINGS that I was told over the years (and especially during all pregnancies!) that were part ridiculous, confusing, and “are you f’ing kidding me, I’m in my mid-30s”. lol

Then, to be raised in a very conservative and religious household, oh man, I WISH I HAD THIS BOOK.

There are not “wild, smutty, or salacious” items inside (here’s hoping it’s in the sequel tho… jk), instead ONLY BASIC MEDICAL FACTS. Something that is so simple, crucial, and yet so damn hard to find, and out of all places, inside a doctor’s office!

Bravo, Dr. Karen Tang!! Thank you for your service in treating others, tirelessly advocating for us, and now with this book, informing future generations so they won’t have to go through what we did. We are SO proud, and beyond grateful for your patience and arduous efforts so we can have a fighting chance.

P.S. Like I said before, I’m not a typical book/kindle reader, and yet I ordered about a DOZEN books for fam, friends, and my little girl (for future use). The book is THAT damn good. Those that wrote the other reviews don’t know what they’re talking about. I would be surprised they even read the first handful of pages.

Very informative. Everyone should read!

This book should be given to all middle schoolers to learn about their bodies and their peers. It is both informative and eye opening on so many levels. I will surely be sharing with all women identifying people!

A must read for all

I learned so much about women’s health and reproductive health that I didn’t know before.

Finally! All the information I never knew I needed.

I found it so interesting and informative. I feel like I have a base of information that is going to serve me well when I start my journey through menopause and peri-menopause. EVERY PERSON WITH A UTERUS SHOULD READ!!

Very educational, highly recommend!

This is a phenomenal resource for understanding women’s medical issues. Seemingly, every issue had a chapter, and I really appreciated the deep dives for each topic! This is definitely a book I’ll be revisiting throughout my life.