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A review by theshaggyshepherd
Vagina Problems: Endometriosis, Painful Sex, and Other Taboo Topics by Lara Parker
5.0
Vagina Problems // by Lara Parker
Ever since reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, I have been reading every medically related memoir I could get my hands on. Over the past year, I’ve also tried to be more outspoken about taboo topics, both when with friends as well as on social media. When I came across Vagina Problems by Lara Parker, I knew that I just had to read it! Aside from the blurb, have you seen the cover?! It is awesome! It is perfect for for her story with its boldness that draws your attention immediately!
Lara Parker pulled me into her story right away. There aren’t many books that I read this quickly. But she just has a real talent at telling things how they are with no shame and leaving you wanting more. I know that might be a weird thing to say when it is about a topic like this, but it is true. I learned so much about the illnesses she talks about and I am a better person for it. I wish I could make not just every doctor but every person in general read this book. I knew there was a bias about women’s pain in medicine but I did not realize it takes an average of 7 (SEVEN!) years for someone to be diagnosed with endometriosis. That is ridiculous!
I love how Lara Parker is defensive and argumentative and owns it! It is so obvious how much she has been belittled and not taken serious, and it’s very empowering to me (who is struggling with unexplained medical issues thus far and feels like it’s not always being taken serious) to see her not back down and make her problems smaller than they are for the book. Several times throughout, Parker talks about her privilege and what that affords her in terms of treatment options, health insurance, and sick days. She sounds down to earth and honest when she talks about these things, very much in line with the rest of her book. This book is raw and honest and everything it needs to be. There is no happy ending, at least not the type we would all love to see with a cure and forever love and butterflies and flowers. But it has an ending that may feel familiar to others with chronic illnesses or hopefully at least spark some hope.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Ever since reading When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, I have been reading every medically related memoir I could get my hands on. Over the past year, I’ve also tried to be more outspoken about taboo topics, both when with friends as well as on social media. When I came across Vagina Problems by Lara Parker, I knew that I just had to read it! Aside from the blurb, have you seen the cover?! It is awesome! It is perfect for for her story with its boldness that draws your attention immediately!
Lara Parker pulled me into her story right away. There aren’t many books that I read this quickly. But she just has a real talent at telling things how they are with no shame and leaving you wanting more. I know that might be a weird thing to say when it is about a topic like this, but it is true. I learned so much about the illnesses she talks about and I am a better person for it. I wish I could make not just every doctor but every person in general read this book. I knew there was a bias about women’s pain in medicine but I did not realize it takes an average of 7 (SEVEN!) years for someone to be diagnosed with endometriosis. That is ridiculous!
I love how Lara Parker is defensive and argumentative and owns it! It is so obvious how much she has been belittled and not taken serious, and it’s very empowering to me (who is struggling with unexplained medical issues thus far and feels like it’s not always being taken serious) to see her not back down and make her problems smaller than they are for the book. Several times throughout, Parker talks about her privilege and what that affords her in terms of treatment options, health insurance, and sick days. She sounds down to earth and honest when she talks about these things, very much in line with the rest of her book. This book is raw and honest and everything it needs to be. There is no happy ending, at least not the type we would all love to see with a cure and forever love and butterflies and flowers. But it has an ending that may feel familiar to others with chronic illnesses or hopefully at least spark some hope.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review!