Is This Normal? Judgment-Free Straight Talk About Your Body

Naturopathic endocrinologist Brighten (Beyond the Pill) provides an approachable manual for women “about what your sex ed teacher should have said but didn’t.” Surveying medical and social science about sex and menstruation, she stresses that “whatever feels good to you and makes you happy is your normal.” She answers common questions she hears from patients, counseling that giving consent is always reversible, masturbation is a “totally normal part” of adult life, and that the size of one’s clitoris likely isn’t related to orgasm frequency. Pushing back on myths about the menstrual cycle, she notes that only 13% of women have a precise 28-day cycle and that having sex on one’s period is safe and can actually alleviate cramps, stress, and headaches. To help readers “optimize” their hormones and maintain menstrual health, Brighten outlines a 28-day program that matches dietary and lifestyle recommendations to the phases of one’s cycle. Her tone is compassionate yet authoritative, even humorous at times (“Biologically, the female body has evolved to orgasm—Mama Nature knew what she was doing with this one”), and her keen attention to the different ways people relate to their bodies will appeal to those who feel overlooked by similar volumes. The result is an inclusive and thorough overview of women’s health. (Apr.)