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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Gynae Geek summary
Anita Mitra
Your No-nonsense Guide to ‘Down There’ Healthcare
18 mins
Brief summary
The Gynae Geek by Anita Mitra is an informative guide to women's health, covering everything from periods and contraception to cervical cancer and menopause. It empowers women to take control of their own bodies and make informed decisions about their health.
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The Gynae Geek
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An anatomy lesson
Let’s say it all together now: vagina. VAGINA. It’s not a dirty word. Knowing what’s what down there can help you understand what’s normal and what’s not normal, or how to describe what’s going on to your doctor and sexual partners. So, let’s begin with a basic anatomy lesson.
First off, your vulva is on the outside, and your vagina is on the inside. Your vulva is made up of the following components: the mons pubis – that’s the fatty tissue that covers the front of the pubic bone and grows pubic hair; the clitoris – a nerve-packed spongy tissue that fills with blood during arousal; and the urethral opening, which connects your bladder to the world. A bit further back is your vagina – an elastic, muscular tube that connects your vaginal opening to the cervix.
On either side are the labia majora, or skin-covered outer lips, then the labia minora, the fleshy-looking inner lips. It’s common for the labia minora to be asymmetrical, and for them to protrude outside the labia majora. Next up is the perineum, the area between the vaginal opening and the anus. This covers the pelvic floor muscles, which hold your insides in.
OK, now let’s move to the internal anatomy. First up is the uterus, the pear-shaped organ which contracts during labor, menstruation, and orgasm. The endometrium is the lining of your uterus, which thickens every month in preparation for the implantation of a fertilized egg – just in case. Your period happens when your uterus sheds the endometrium.
Connecting your uterus and your vagina is the cervix, through which runs a small canal that stretches during labor. You’ve also got two ovaries, right and left, which store your eggs. Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have – between two and four million. When you start menstruating, your ovaries begin releasing eggs for potential fertilization – one every month. Your ovaries also produce female hormones, like estrogen and progesterone.
When your ovary nominates an egg for fertilization, it’s called ovulation. The egg travels through the fallopian tubes to reach the uterus. The fallopian tubes are not connected to the ovaries; they freely rove around, waiting for the signal that an egg is ready.
Now that we’ve got a handle on terminology, let’s move on to what actually goes on in the vagina. Our first stop? The period.
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What is The Gynae Geek about?
The Gynae Geek (2019) is a straight-talking guide to women’s health, led by gynecologist Dr. Anita Mitra. You’ll learn the answers to all the questions you never asked about anatomy, periods, sexual health, and fertility.
Who should read The Gynae Geek?
- People with uteruses looking to understand their bodies better
- Men who want to educate themselves on female anatomy
- Shy people looking for answers to questions about the vagina and its functions
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