Endometriosis causes a variety of symptoms from painful periods and backache to fertility problems. If you have painful periods and wonder if you might have endometriosis, or if you've already been diagnosed, you need the best possible information, help and support. This book aims to help you understand your symptoms, talk to your doctor without embarrassment, and it explains the tests and the treatment options. There's also sympathetic advice to help you cope with pain, deal with your own feelings about having endometriosis, and talk to your partner about how you feel. "Women with endometriosis need simple, clear information to enable them to decide for themselves which kind of treatment may be right for them. This book is written in a clear question and answer format and covers everything from explanations of symptoms to treatments and self-help. A book aimed directly at women, in a language they can understand." - National Endometriosis Society

Disabled women represent one of the most marginalised minority groups in the world, hence they are largely silent while their sexuality is ignored, suppressed, forbidden and buried underneath the carpet. Until recently, most of the Global Northern published literature on the subject of the sexuality of disabled women has predominantly been constructed from hearsay and second-hand narratives in studies which draw from the perspectives of parents, service providers and advocates, without much consultation of the relevant women. By facilitating the voice of disabled women in Zimbabwe and illuminating their experiences of sexuality, this book hopes to shift the experiences of sexuality of disabled women from the periphery of society to the fore. Disability and Sexuality in Zimbabwe presents original research on an issue that is thus far not found in local research data. Whilst addressing the paucity of literature on the subject, the book informs policy and practice and enhances the existing body of knowledge by making recommendations towards the development of a disability and sexuality framework that is rooted in the African context. This book is of interest to students and scholars of African studies, disability studies, sociology, psychology, social work, nursing, education studies, geography, women's and gender studies and interdisciplinary studies. Additional audiences include a wide range of health, social care, and educational professionals and practitioners, as well donors, disabled people's organisations, charities, government departments, NGOs, supranational organisations, and policy makers

Smart, short techniques throughout the day can form a healthier perspective 'Truly empowering - a book for everyone. It will help you figure out life.'Fearne Cotton All the benefits of therapy - 10 minutes at a time Let Owen O'Kane, psychotherapist, former NHS Clinical Lead and Sunday Times bestselling author of TEN TO ZEN, show you how anyone can use simple, understandable techniques to unlock better mental health. Modern life is a minefield for stress. Whether it's juggling work, relationships or money, we often struggle to make time for ourselves and can find ourselves stuck in a rut with bad habits or worries. In HOW TO BE YOUR OWN THERAPIST, Owen O'Kane reveals how smart, short techniques throughout the day can form healthier perspectives and let you ditch harmful thought patterns. Using the latest evidence-based tools and techniques from across a range of therapies including CBT, mindfulness and interpersonal therapy, Owen provides empowering solutions to managing what keeps you stuck so you can move forward. Teaching you the key fundamentals of therapy and how to apply these to your own life, alongside targeted tasks that take just 10 minutes a day, this is the practical therapy book for anyone who wants to get the best from their life and to manage better in tough times. 'Owen is bringing much needed therapy to all of us. He brings down the stigma attached to being vulnerable and is making talking about mental health approachable for everyone. His book is brilliant and I highly recommend.' Dr Rupy Aujla, MBBS, BSc, MRCGP The Doctor's Kitchen 'Anyone looking to understand how therapy can help them help themselves, should look no further than Owen's humorous and empowering book.' Benedict Cumberbatch

Menopause is a dramatic but largely overlooked developmental window to the second half of life. Although today's women are more aware of and actively involved in mapping their menopausal journey than generations before, many still do not see menopause as a time of important psychological and spiritual transformation. This book goes far beyond hot flashes and gets to the very heart of the midlife journey, helping women find their unique voice and speak their truth in an era of #MeToo and #ChurchToo. Coming alongside readers as a wise spiritual guide, pastor and theologian Cheryl Bridges Johns identifies seven key developmental "tasks" of menopause and gives practical ways women can embrace each one. She encourages women to view these tasks as gifts as they experience the remarkable physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation that occurs in this stage of life. Written in a warm and conversational tone, this book helps women chart a course for the future, leading them to a renewed sense of identity, a more focused vision for life, and a deeper spirituality. Each chapter includes guided questions for personal reflection and study questions for group discussion.

