It's Your Body: The Young Woman's Guide to Empowered Sexual Health

by Dena Moes

Detailed information on birth control, STIs, emergency contraception, and a guide to what today’s young women needs to know about their bodies, from a compassionate, experienced practitioner. Access to reproductive healthcare is no longer guaranteed, and information on the internet is increasingly unreliable, so it’s more crucial than ever to be armed with the knowledge to make informed decisions about reproductive health. In It’s Your Body , Dena Moes provides a compassionate and informative roadmap to the complex landscape of reproductive health. She explores topics ranging from birth control methods, emergency contraception, and STIs to consent and safe abortion access. Helpful graphs and diagrams make information easy to digest, while thoughtful journal prompts encourage readers to reflect on newfound knowledge, feelings about a changing body, and self-care. Combining medical information with a focus on empowerment and autonomy, this guide is a trusted companion, supporting young women in taking control of their sexual health and advocating for the care and respect they deserve.

Genres: Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published August 13, 2024

About the author

Dena Moes, RN CNM, is an award-winning author, registered nurse, certified nurse-midwife, and reproductive health expert. She holds two degrees from Yale University, a BA in Literature and an MSN in Nursing, and has worked in women’s health for 25 years. She lives in Northern New Mexico, where she is writing books to smash the patriarchy, one chapter at a time.

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

I love a highly knowledgeable person writing a book, in their area of expertise, to provide practical knowledge to the layman. I don’t like when people tout that they are “experts” and use stories to enhance their books that are rough to relate (i.e The Red Tent example – will explain). Someone may be highly knowledgeable and yet I don’t think, in the vast research world we live in today, one can truly be an “expert”, knowing all that there is to know. However, her clinical experience is truly essential in the amazing detail and practicalities she put in this book.
Overall, this book was extremely knowledgeable; my only hesitation is the personal narrative that hung over some areas of the book. See the list that follows:
- For the “Red Tent” issue… Using a fictional novel to portray a historical idea and taking that side of the novel – is not my fave. In this book, Moes talks about how wonderful the red tent is and how women were vacationing together – as depicted in the story portrayed in Anita Diamant’s fictional retelling of the biblical story. However, I think using a religious reference was not the best idea for this informational book – and not only that, using the fictionalized story of a quick excerpt from a biblical text was maybe not the best. I know many people who view the stories of women having to leave society for a week during menstruation as an ostracization and an oppression of women – maybe just choose a different story? I get where she was coming from, but it might be risky to use in today’s climate. Diamant published her book in 1997… in a much different climate.
- Now for the section on IUDs… I did not intend for this to be a lengthy dissection of the books – and I started out really excited and enjoying the book; but as the book went on, I was just frustrated that, again, I had to listen to commentary on things other than the facts I was so excited for – I wanted a true manual, plain and simple. Anyway, back to IUDs. Please see the DOI source at the bottom of this narrative for a Cochrane review on local anesthetic. Please just mention this in your book, you do not need to support it, and I know there are side effects, but let the poor girls know it exists.
- Stating that the Pap Smear will not hurt – that is just invalidating to individuals who may actually experience pain during this experience.
- There was a lot of stereotyping against men. Male OBGYNs are not as kind/gentle, males are turned on only by visual cues, etc. It felt yucky and offensive.
- Again, supplements… probiotic supplements are not regulated (in fact, ALL supplements are not regulated by the FDA) and so more education on how to choose one that has what it actually says it has in it, is key.
- It might be helpful to talk about addressing insecurity when talking about feeling insecure during sex. I liked her approach that someone may not be ready if they are feeling this way. But many women still feel insecure after having a loving partner for years – maybe recommend therapeutic interventions.
- When describing masturbation, she explains that someone could imagine a fantasy with a celebrity or someone and creating a scenario… to me, that kind of still feels like porn. Would we be saying the same thing to males?
- Focusing on the gut as a way to guide feelings…? No. Individuals who have experienced trauma, especially in childhood, often do not have “the gut” sensation and may allow inappropriate things to happen to them if they go by their “gut” feelings. No.
- For the Rape Kit… please let individuals know they can refuse any aspect of the exam – I think it will help people feel better about keeping it as an option and can encourage them to advocate for themselves – also encourage them to bring a trusted friend.
- The story of the young college student experiencing her first herpes outbreak felt almost passive. Something along the lines of “she will move on” was stated. I get that in healthcare, we see the same thing over and over again… but to that one person, this may be life altering – yes, stigmatize it as little as possible, but don’t dismiss it… That is what it felt like reading this.


I think this book could have been so much more powerful and expressed such an amazing aspect of social commentary. I loved the practicality of this “guide”, but worry it is going to give unhealthy messages from what I listed above.
My ending thoughts are that there were many aspects of this book that were VERY informative and helpful for young women, and would be phenomenal without the extras.

Reference: DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD015612.

Content Warning: talk about sexual assault, rape, sex, STIs – most topics have a “trigger warning”, so that is extremely helpful!

Would I Recommend: I really don’t know. I feel mixed… So many times we look for advice about our female bodies and always get a rhetoric included… It would be nice to have a simply factual book about our bodies & options available (showing all the research – especially coming from a medical provider) without sprinkling in other narratives.

2 Stars

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an important and essential book! I ran out and bought copies to giveaway. It’s empowering, readable, honest & somehow still hopeful.

