Nicole E. Willams MD - This is How You Vagina: All About Your Vajayjay and Why You Probably Shouldnt Call it That

Our bodies have been shrouded in shame and secrecy for far too long. Thank goodness Dr. Williams is here to pull back the curtain to help us to better understand and appreciate our bodiesall in the name of wellness, self-love, and pleasure.

Jessica OReilly, PhD, sexologist, author of The New Sex Bible,
and host of the podcast Sex with Dr. Jess

Yes, weve lived with our vaginas for our entire lives, but Im sure most women only have a cursory amount of knowledge about them. Dr. Nicole Williams successfully expands our knowledge of vajayjays (and lays out the case why not to call them that). This is not a textbook; its written with wit and logic and is easy to understand. She dispels trendy vaginal treatments and myths about whats good and bad for the vagina. Most importantly, once you have a better knowledge of this body part, youre equipped to treat it properly. Frankly, I think its a book parents should have their daughters read as they begin puberty.

Adrianna Hopkins, Emmy Awardwinning news
anchor and womens health advocate

This Is How You Vagina is an excellent combination of history, science, and real talk from your bestie. Dr. Williams delivers tons of valuable information in an approachable way that will have you giggling while you are learning all about your lady bits.

Sarah Deysach, owner of Early to Bed Sex Shop, Chicago, Illinois

This Is How You Vagina is a refreshingly witty yet painstakingly accurate account of the female reproductive tract. As a practicing board certified gynecologist, I would recommend this book to every human with a vajayjay!

Ruth Arumala, DO, MPH, NCMP, FACOG

THIS IS
HOW YOU
VAGINA

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, you should seek competent medical help. You should not begin a new health regimen without first consulting a medical professional.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press
Austin, Texas
www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2021 Nicole E. Williams, MD

All rights reserved.

Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance
Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Kim Lance
Cover illustration of peach: iStock / Getty Images Plus / Dizolator
Author photo courtesy of Native Grind
courtesy of Historical Collections & Services, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia;
, The Great Wall of Vagina (panel 2 of 10) Jamie McCartney 2011

Publishers Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-878-3

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-879-0

Part of the Tree Neutral program, which offsets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

21 22 23 24 25 26 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

To my mother, who always believed.

My vaginas angry. It is. Its pissed off.

My vaginas furious and it needs to talk.

It needs to talk about all this shit.

It needs to talk to you. I mean, whats the deal

An army of people out there thinking up ways to

torture my poor-ass, gentle, loving vagina.

Spending their days constructing psycho products

and nasty ideas to undermine my pussy.

Vagina Motherfuckers.

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

What is a vagina other than me?

Is it sad, is it angry?

Does it bleed?

What is a vagina other than myself?

Is she happy does she experience joy?

Has she like me been put down

Ignored berated

Has she like me ever cried?

What is a vagina other than me?

Lets see...

Contents

Foreword

N ot long ago, I received a phone call from a younger physician, a gynecologist, who told me that she had written a book all about the vagina. She also told me that when she was a child in the 1990s she had held me up as a role modelsomeone to emulate, someone to learn fromand she wanted my critique of her work. Since we are members of the same sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, she thought I would be willing to, and I was. That physician was Dr. Nicole Williams. Her book, This Is How you Vagina, is an important addition to the realm of womens health information for the layperson.

Given my extensive experience and years in public health, having been the Director of Public Health for the State of Arkansas and the Surgeon General of the United States, I find it of the utmost importance that women be educated on their bodiestheir function and even malfunction. Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation in the lay media that patients find it difficult to determine what is truth and what is fallacy. I believe that the way that Dr. Williams treats the subject, taking an historical bend and weaving it into physiology and present-day reality, is refreshing, fascinating, and informative.

All too often, we do not recognize each persons innate sexuality as being an important part of their humanity. This phenomenon starts at puberty and progresses into adulthood. And it is this nonrecognition that adds to the anxieties, particularly around sex, that women suffer from daily. When a natural part of our body can be seen or perceived as diseased and disgusting, it is no wonder that we are unable to fully embrace our bodies and ourselves in every way possible.

After having read This Is How You Vagina, I am heartened that the ability to confront and discuss difficult topics regarding womens sexuality and womens health has not been lost. This book is very clearly written and provides an abundance of useful information for adolescents, childbearing age women, and mature or elderly women. The information is comprehensive, concrete, and accurate and vital for women to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. It is an excellent resource for women who have questions about their bodies and are perhaps too embarrassed to ask. Dr. Williams is a fresh new voice in the debate on womens health, and it is my sincere hope that many others will read, listen, and join in the conversation.

M. Joycelyn Elders, M.D.
former Surgeon General of the United States of America
Professor Emerita at the University of Arkansas School of Medicine
author of From Sharecroppers Daughter to
Surgeon General of the United States of America

Introduction

P lease allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Nicole Williams, and I am a gynecologist. I am also female. The combination of my own vagina experience paired with scientific and anatomical knowledge gives me the insight to be able to help you, my fellow vagina owners, learn to treat yours right.