Bringing together experts in the field, this important book considers the underlying risk factors that create situations of psychosocial vulnerability and marginalisation for mothers, from their baby's conception up to a year after birth. Adopting a strengths-based approach, the book looks not only at the incidence and impact of disadvantageous circumstances on women but also explores protective factors at an individual, family, community and service level. It identifies promising evidence-based interventions and sources of resilience. With a distinctive focus on social and cultural diversity, Psychosocial Resilience and Risk in the Perinatal Period considers a wide range of personal circumstances and social groups, including women's experiences of traumatic birth, domestic and family violence, drug and alcohol use and mothering by indigenous, same-sex and disabled women. Throughout, case studies and service user experiences are used to illuminate the issues and illustrate exemplary care practice. International in scope, this book is particularly strong on the implications for care practices and health service delivery within Western models of maternity care. Its applied focus and evidence base makes it eminently suitable for study purposes and professional reference. Of relevance to midwives, health visitors and other health and social care practitioners, Psychosocial Resilience and Risk in the Perinatal Period's final chapters focus on developing resilience amongst professionals and multiprofessional and interagency working.

Providing a comprehensive understanding of the Catholic Church's teaching on contraception, Angela Franks, PhD, an experienced pro-life speaker and educator, explores how to live in accordance with Catholic sexual teaching and equips readers with the knowledge to explain the teaching to others.

"A kick-ass book on menopause. Do yourself a favor and pick up this gem."-Dr. Jen Gunter, bestselling author of The Vagina Bible and The Menopause Manifesto Menopause and perimenopause are no laughing matter but that doesn't stop Amanda Thebe from approaching her 50s with a sense of humor. In this hilarious and personal account, the fitness trainer shares how she lost weight, dealt with her depression, improved her sleep, and overhauled her diet to survive and thrive during menopause. Now you can, too! Includes a Bonus Strength Training Guide for Women Over 40 At a time when menopause has become an urgent topic of public discussion, with the likes of Michelle Obama revealing their struggles for the first time, personal trainer Amanda Thebe shares her journey with bold and big-hearted writing that will be familiar to readers of Glennon Doyle. Readers will come away from the book with: A better understanding of your own hormones and how they factor in menopause and your overall health; Confidence to speak your truth about your menopause symptoms to your doctor, other health professionals, your family, and friends; Zero bull-sh*t tips for nutrition, fitness, vagina health, sex, and more. Amanda Thebe was working as a personal trainer and fitness coach when, at age 43, she started experiencing debilitating exhaustion, dizziness, and depression. The busy mother of two boys was used to traveling the world and climbing mountains. Now, she struggled to climb out of bed. After several failed doctor's appointments, Thebe saw her gynaecologist, who finally named the source of her struggles: perimenopause, the period of 5-10 years before menopause, when a woman's fluctuating estrogen levels put her at risk of depression, anxiety, headaches, and more ailments related to female hormone health. Empowered by information, Thebe began her journey back to her former self, overhauling her approach to diet, mental health, and exercise. In Menopocalypse, she explains how to deal with migraines, hot flashes, weight gain, exhaustion, poor sleep, vaginal dryness, and mood swings-offering tips that have worked for her and others. She shares information about hormone therapy. She even shares her own strength-training routine, complete with a suggested workout schedule, easy-to-follow instructions, and pictures of herself doing the exercises, so you can feel empowered, fit, and ready to tackle the day. Menopause isn't fun, sexy, or cool, and a woman might spend one-third of her life in it-but that doesn't mean women should suffer in silence without support. Let the outspoken and honest Amanda Thebe be your guide to surviving-and thriving-during menopocalypse.

