(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best books about general women health

Whoops. Life happened. Here's a really comprehensive look at women's health in the US (this has overlaps with the NIH as well): http://www.amazon.com/Womens-Health-Missing-Medicine-Science/dp/0253209242 - many selections are available on google books. I'd be happy to discuss this further with you if you're interested.

Also, if you have sources you'd like to share, I'd be very interested in reviewing them.

You'll hear a lot of Joseph Campbell (the Masks of God series was my favorite)...and maybe even Carl Jung (...along that line consider Erich Neumann, The Origin and History of Consciousness and M. Esther Harding, Psychic Energy, Its sources and its transformations); but, may I suggest three books you've probably never heard of before:

1. Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture;
   
   
2. de Santilliana & von Dechen, Hamlet's Mill: An Essay Investigating the Origins of Human Knowledge And Its Transmission Through Myth --a very difficult read but very well worth it; and
   
   
3. Chris Knight, Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture.
   
   These studies not only provide flesh for the body of myth that acts as a verbal echo of our nascent cultural memory, but also provides a framework for the work that those myths did in their original context, i.e., mitigating the sexual dynamics of our species and accounting for the observed regularity--naturally, first noticed by women, those avatars of language, which is to say, the hands that rock the cradle--between the cycles in the heavens and the female reproductive system...a happenstance that Marija Gimbutas has suggested that led to our earliest "gods," i.e., woman as a creative force.

Endocrinologist here. Re strength and muscle mass, it's unequivocal that men are on average stronger, and unequivocal that this is largely driven by testosterone. Testosterone directly increases muscle cell cross-sectional area in humans; strength differences between men and women are directly attributable to muscle cross-sectional area; in any group of men and women with similar training histories, men will substantially outperform women on strength tests; and individual variation in strength is highly correlated to variation in circulating androgens. There's really no doubt about that one and there's lots of good studies with good control groups.

Your other points stand, but for muscular strength, one can't simply brush off the known effects of the androgens.

Reviewed here, here, here, here. The known biochemical effects of testosterone on human skeletal muscle are reviewed in this paper.

Go to LLL meetings now, while still pregnant.

Womanly Art is good. The latest edition has some new stuff in it and is a little more "friendly", so check if you have an old or new edition.

I've read a lot of BF books, and was surprised at how accessible and readable the AAP book was.

The Kellymom site is great, and so is Jack Newman's, especially for the videos, which have been mentioned.

If you ever have to take meds, LactMed and Infant Risk are essential resources - don't expect your doc to know anything (accurate) about what meds are compatible with breastfeeding!

If you plan on going back to work, read Nursing Mother, Working Mother.

I wish that I had known that it is totally normal for babies to feed frequently, including through the night. The idea that babies "should" feed every few hours and sleep through the night is very misleading. It can cause a lot of stress when your baby isn't doing these things, and can make you feel like you are doing something "wrong", when in fact it is perfectly normal.

You can think of an orgasm as a big, whooshing, full-body muscle cramp and release that lasts (for women) from 10 seconds to a minute. Your legs and abs might spasm, your vagina will rhythmically contract, you'll probably start making uncontrollable noises. It's a pretty obvious state, so if you're not sure, you probably haven't had one.

That doesn't mean you can't! If I'm having trouble coming, it's either a mental thing or I'm not getting the right type of stimulation. If you're preoccupied or trying to force it, it's much more difficult. Sometimes chemicals, like a bit of booze or weed, help you "let go" enough to get to that "level" you can't quite reach. Natalie Angier talked about the many generations of women in her family that learned to orgasm with the assistance of marijuana -- if you're not opposed to the idea, it might be worth a shot. If you are, there's still a LOT of fun stuff you get to do!

I highly, highly recommend telling your boyfriend about this. Many men see it as a fun "challenge" once you open up to them about your lack of orgasms. I have friends (who have no trouble with their orgasms) who use "I've never had an orgasm" as a pick-up line! If you really can't tell him, try out different things while you masturbate. If you CAN tell him (and if you do, stress that this is how it goes with you during sex or masturbation, so it's not about him), try out some different things while you masturbate and when you have sex. If you're focusing on your clit, you might want to try a small dildo or your fingers to add some vaginal stimulation in, too. If you're focusing on your vagina, rub your clit while you're at it. You might need more powerful stimulation, so consider a vibrator.

The important thing is that you both keep a light-hearted attitude about this as you both work on it. The journey to the orgasm is just as good as the orgasm -- don't forget that.