[Massey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is everything that sex ed in school SHOULD be and the information/narratives that I wish I had access to a long time ago. She lays out all the information you need to know about sex that isn’t taught in schools including consent, female pleasure, and protection during queer sex and in a way that is compassionate, non judgmental, and free from shame. I am so happy this book exists and hope it reaches every young person it possibly can.

[Kevin Dufresne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi,

I hope all is progressing well.

It's Your Body: The Young Woman's Guide to Empowered Sexual Health by Dena Moes, RN, CNM, medically explores through quantitative and qualitative research parameters of women’s health. Engaging my interests in healthful progressions of life as well as of being a more mindful romantic/life partner, I decide to buy then read the text to further broaden and deepen my healthfully progressing understanding of healthfully progressing parameters of life. I learn a lot from reading the text, particularly of medical procedures in connection with women’s sexual health, and I find the text’s organization helps with navigating the information of the text well, especially resource wise as one may find resources at the end of some chapters which pertain to the topic(s) of a particular chapter. I think the text caters well to any that may have any interest in learning more about women’s sexual health. I think the text may prove extremely valuable for women seeking to (especially if just beginning to) better navigate discovering and understanding what may be happening with the developing body, even if potentially, in connection with self.

Additionally, I find the following texts may assist with further deliberating concepts of contexts within It's Your Body: The Young Woman's Guide to Empowered Sexual Health by Dena Moes, RN, CNM: The Sex Talk You Never Got: Reclaiming the Heart of Masculine Sexuality by Sam Jolman, MA, LPC, Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire by Dr. Lori A. Brotto, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing (Newly Updated and Revised 5th Edition) by Dr. Christiane Northrup, M.D., Dr. Nita’s Crash Course for Women: Better Sex, Better Health, Better You by Dr. Nita Landry, MD, OB-GYN, The Girls' Guide to Growing Up Great: Changing Bodies, Periods, Relationships, Life Online by Sophie Elkan with Laura Chaisty and Dr. Maddy Podichetty as well as Illustrations by Flo Perry, Why Good Sex Matters: Understanding the Neuroscience of Pleasure for a Smarter, Happier, and More Purpose-Filled Life by Dr. Nan Wise, PhD, The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina: Separating the Myth from the Medicine by Dr. Jen Gunter, MD, This is How You Vagina: All About Your Vajayjay and Why You Probably Shouldn't Call it That by Dr. Nicole E. Williams, M.D., Come As You Are (Revised and Updated): The Surprising New Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Dr. Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., The Vagina Book: An Owner's Manual for Taking Care of Your Down There by The Thinx Inc. Team, Dr. Jenn Conti, MD, and Daiana Ruiz (Illustrator), The Science of Sex by Kate Moyle, a Psychosexual and Relationship Therapist, (illustrations by Jocelyn Covarrubias), The New Sex Bible, The New Guide to Sexual Love by Dr. Jessica O'Reilly, PhD, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Amazing Sex, 4th Edition: Learn the Secret of a Sizzling Sex Life by Dr. Sari Locker, PhD, The New Sex Bible for Women: The Complete Guide to Sexual Self-Awareness and Intimacy by Dr. Amie Harwick, Great Sex for Life by Linda Sonntag, Sexual Happiness for Women: A Practical Approach by Maurice Yaffe and Elizabeth Fenwick, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, MD, and Perv: The Sexual Deviant in All of Us by Dr. Jesse Bering, PhD.

Onward and Upward,
Kevin Dufresne
www.Piatures.com
IG: @Dufreshest

[Kate Laycoax · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a fantastic guide that helps women learn about their bodies. So many women have no idea what's happening to them or what they might experience, simply because they were never taught. A book like this is worth its weight in gold because it really highlights what education about our own bodies we might be msising, and the author does a great job at filling in the gaps and breaking down each topic so that it is easy to digest. More often than not, women are shamed for wanting to explore their sexuality and their bodies and how they can find pleasure, but this book tells us it's okay to want these things and that there is nothing shameful about it, and breaks it down in a healthy and happy way, while also giving warnings when necessary. I love that this book exists, because it's time women take their power back and this book is such a great first step in doing so!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dena Moes, and W.W. Norton & Company for the eARC of this book.

[Jess Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, and easy to follow! Luckily got ahold of this book beginning to be sexually active, but wish I had read it while choosing the best birth control option for me. Will definitely be recommending this book to those looking for clear insights about birth control and learning more about how to maintain their sexual health.

[Kaitlyn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible reference and incredibly necessary for young (and not so young) women. Every person with a vagina can benefit from this book.

[Charlotte Markey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an important and accessible book for teens and young women.
Moes offers compassionate, clear, evidence-based advice. An excellent resource!

[Kathleen Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Body positive and women forward but it was kind of boring in some areas, and like others have said she was passive in some topics and hung onto others for too long.

[mina!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really great guide and very casual and informative! loved the sti awareness section cause i didnt know a lot of the symptoms for all the different stis

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential reading for all girls, young women, and women- and those raising them. Practical, empowered, real life guide.

[marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-organized, practical, and informative. Moes is clearly knowledgeable and has the experience to back it up. She's compassionate and only wants to present you with all the facts so you can make an informative decision yourself. A great resource for girls and young women.