DK brings you an all-encompassing and illustrated guide to your pregnancy journey week by week! Becoming pregnant is a beautiful moment in any person's life, but we understand that it can be daunting too. Don't worry, DK has got you covered! World-renowned obstetrician, Professor Lesley Regan, introduces a one-stop pregnancy guide to explain exactly what is happening to you and your developing baby week by week and ensure you are fully-equipped from beginning to end of your joyful journey. Inside the pages of this in-depth baby parenting book, you'll discover: -Updated pregnancy advice and newborn baby care information to help you make the right decisions for you and your baby -Every aspect of pregnancy, birth and the first six weeks of life with a newborn is described and illustrated, week by week -Stunning illustrations show the baby forming from the moment of conception, and key developments for every trimester -In-depth special features on subjects from antenatal and postnatal care options and pregnancy-related ailments to buying maternity wear and returning to work This baby development book will be your pregnancy bible - every day! Packed with up-to-date research, advice from medical experts and detailed scans and images, this week-by-week pregnancy book is a must-have volume for first-time mums. It guides you through the physical and emotional changes you will experience to make you feel supported during this extraordinary and wonderful time. This fully updated maternity book is arranged chronologically, which means all the information for mother and baby is presented at the most appropriate time. Find out how to keep healthy during your pregnancy and support your growing baby. Discover what to expect when you're expecting - from different types of childbirth to early signs of labour to meeting your baby for the first time. The expert advice and reassurance continue after birth as you adjust to the first six weeks of life with a newborn. All the latest medical advice for mums-to-be is covered, including guidance on nutrition and exercise, so you'll understand how to keep you and your baby happy and healthy throughout your pregnancy. The ideal gift for expectant mothers who are seeking a healthy and happy pregnancy every step of the way, and a must-have parenting book for those who seek a detailed account of labour, birth, and exploring all the options available during pregnancy care. At DK, we believe in the power of discovery. So with Your Pregnancy Week by Week by your side, we assure you will feel safe and supported during this special time in your life, as you count down the days to your new arrival!

'A wildly entertaining and necessary book' ELIZABETH DAY 'A must-read for every woman' JACQUELINE WILSON 'A laugh-out-loud, haunting and beautifully crafted manual' DREDA SAY MITCHELL ________ In her early twenties, Christie Watson was convinced she'd found her soulmate, in a glowing flash of light that turned out to be a tealight setting her quilt on fire. Twenty years later, her bed is burning once again... as she wakes in a perimenopausal sweat, night after night. This is the story of her journey through midlife: of the joy of letting go and the pain of the morning after, of the unstoppable power of female friendship and the struggle to raise teenagers as a single parent. It lays bare the exhilaration, agony, wonder and fears of being a middle-aged woman with a wild heart, a changing body and a new set of challenges. And as her world takes on a different shape, there's something else she starts to feel: the hot flush of possibility... 'Wickedly funny, deliciously candid and deeply moving' RACHEL CLARKE, author of Dear Life 'Give Quilt on Fire to your daughter, mother, sister, friends. A howlingly good midlife battle cry' JESS KIDD, author of Things in Jars 'Brilliant... Like having an honest conversation with a smart and funny friend' CATHY RENTZENBRINK, author of Dear Reader

'Warning: so funny, even the strongest pelvic floors will be tested' - Net Mums 'A very funny, honest look at the ups and downs of parenting. I absolutely loved it.' - Emily Dean, host of Walking the Dog 'Lucy, a favourite comic of mine, manages to shed new light on something so universal. Her reaction to parenting is ridiculously refreshing and loaded with guilty laugh out loud honesty. After the school run, I implore you to pick a page, any page, then realise you're not alone. A gentle funny stroke of parenting genius' - Johnny Vegas 'As a mum of two girls, I was nodding, laughing and emotional. I recognised so much of Lucy's journey in my own... I really loved it.' YolanDa Brown, BBC Loose Ends From TV's award-winning comedy mum and the writer of Hullraisers, Lucy Beaumont, comes her hilarious debut on the trials and tribulations of motherhood. Known for her sharp, witty and surreal view on everyday life, Lucy shares the unpredictable craziness of being a mum in this brilliant and laugh-out-loud 'mumoir'. Mums everywhere will recognise the madness of it all. Like when Lucy was hospitalised during her third trimester with chest pains but it turned out to be a burrito. Or when she was so tired at the park she forgot her own child's name. Heart-warming and laugh-out-loud funny, Drinking Custard also captures Lucy's marriage to comedian Jon Richardson, as they navigate Lucy's raging pregnancy hormones and balk at pram prices together. Get ready to make room on mum's bookshelf for Drinking Custard to sit alongside other mum classics such as Why Mummy Drinks, Hurrah For Gin! and The Unmumsy Mum.

