Mind Your Body: A Sexual Health and Wellness Guide for Women

Author and accomplished health editor Beth Howard has written a primer that breaks down the stereotypes and misinformation about the female body and gives women the tools for taking control of their seuxal lives and working with their doctors for life-long health. Not your typical book on gynecology, "Mind Your Body" arms women with the information they need taking the next step toward complete sexual health.

Beth Howard, a former Self magazine health editor, says the squirmish tendencies of gynecologists often endanger women's health. She says that physicians are known to avoid talking to their patients about sexual matters for fear of offending them; even worse, many often ignore signs of vaginal infections unless patients complain. "Many physicians remain unwilling to drop the cloak of privacy and clue women in to the truths about their bodies and their health. Women pay the price for this lack of frank talk with contraceptive failures, health-threatening infections, and unfulfilling sex lives." With Mind Your Body, she seeks to remedy this situation.

She thoroughly covers the basics, from female anatomy and demystifying the menstrual cycle, to the proper breast examination techniques, to resources for everything from sex toy companies to the Endometriosis Association to places that produce "alternative" menstrual wares and dioxin-free tampons and pads. All the advice is geared to help women overcome the misinformation, ignorance, and fear they may have about their bodies to help them improve their gynecological and sexual health. Among the little-known facts Howard reveals are the emergency contraception dosages from eight major birth control pills; how to find your G-, U-, and A-Spots; and the five top herbs for relieving menopausal symptoms. Highly recommended. --Erica Jorgensen