Fans of Dr. Jen Gunter and Emily Nagoski will love this science-based and empowering guide to your uterus.
'This book will embolden readers to shake stigma and speak out loud about this marvelous organ, the uterus, and its complex role in everything from menstruation to menopause and beyond.'
Amanda Thebe, author of Menopocalypse
It gives life to humankind, billions of people have one, and yet the uterus is still mysterious to many. And talking about it can feel taboo. But when you don't talk about it, you don't discover what's normal and what's not
or what questions to ask at the doctor's office. The reality? This versatile, pear-shaped organ is worthy of everyone's attention.
In Pear-Shaped, a gynecologist and a science communicator join forces to tell the life story of your uterus.
Did you know that the uterus is a muscle? Or that it can stretch to the size of a watermelon? In Pear-Shaped, the authors reveal surprising facts about the uterus, alongside practical, helpful information including:
A detailed anatomy of the uterus with illustrations An overview of its many functions Complications that can impact fertility, childbearing, birth, and menstruation Tips for advocating for yourself at the doctor's office Descriptions and images of what the uterus looks like (including the fact that it doesn't always look the same for everyone) Real case studies from the author's gynecological practice Information about menstruation, contraception, abortion, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause
As Pear-Shaped shows, the uterus is truly fascinating. But it also can be a source of serious concern for many. Pear-Shaped also discusses various problems and diseases that arise in the uterus
including endometriosis, PCOS, fibroids, and unwanted pregnancy
and how everyday people work with their doctors to find a solution that works for them.
By:
Marlies Bongers,
Corien van Zweden
Translated by:
Alice Tetley-Paul
Imprint: Greystone Books,Canada
Country of Publication: Canada
Dimensions:
Height: 216mm,
Width: 140mm,
ISBN: 9781778401602
ISBN 10: 1778401600
Pages: 248
Publication Date: 01 September 2025
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Foreword 1. A Pear-Shaped Muscle in the Pelvic Cavity On the anatomy of an ingenious organ and what can go wrong 2. The Uterus as Performer of the Monthly Cycle On the complex interplay of hormones and the role of blood 3. Preventing the Uterus from Doing its Job On ways of avoiding, preventing, terminating, or eliminating pregnancy 4. The Uterus as a Threat to Health On fibroids, neoplasms, tumors, and heavy blood loss 5. The Uterus as a Cocoon On an extremely expandable muscle and what grows inside it 6. The Uterus as an Expelling Force On the process of giving birth 7. The Non-Fertile Years On the half of life in which the uterus cannot give birth Glossary Acknowledgments Literature
Marlies Bongers is a gynecologist at the Mxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven and Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Since 2015, she has been an associate professor at Maastricht University. Corien van Zweden is a journalist who writes about health and has published several books, including Breasts: The Life of an Intimate Body Part, which was translated into several languages and nominated for the best journalistic book of 2019.
Reviews for Pear-Shaped: The Life Story of Your Uterus
"""In Pear-Shaped, the uterus—misunderstood and often misdiagnosed—finally gets a long overdue biography. A fascinating and fantastically human look at an organ that is so much more than our shared entryway to life."" —Abby Norman, author of Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain"