She couldn't believe it. There she was with her medical qualifications sitting on the floor of a mental hospital. She'd offered her life to God, wanted to serve him anywhere, but no, surely not this... Sharon Hastings is absolutely passionate about helping anyone who suffers from 'severe and enduring mental illness' (SEMI): schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder. She wants the church to know all about these illnesses: how they devastate ordinary people and how they need to be treated. By telling her story, warts and all, showing her own tortuous, painful journey, she equips us to come alongside loved ones, fellow church members, friends and neighbours, understanding the social and spiritual ramifications of their illnesses, including them in our activities (where appropriate) and encouraging their spiritual growth. A natural storyteller, the author draws us in. We journey with her. With wisdom, kindness and the heart of a bruised survivor, she interweaves her exceptional story with vital teaching which simply cannot be ignored by anyone within the church today.

Bringing together western medical science and eastern wellbeing for menopause education, this book helps yoga teachers develop their understanding of menopause and women's health as well as support their students. Petra Coveney - creator of Menopause Yoga (TM) - shares yoga, breath and meditation practices, poses, and CBT and self-enquiry methods to manage menopause symptoms. Her book helps to educate and empower women going through menopause, allowing them to embrace it as an opportunity for self-growth. It includes three main yoga sequences that focus on managing specific groups of symptoms, as well as additional sequences for sleep, menorage, and osteopenia. This is the dedicated resource for yoga teachers who want to teach Menopause Yoga (TM), with four detailed 90-minute class plans also available to download. Underpinned by research and 20 years of teaching experience, Menopause Yoga helps those on their journey from peri-menopause to post-menopause to help them welcome the changes in their minds, bodies and emotions as they enter the next stage in their lives.

Night sweats, hot flushes, anxiety, insomnia, exhaustion, itchy skin, low libido, painful sex ... Any of these sound familiar? Ninety per cent of women experience these symptoms some time between the ages of 40 and 60, but shhhhhhh ... just suck it up, princess. And nobody mention the M word. Menopause and perimenopause (the hormonal rollercoaster years leading up to a woman's last period) are among our last taboo subjects. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) - once widely prescribed as the magical secret of youth - has been shunned by women and their doctors for two decades. Dr Ginni Mansberg, one of Australia's most trusted health and wellbeing experts, is here to work through the evidence and bust the taboos out of the water. The M Word is all about you and your choices. Are you being offered the best solutions for your menopause issues? Because there are great solutions to help you thrive in this new stage of life. What happens to your body once key hormones begin to diminish? What are the pros and cons of HRT? Which home remedies are worth a shot, and which are snake oil? Plus, how can you shift that menopause weight gain, what's best for your changing skin, how can you exercise your brain (move over, Sudoku) and why are you so bloody itchy all the time? All of this and more is delivered with Dr Ginni's no-nonsense humour and backed up with evidence-based facts and personal anecdotes to help women make informed choices.

'The Queen of Pilates' - The Times 'Lynne is the undisputed First Lady of Pilates' - The Observer 40 quick-fix Pilates workouts to fit into your daily schedule Suitable for all fitness levels, these 10-minute mini workouts are each designed for a different part of your day - morning, noon and evening. Starting with The New Fundamentals, Lynne Robinson's programme features more than 100 illustrated step-by-step exercises, many of which are brand new to Pilates. As well as increasing your strength and flexibility, there are dedicated exercises to boost your immune system and improve the efficiency of your breathing. You'll also discover how Pilates can benefit both your mental and physical health, helping you to reset your lifestyle, cope with stress and restore balance in your body. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your fitness or tone up, this essential guide will help you integrate Pilates into your daily life and achieve your goals.

