The V Book: A Doctor's Guide to Complete Vulvovaginal Health

Rating:
Summary: Every Woman Should Own This Book!
Review: After two months of agony and several incorrect diagnoses, I was correctly diagnosed with a "V" disorder and referred to the medical library in our town to look up my condition. They gave me this book, and at last, I understand what I have been going through and why. I am buying a copy of this book for myself and for each of my daughters-in-law. Every female should own this book--no woman should suffer in silence or be ashamed of this part of her body. And none of us should be subjected to continued misdiagnoses any longer. This book provides the information we need to help us lead healthier, happier lives and to be active, educated participants in our own health care. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It could literally be a life-saver for some women who have nowhere else to turn for answers.

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Summary: an owner's manual
Review: As a nurse practitioner who specializes in women's health, I was very excited to see this book. So many problems that I see in my daily practice are addressed in this book, along with very practical suggestions for preventing them. It should be required reading for every woman in her twenties to learn what to and not to do in terms of routine maintenance of her "private parts". This book also addresses common and uncommon concerns for women of all ages and stages of life. I have in the past referred patients to Dr. Stewart's office for women whose problems have baffled the best minds in my group, and have been impressed with the evaluation, management and followup of these individuals, and have been impressed with the care that they have received from Dr. Stewart and her colleagues. I now keep a copy of this book on my desk and recommend it to most of my patients!

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Summary: Excellent resource for women and OB/GYN clinicians
Review: I am a nurse practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology and was thrilled to read "The V Book" by Elizabeth Stewart. This book is nothing sort of a gem, and provides in an easy-to-read format all the details of "everything you ever wanted to know about 'down there' but were afraid to ask." The information has been impeccably researched and is presented in a very balanced format. The drawings of female anatomy are beautiful and realistic and make it easy for women to identify areas of the vagina and vulva.

I have practiced in the Boston area and know many women who have been referred to Dr. Stewart's clinic. They have been extremely pleased with their care, and in many cases have had long-standing and difficult problems resolved. I am grateful that Dr. Stewart's wisdom and experience are now available both to women and to the clinicians who provide them with their gynecologic care.

It is clear that Dr. Stewart is deeply committed to helping women obtain quality health care. If you are a woman experiencing a GYN health issue, this book will provide you with the facts you need to understand the nature of your problem, to ask good questions of your health care provider, and to determine if the care you are receiving is effective and appropriate. Every conceivable topic regarding a women's gynecologic health is covered in a thorough manner, and it is done so with both accuracy and sensitivity.

Rating:
Summary: A true owner's manual to the vulvovaginal area
Review: It's about time someone gave us a map to the various flora and fauna "down there". Dr Stewart presents her information, which could easily overwhelm the layperson, in a highly readable and enjoyable form. Using excellent illustrations, she describes the various structures, their purposes, and the variety of issues that women may encounter over a lifetime of changes.

Substantial sections are given to everyday care, sexual issues, common (an uncommon symptoms), yeast and other infections, vulvar skin issues, vulvar pain, urinary issues, herpes, and genital warts. This book, among other things, discusses what should happen in a gyn exam, tests you should have, what you should ask your doctor, and gives you the vocabulary to ask it intelligently. It also gives a very good overview of the types of infections or skin disorders that may often be dismissed as "probably yeast" and therefore mistreated, perhaps causing permanent problems. There are excellent sections on latex allergy and prenatal exposure to DES, two issues that I have personal experience with.

Amazon.com's rating for the book would probably be higher except for a couple of people who gave the book only one star because the author did not embrace their pet treatment for vulvodynia. The author does, however, discuss that nutritional treatment, the problems it presents in the medical literature (and as a medical librarian, I did my own searches and came up with similar results). I think those low ratings are highly undeserved, especially considering the scope of the book. Dr Stewart is especially concerned with 1) educating women so that they can discuss symptoms with their doctors and not feel embarrassed by a natural and integral part of their health, and 2) alleviating unnecessary pain that many women assume is just "part of being female", and 3) helping women recognise what is "normal" and what needs further treatment. She points the reader to many more sources of information for further study, but this book is a good basic text of the vulvovaginal area. This is a great read for everyone who deals with the V area. Every woman should have a copy, but I would also urge doctors who do not specialise in this area but nevertheless encounter these issues in their practice to read it as well.

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Summary: What your doctor/school/mother didn't tell you about YOU
Review: Ladies, this book is excellent reading for every one of us. Written by a doctor who is not only a gynecologist but also that rare breed, the vulvovaginal specialist, it is -- as another reviewer suggested -- the owner's manual for everyone with a vulva, vestibule, and vagina. If you're not sure exactly what I mean by those last three terms, you need to find out, and Dr. Elizabeth Stewart -- the author of this book -- is the one to tell you.

Not only does Dr. Stewart cover what we've got, why we shouldn't be ashamed of it, and how it works, she gives in-depth, readable information on vulvovaginal infections, imbalances, and other problems, tells you how they can be treated, and enumerates interactions and complications for women with special needs (i.e. they're pregnant, HIV positive, etc.) She separates myths from facts and has the data and experience to prove what she says. She also goes over the ideal visit to your GYN, and lets you know what questions you should ask, what tests you should request when, and how to choose the best clinician to meet your needs.

All in all, this book is not only excellent but ESSENTIAL to a woman's library. It's light, clear reading, and it may be the most empowering book you read all year.

Rating:
Summary: Share it with your mom your lover your friends your daughter
Review: This is a wonderful book. It is good kept as a reference guide, and can help a woman find a starting point of where to talk to her doctor as well as her partner.
The V book delves into information that medical guides only brush the surface of. In my opinion, it is a book all women should have or have access to.