This is kind of weird, but The Complete Book of Running for Women. I've mentioned before that when I was in high school I was on cross country, ran a fuck ton, and barely ate anything (except tuna). This book was a huge eye opener, explaining how nutrition is tied to both injury and performance. I immediately began eating more in order to get my menstrual cycle back (I had prided myself for years that I could eat so little I didn't have one... yes... I was an idiot) and began doing some strength training.

I had a good friend who was a couple years younger than me, hit her senior year of high school and quit eating. She looked like one of those starving african mothers. I gave her this book. It took her a while, but she finally realized the same thing I did, that being healthy is much better than being skinny.

I recommend this book to every young female runner I know. At this point, it is a little out dated, but still high quality. Even today, I will still reference it if I am aching after a run or want to plan out some workouts for a race.

First thing, get a good sports bra. Without one, you will still hate running. I also recommend C25K. I personally use the Peloton app, and I love it. If would really help you the form. I also really recommend this book for any beginner runner. This book changed my life, taught me how to run, and I use its run/walk schedule instead of C25K when I’m getting back into running.

This isn't skincare but as another woman with some pretty serious hormonal issues, this book has been life-changing: The Period Repair Manual by Dr Lara Briden.

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She talks about hormones and skin issues frequently in the book and there is a chapter devoted to PCOS treatment as well. I was skeptical at first but following her advice has made a huge difference in my life.

I'd like to caution you that "reconstruction caused this mess in the first place" is a bit of a weird way to frame such a complicated political period.

If you want to get a good understanding of the period here are some good books you can read that are either on the period or have some material that overlaps with it.

Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution by Eric Foner. I've linked you the abridged version, but there is a 600p version if you're really interested.

Nothing But Freedom by Eric Foner.

Capitol Men by Philip Dray

Deep Souths: Delta, Piedmont and Sea Island Society by J William Harris

A Nation Under Our Feet by Steven Hahn

At the Hands of Persons Unknown by Phillip Dray

Black Reconstruction in America W. E. B Du Bois

You can read the reviews on Amazon. They're mediocre. https://www.amazon.com/Booty-Bible-Alicia-Marie-ebook/dp/B0076PHEN8

If you want a good book about butts, check out Strong Curves by Contreras.

Thanks, I'm always trying to read as much as possible.
I just finished this one: https://www.amazon.com/PCOS-Health-Nutrition-Guide-Polycystic/dp/0778804054/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1481298954&sr=1-2&keywords=pcos+nutrition

It turned me onto Chaste berry and saw palmetto for my Face and hair (Acne/facial hair) and OMG it's been a godsend.

I just found a source online that said if you've been carrying a lot of fat around your middle, that fat was producing a certain amount of estrogen and allowed your ovaries to slack off. I for one lost fat here first thing (good for me because I have PCOS). If your first pounds came from here, it's possible your ovaries are just being slow to return to normal estrogen production.

However this isn't something I know a lot about. The original source for that is here and the Paleo for Women blog says it means keto is bad for women...

But I think that's silly. We weren't meant to be in that situation in the first place (ovaries not producing total estrogen) and amenorrhea does not mean you are infertile. I know at least one IRL baby that was conceived during amenorrhea. ;-)

There's also some argument that ancient women did not bleed the way we do now. That's another topic for research...

Your carbs are low but they aren't severe (<20g). It's hard to say, not knowing anything about your current weight or calories, etc. - but if your doctor isn't concerned I wouldn't worry about it. Enjoy the little break.

(I haven't had my period since I was 24 - nearly 12 years.)

A good book on breastfeeding would be nice (this would be my personal pick, as I found a lot of use in Dr. Sears's breastfeeding advice; this is the classic but I've never read it), and honestly I would be insulted if anyone gave me a nursing cover, as that implies I should use it.

>The thing is I was hoping I didn't have to be the one to have this conversation.

Yeah, none of us do.

>It will be much easier with my son but he's only 8 and doesn't need to know about sex yet.

You sure? I mean about both parts. He's probably not interested in sex, but it's 2019, and it's /everywhere/ in our society.

There are four things your daughter needs to know about sex:

1. Biology
   
2. Morality
   
3. Peer/boyfriend pressure, date rape etc.
   
4. How-to.
   
5. Safety/protection.
   
   (note that my wife is still very much in the picture, but I don't outsource work because it's unpleasant).
   
   My approach to these issues was to start talking about them a little at a time early, to the degree that my daughter could understand these issues (I don't do this just with sex, I do it with everything).
   
   #1 is fairly easy, this is the one you CAN outsource. We got spawn Celebrate your body (And it's changes too!), and there's other good books that deal with the same sorts of things. Let her read the book in private, but make VERY sure she knows she can come to you with *any* questions.
   