Our Bodies, Ourselves is the resource that women of all ages turn to for information about their bodies, sexuality, and reproductive health. Completely revised and updated, these pages provide women with the information and tools they need to make key health decisions -- accurate, evidence-based information, input from leading experts, and personal stories from women who share their experiences. This new edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves includes the latest vital information on: * CHANGES IN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM -- especially how health care reform affects women and how to get the care you need. * SAFER SEX -- how to engage in pleasurable, satisfying sexual experiences while protecting your health and the health of your partner. * ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RISKS -- including minimizing exposure to everyday pollutants that endanger reproductive health. * BODY IMAGE -- resisting negative media stereotypes and embracing healthier approaches to looking and feeling good. * LOCAL AND GLOBAL ACTIVISM -- using social media and organizing tactics to build community and advocate for policies that improve women's lives. * As well as crucial information about gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and birth, perimenopause, and sexuality and sexual health as we age. Together with its companion website, ourbodiesourselves.org, Our Bodies, Ourselves is a one-stop resource for women of all generations.

'Essential reading for anyone who has been through the sadness of a lost pregnancy' The Times 'Sensitive and insightful' Sunday Times Style 'This book will be a godsend to any woman going through the murky devastation that is called miscarriage but feels like something else entirely: the loss of a baby' Ariel Levy 'A compassionate, nuanced book that does this very complicated grief justice' Pandora Sykes 'This book will be the friend to hold your hand while you navigate your own pathway of grief. I'm so glad it's here' Elle Wright Beyond Grief also contains interviews with experts and other women who have experienced losses of their own, including Elizabeth Day, Leandra Medine Cohen, Melissa Odabash, Jools Oliver, Alexandra Stedman and Latham Thomas. Pippa Vosper tragically lost her son Axel in 2017, when she was five months pregnant, and has since written about miscarriage and baby loss online and in a series of pieces for Vogue. Beyond Grief: Navigating the Journey of Pregnancy and Baby Loss is the book she wishes had been available when her son died. It covers every aspect of pregnancy and baby loss at any stage, from the practical to the emotional, with advice from experts and stories from women who have been through it themselves. Beyond Grief offers both an inclusive perspective and a guiding hand to anyone who has experienced any kind of pregnancy loss, as well as those who are trying to support them through it.

'If you're a woman over 40, ever going to be a woman over 40 or you've ever met a woman over 40 you should read this book' JANE FALLON 'I NEED this book. We ALL need this book! If menopause happened to men, there would be CELEBRATIONS and parties every time one of them completed their change.' MARIAN KEYES 'A compelling voice within [the menopause] movement' DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Funny, frank and empowering... a vital book for any woman who is at the beginning of her radicalisation journey, looking at her life and finally piecing together the personal and the political.' THE OBSERVER 'Sam Baker is rewriting the narrative around menopause' WOMAN & HOME 'A rollicking read' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'I loved it.. blazingly hopeful and beautifully written. This book is meant to be mainlined.' LISA TADDEO 'This gem is a guide to navigating your 40s and 50s and just generally being yourself. ... joyful, positive, and goes to ALL the places. Highly recommended.' JOJO MOYES The essential manifesto for any woman staring the second half of their lives in the face and wondering, WTF is going on? * Invisible to society now you're past child-bearing age? * Tired of being disregarded, overlooked and underestimated? * Wondering what the hell is happening to your body, mind and internal thermostat? Women over forty are the most ignored demographic in society. And yet this is the time when you are likely to have the most freedom, power, confidence and self knowledge than ever before. Some serious life has been lived: there have been great loves, heartbreaks, births, marriages, careers, betrayals, bereavements and survival. So what now? What happens when the narrative given to you by society - husband, babies, house - runs out and you become storyless? Including chapters on menopause, sex, culture, work, rage and freedom, writer and journalist Sam Baker shares her experiences of life post 40 and shows how women to create their own story. This needn't herald the era of loose clothing and hair dye; or hot flashes and bad sleep (though there is that too). It's time women north of 40 took a leaf out of the millennial handbook and reinvented things our way. Sam hosts a podcast of the same name, now with over 50 thousand downloads. Harness your energy, opinions and power and create a liberating new narrative for the second half of life. 'I am so glad The Shift exists. Sam's writing is a wonderful generous mixture of no-bullsh*t and a comforting hug. I'll be passing this book on to many women I know and love.' EMMA GANNON 'brilliant - powerful, brimming with integrity, inspiring, the politics of anger and what it means when we refuse to be invisible. Every woman (whatever her age) should buy, borrow, lend a copy' KATE MOSSE 'This is such a painfully beautiful look at the menopause in all its complexity. As honest as it is insightful, this is the first book I've read about later womanhood that exchanges shame and fear for truth and celebration... does for 40-something women what the honest parenting movement did for mothers.' ANNA WHITEHOUSE, founder, Mother Pukka 'great pace and feisty content. It will be a great help to women to see their lives mirrored and not feel like they are going mad... bold and funny.' CARYN FRANKLIN '[Sam] tackles the menopause with her customary wit and wisdom' i PAPER 'Honest and witter account of life post-40. Makes for essential reading at any age.' - KATE WILLS, FABULOUS MAGAZINE 'Insightful, thoughtful, inspirational - impressive work.' - VICTORIA DERBYSHIRE

