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A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Black women are facing a systemic gynecological health crisis. This book gives them the tools needed to unlearn the medical normalization of their suffering and offers a path forward to healing—by a foremost physician, surgeon, researcher, and gynecological cancer expert.
When Dr. Kemi Doll first began training to be a gynecologic cancer surgeon, she quickly noticed that the level of care being offered to women was rarely equal. She started to ask Whose pain was believed? Who was “high maintenance” vs. “angry and non-compliant”? Who died? White women’s pain was doubted, but Black women’s pain was often outright denied. And the locus of this crisis was the womb. Day by day, fibroids, bleeding, inflammation, and cancer struck Black women the hardest, yet the medical field cared very little about their fate. When student physicians would explicitly bring up these alarming disparities, Dr. Doll's teachers would “Black women just don’t do well with this,” followed by, “We don’t really know why.”
Since then, Dr. Doll has made it her goal to give Black women the tools they need to unlearn what she calls “womb suffering.” For all women navigating gynecologic care, and the medical professionals who care for them, this comprehensive, authoritative book of science-backed information and lived experience
An overview of the research conducted on reproductive health outside pregnancy—the lack of which has caused healthcare inequity and obstructed access to care The mechanisms behind the four primary conditions that affect the womb—often with fatal consequences—including Endometriosis, Fibroids, Heavy Bleeding, and Endometrial cancer. Gripping stories of smart, successful women struggling with and overcoming Womb Suffering What good gynecologic health looks like and why it is vital to reclaiming a full, healthy life; how to feel and respond to your body’s signals; and the tools and vocabulary needed to help advocate and prepare for medical visits. A Terrible Strength links women’s health care to timely conversations on racial justice and healthcare inequity, arming women with the power to secure vibrant health and well-being for the rest of their lives.
When Dr. Kemi Doll first began training to be a gynecologic cancer surgeon, she quickly noticed that the level of care being offered to women was rarely equal. She started to ask Whose pain was believed? Who was “high maintenance” vs. “angry and non-compliant”? Who died? White women’s pain was doubted, but Black women’s pain was often outright denied. And the locus of this crisis was the womb. Day by day, fibroids, bleeding, inflammation, and cancer struck Black women the hardest, yet the medical field cared very little about their fate. When student physicians would explicitly bring up these alarming disparities, Dr. Doll's teachers would “Black women just don’t do well with this,” followed by, “We don’t really know why.”
Since then, Dr. Doll has made it her goal to give Black women the tools they need to unlearn what she calls “womb suffering.” For all women navigating gynecologic care, and the medical professionals who care for them, this comprehensive, authoritative book of science-backed information and lived experience
An overview of the research conducted on reproductive health outside pregnancy—the lack of which has caused healthcare inequity and obstructed access to care The mechanisms behind the four primary conditions that affect the womb—often with fatal consequences—including Endometriosis, Fibroids, Heavy Bleeding, and Endometrial cancer. Gripping stories of smart, successful women struggling with and overcoming Womb Suffering What good gynecologic health looks like and why it is vital to reclaiming a full, healthy life; how to feel and respond to your body’s signals; and the tools and vocabulary needed to help advocate and prepare for medical visits. A Terrible Strength links women’s health care to timely conversations on racial justice and healthcare inequity, arming women with the power to secure vibrant health and well-being for the rest of their lives.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I understand Dr. Kemi Doll's desire to help educate Black Women but I felt this book and the information contained within could be utilized by all women, especially minority women. Pushing aside politics and woke subjects, the information is presented in an easy to understand manner, explanations are not overly complicated and the women portrayed in the book are courageous and tragic at times. Dr. Doll's wants to get better awareness for those women who are suffering, whose doctors don't understand nor acknowledge their pain or symptoms and to increase gynecologic issues and treatments for Black Women. Again, I understand her desire but feel all women deserve to get the same pain relief, understanding, treatment and not be glossed over when being seen by a doctor. Every woman desires to be seen, heard and understood by a medical doctor. As I am a current endometrial cancer patient, I found the book interesting and engaging. The information was presented well and I can see Dr. Doll's passion in each chapter. I can only hope, Dr. Doll and others like her continue to open doors for all patients. Thanks to Net Galley and Convergent.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A Terrible Strength is a book I wish I had twenty years ago and wish my sister and mother and grandmother and aunts and nieces all had copies of this book. That's how important it is that someone put into words the struggles that Black women have faced in all areas of medical care, but certainly including gynecologic care. I found the chapter on fibroids particularly enlightening as, like the writer's own experience, it's been brushed off as nothing in my own life by health professionals.
The writer, a doctor herself, writes from a deeply personal place, and A Terrible Strength is beautifully and eloquently written in very accessible language. It's an amazingly written, important work, and I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The writer, a doctor herself, writes from a deeply personal place, and A Terrible Strength is beautifully and eloquently written in very accessible language. It's an amazingly written, important work, and I thank the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was hands down wonderful. If you are a Black person with a uterus, or love someone who is, or cares for these patients - READ THIS. It is written in a way that is easy to understand but also very enlightening. It should be required reading in medical and nursing schools, and can be a game changer for folks who have had terrible experiences at their doctor’s offices. Get this. Read it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
💯💯💯💯💯
This book is an absolute must read. The historical aspects and the well researched resources and history flowed perfectly with her part memoir addition. I had all kinds of emotions reading this. A book like this for Black Women and girls is long overdo. The Doctor left no stone unturned. This needs to be read by every parent and caregiver of a female child. So well done! #NetGalley
This book is an absolute must read. The historical aspects and the well researched resources and history flowed perfectly with her part memoir addition. I had all kinds of emotions reading this. A book like this for Black Women and girls is long overdo. The Doctor left no stone unturned. This needs to be read by every parent and caregiver of a female child. So well done! #NetGalley
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews