Nina Brochmann - The Wonder Down Under

New York London

Copyright 2017 by H. Aschehoug & Co. (W. Nygaard), Oslo

English Translation copyright 2017 by Lucy Moffatt

Illustrations copyright 2017 by Hanne Sigbjrnsen

Jacket design by Lynne Yeamans

Front cover photo Shutterstock/sciencepics

First published in the United States by Quercus in 2018

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e-ISBN 978-1-68144-019-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017960521

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This book is not intended as a substitute for the medical advice of physicians. The reader should regularly consult a physician in all matters relating to her health, and particularly in respect of any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

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Unrolling condoms over white polystyrene penises was how we first met. It was early in the fall of 2011 and we were both first-year medical students at the University of Oslo in Norway. We had just signed up to become volunteer sex education teachers with an organization run by medical students. With slippery fingers smelling of synthetic lube, we had no idea that this encounter, and the budding friendship that came out of it, would culminate in a project that would ultimately expand far outside of little Oslo, reaching readers across the world. We were just two curious and enthusiastic nerds, eager to impart knowledge about proper condom technique.

The next couple of years, we traveled around Norway as sex-ed teachers, working with groups of teenagers, sex workers, and refugees. We were teaching them the essentials about their bodies and a healthy sex life. We drew ovaries and testicles on chalkboards, discussed sexual consent through role-playing exercises, and had teenagers create their personal wish list for their sexual debut. It was a wonderful and meaningful job, but we were overwhelmed by the amount of questions and concerns people had. There is so much anxiety, shame, and insecurity connected to our most intimate body parts. Sometimes it feels like we could have spent a whole day just answering questions. Do I look normal down there? Does discharge mean I have a sexually transmitted disease? How can I ensure that Ill bleed on my wedding night? After a while, it just didnt feel like we were doing enough. If we were to answer each of these questions in person, it would take a lifetime.

Our solution was to start a blog called Underlivet (The Genitals), to reach a larger audience. We wanted to give girls and women a sense of wonder and pride in their incredible bodies. Our goal was to provide sound, research-based medical information, written in an accessible and funny way. No moralism, no embarrassment, just honest and trustworthy information.

In a very short time, Underlivet became one of the most read health blogs in Norway, and we mustered the courage to write the book you are holding in your hands right now. The Wonder Down Under came out in Norwegian in January 2017 and now, less than a year later, it is being translated into thirty languages, from Korean to Polish, from Russian to Dutch. It is fantasticand slightly terrifyingto be able to spread ones debut book to so many people. We are happy to know that women and girls in all corners of the world will get to read what we have to say, because we strongly believe that good sexual health is critical. At the same time, the overwhelming interest in our book also saddens us, because it shows us that information on female sexual health is scarce. It demonstrates that women all over the world have serious questions and few resources to turn to. We wish the reality were different, but it shouldnt have come as a surprise. Scandinavia is, after all, known for its openness regarding sexuality, so if we have these questions, everybody else must have them too.

The American edition of The Wonder Down Under has been adapted and revised to provide relevant information to North American readers. Men and boys will certainly find invaluable (and most likely surprising) information contained here, but its you women were writing this book forespecially all the ladies out there who are unsure whether your bodies are working the way they should, whether you look the way you should, and whether you feel the way you should. We hope this book will give you the confidence you need. Were also writing for all of you who are happy and proud but want to learn more about the amazing organ between your legs. This intimate body part of ours is incredible, and we believe much of the key to good health (sexual and otherwise) lies in understanding how the body worksin understanding the wonder down under.

In recent decades, we have seen the increasing sexualization of youth culture, particularly of girlsand not just in Norway, but all over the world. For many young women, unfortunately, growing up in this environment involves enduring a string of unpleasant sexual experiences that they then struggle with later in life. It shouldnt be this way.

We want women to be able to make independent choices, with all the facts on the table; we want their choices to be based on medical knowledge, not gossip, misunderstandings, and fear. A good knowledge base about how the body works will make it easier for women to make their own choices with self-confidence and self-assurance. Sexuality and sexual health must be demystified, and we must take ownership of our bodies. The intention of this book is to give you the opportunity to make sensible and well-informed choices that suit you.

Perhaps youre wondering: Why should I bother reading a medical book written by two Norwegian students? One of them hasnt even finished medical school yet! Even as we were writing the manuscript for the Norwegian edition of this book, we asked ourselves that very same question plenty of times. We are neither fully trained doctors nor experts in any way whatsoever. We therefore approached the creation of this book, and particularly foreign editions of it, with a healthy dose of humility.

We took courage from the example of German medical student Giulia Enders. She achieved resounding success with her book Darm mit Charme (published in English as Gut: The Inside Story of Our Bodys Most Underrated Organ), which transformed intestines and feces into topics people could discuss on prime-time talk shows. The rhyming title of our book is an homage to the German title of her book. She paved the way for us, showing how medicine can be made understandable and funny, andmore importanthow we can talk about our most intimate body parts without even a whiff of shame.