Sex Health Book

Mayo Clinic Press
May 2022

“Dr. Kate White has outstanding knowledge…But even more important, she has outstanding empathy and a real gift for explaining medical issues.”  Dr. Carolyn Westhoff, Professor of OB/GYN, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
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Your Sexual Health provides answers to your burning questions about your reproductive health (and yes—even questions about vaginal burning!) and tells you things you may have never even thought to ask.

Addressing topics like taking care of your vaginal health, regulating your menstrual cycle, eliminating painful periods, choosing the right birth control, and achieving orgasms, you’ll understand your body in a new way through 69 easy-to-digest sections. And while many books about women’s health care focus on the experiences of heterosexual women, I provide a friendly, inclusive guide for all readers with female parts, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Throughout Your Sexual Health, you’ll learn how to:
• Understand how your body is normal—and notice when it’s not.
• Have periods that don’t ruin your life—or your clothes.
• Get in touch with your body and your partner for the best sex of your life.
• Protect your body from STDs and STIs.
• Learn the often-normal causes for occasionally abnormal pap smears.
• Discover the right contraception for your body.

Your Sexual Health is the perfect high school graduation gift or college graduation gift. But it’s not just for young people – folks of any age will discover secrets about their body & their health in this book. It’s filled with trustworthy and approachable information, making it your board-certified bedside confidante until you can see your gyno.

Part I. Gyno Health
The Land down under

Labia, liners, Paps, HPV and more

Part II. PERIOD Health
bleed, rinse, repeat

Flow, tampons, cramping, PMS and more

Part III. sexual Health
desire, dryness and dildos

Masturbation, orgasms, anal, and more

Part IV. reproductive Health
how to plan your fam

Pills, pulling out, emergency contraception, and more

Part V. pregnancy Health
baby (on the) brain

Getting pregnant, getting help, c-sections and more

personal CHECK-UP

Each section ends with a list of questions so you can do a personal check-up about your body, your periods, your birth control, your sex life, and your thoughts about getting pregnant

ASK YOUR DOCTOR…

The book includes lists of questions at the end of each section, that can help you start a conversation with your doctor about how you can best keep yourself healthy

beautifully illustrated

The book is chock full of illustrations by Monica Ramos, an artist, illustrator and gardener. Her practice explores themes of femininity, sexuality, mental health and connection to the natural world.

sex health blog posts

08 Feb: I Have an Abnormal Pap Test – What Happens Now?

When you get that call or letter from your doctor with abnormal pap test results, it’s normal to panic. Especially…

30 Jan: Trich is No Treat

Some STIs get all the press, but one that many people haven’t heard of is trichomoniasis. It’s a parasitic infection…

15 Jan: Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

A patient came into my office on Friday with the common complaint of itching down below. She told me that…

15 Jan: Vaginal Discharge

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients is their vaginal discharge.  I have an infection…I’m too wet…I’m…

05 Jan: Are My Nipples Normal?

My patients worry about how their bodies look all the time, and one of the biggest areas of concern is…

05 Dec: What’s a Retroverted Uterus?

Almost every day in the office I mention to a patient that she has a retroverted uterus, and I’m met…

03 Sep: STD Risk

This reader wants to know her partner’s STD risk if they don’t use condoms. Learn about which STDs you can get tested for – and which ones you can’t.

07 Aug: Withdrawal Alternative?

You like using withdrawal for birth control. But you want something more effective that doesn’t contain hormones. Learn about other non-hormonal methods of contraception.

23 Jul: Understanding Pap Smear Results – What They Really Mean

Are your pap smear results confusing or scary? Learn about what phrases mean everything is fine, and what phrases mean your pap is abnormal.

16 Jul: Spotting When You’re Not On Birth Control

Don’t panic if you have spotting between your periods. Irregular bleeding is common when you’re not on birth control. Learn when to go to your gyno about it.