   #2. You're on your own for this one, but I think that getting kids to think about their actions within the context of whatever moral framework you have is better than decreeing "this is bad, that is bad" from on high. It is very easy to build arguments both for "traditional" morality, and for more contemporary attitudes, but you need to be careful when doing it.
   
   #3 We have dealt with several ways, one is that she's been in martial arts off and on since she was 5. She wasn't doing so good in the Krav school (my first choice for people who don't want to make martial arts a lifestyle) near our house, so we have her in Jujitsu. I'm not so fond of Jujitsu as a self-defense art, but for 12 year old and up women it's not a bad idea--knowing how to use locks and your body to unmount someone trying to hurt you. The other things we've discussed are *no one* gets to touch you if you don't want them to[1]. I have made it clear over and over that I'll have her back as long as she was attacked. This, of course, means that I have to trust her, and we're going through a dishonest phase at the moment which is angry making.
   
   #4 I can't even imagine talking to my daughter about that. Dunno how to handle that one. I don't really want her to learn the way I did--from "Penthouse Letters" and fumbling around on couches and other places, but I don't want to encourage her to start before she's ready. In fact I want her to delay it until she's out of highschool.
   
   #5. Make sure she's had the HPV vaccine. My SIL was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer, and is angry with herself because she only got the first HPV shot, not the second. Make sure she understands her options where birth control and STD prevention are concerned.
   
   I think it helps a lot if you can relate your discussions to other things going on in the world and/or her life. For example, I don't know *why* your wife isn't in the picture, but there's a reason, no? You don't really want to talk down a kids mother, but is there a lesson in there your kids need to learn?
   
   All of these discussions have to be developmentally appropriate, and (to reiterate) I think it's best if they're presented in such a way as to cause the child to think.
   
   ​
   
   [1] My daughter has two rules: Never hit first, *always* hit back. It's also been made clear to her that a legitimate KO gets her ice cream

I started with proper kegels (youtube them). Then introduced several kegel aids (own ben wa balls, kegelmaster, dildo-shaped trainers). Crawl before you walk, it's an addictive journey. Learn proper kegel technique to identify your muscles and learn to control them and build stamina. Then, buy a dildo-shaped aid. Mine is slender and smooth glass. Its difficult to build neural pathways, but your body will, and you will be able, with dedication, to suck that dildo in and push it out with your V muscles. Also, with the ben wah balls too, but its harder. That, my friend, is pompoir. One of the books I own: http://www.amazon.com/Pompoir-Ultimate-Guide-Pelvic-Fitness/dp/1478311509

Its a book written by a Ob/Gyn (she is also a writer for the NYT) that goes over everything you would want to know about vaginal health, seperating myth from medicine.

https://www.amazon.com/Vagina-Bible-Vulva-Separating-Medicine/dp/0806539313

I volunteer with a pelvic pain specialist PT. Apart from from already great information posted here is a book that is often suggested for patients called Ending Female Pain by Isa Herrera. This has a lot of information, pictures and exercises/stretches that may assist. Ultimately once she is in a situation where she can see a pelvic pain PT it would be very beneficial as it is specific to her needs. Be careful as many claim to be pelvic pain specialists but unless they regularly practice internal work as well I would not trust them with that issue.

Cal Garrison's Old Girl's Book of Spells

Judika Illes' Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells

Ray T. Malbrough's Charms, Spells, and Formulas...

available from some book shops and the big online one

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Cunnilingus-Exquisite-CUNNILINGUS/dp/B001TMA4HC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484108230&sr=8-1&keywords=Ultimate-Guide-cunnilingus

Go to a LLL meeting(free) or see a Lactation consultant. BF is on demand. There will be more "instructions" if you feel you don't know enough.

http://www.amazon.com/Womanly-Art-Breastfeeding-Seventh-International/dp/0452285801

http://www.llli.org/

This is such an odd trend in anthropology as a whole. They essentially try to make the argument as follows:

"Hey everybody, thousands of years ago women ruled the Earth, not men! And the Earth was so much better back then and everyone was equal and happy and free!"

9 times out of 10 they're just using this as a way to promote their ideological bias and purposely either leave crucial facts about early humans out or twist it in a way where it doesn't seem important.

http://www.chrisknight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/Early-Human-Kinship-Was-Matrilineal1.pdf

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Relations-Menstruation-Origins-Culture/dp/0300063083/256-1882770-1332012?ie=UTF8&qid=1189877836&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=8-1

How can you even say that periods were the start of human culture? Because the moonlight aligns with the period of when women are menstruating? What pseudo-spiritual nonsense is this?

You can't pinpoint a start of human culture from a biological function that only women have access to.