A proven system to naturally eliminate problems with your period, improve your fertility, and get your body, mood, and sex drive back.

The prescriptive program in WomanCode has successfully helped thousands of women regulate their periods, clear up their skin, lose weight, alleviate PMS, get pregnant naturally, have more successful IVF, restore their energy, improve their moods, and have better sex.

Vitti's revolutionary five-step program gives you the tools you need to: Work in harmony with your body's natural rhythms Minimize the impact of toxins in the environment, your diet, and the products that you use Target and support the parts of your endocrine function (blood sugar, adrenals, elimination, or reproduction) that need attention Tap into the immensely transformative power of your feminine energy

The WomanCode protocol gives women from their teenage years to perimenopause the keys to unlock their hormone health and to make their whole bodies thrive.

One in fifteen people report experiencing chronic pelvic pain, while many more suffer in silence. It's time to put aside the stigmatisation and misdiagnosis. Dr Sonia Bahlani has helped thousands of patients reclaim their lives at her New York City practice. With dual expertise in the fields of gynecology and urology-sought purposefully because she was interested in helping patients with pelvic pain-Bahlani is the doctor to address this common yet often-untreated condition. In Dr. Sonia's Guide to Navigating Pelvic Pain, Bahlani helps readers in multiple ways: she provides detailed information on what might be causing pain-from endometriosis to fibroids to prostate inflammation-through descriptions, questions and case studies; and she reviews treatments, from what readers can expect in a doctor's office to what they can do at home. Her sympathetic bedside manner and extensive knowledge will help empower readers and give them renewed control over their own bodies.

An illustrated book that reveals all the facts thoughtfully and frankly. The vagina: It can be surprising to learn how little many women know about this important part of their anatomy. It is not generally a topic of conversation and, if mentioned at all, its name is cloaked in euphemisms like “down there.” This book is for all women — prepubescent, pubescent and adult — no matter how much they already know. Supportive male partners also would benefit from reading it. Accessible and straightforward, this illustrated guide reveals all the functions of the female reproductive system, its various parts, its practical purposes, and its pleasures and problems. The facts are presented in a generous spirit with light humour to help readers learn the facts in private, without embarrassment or discomfort, and to better understand this essential part of female health and well-being. The topics include: The Vagina ... and Its Neighborhood. Where Is It?; Vagina Anatomy: What Does It Look Like? Perineum, Vulva, Labia, Vestibule, Hymen, Clitoris; The Vagina’s Neighbours: Bladder and Rectum; The Vagina in All Its Forms and In Everyday Life; What Does the Vagina Secrete? What Is the Vagina For?; The Vagina at all Ages: Birth, Puberty, Adulthood, Menopause; The Vagina and New Life: Pregnancy, Childbirth, Breastfeeding; The Vagina for Pleasure: Lubrication, Orgasm, the G-Spot, Sex Toys, Vaginal Farts; Contraceptives: The Pill, Vaginal Ring, Implant, Desogestrol, IUD, Condoms, Diaphragm and Spermicides; Vagina Problems and Illnesses: Vaginismus, Pain During Intercourse, Deep Pains, Superficial Pain, Prolapse (How to Avoid A “Fall”), Perineal Rehabilitation, Surgery, Cervical Diseases, Uterine Diseases, Vulvovaginitis, Mycosis, Vaginosis, The “Outsiders”; Sexually Transmitted Infections: Chlamydia, Ureaplasm and Mycoplasma Infection, Trichomoniasis, Gonococcal Disease, Infection with Papillomavirus, Genital Herpes, Syphilis.