The New Book Unveils the Secrets of the Female Body: What Every Woman Should Know.

“Women’s bodies were excluded from clinical trials in the US between 1977 and 1993,” explains Polly.

Women’s bodies were sidelined from clinical research and this led to issues with diagnosis and treatment. But there are signs of change - a home test for cervical cancer, which requires women to simply take a sample at home, will be available under the National Health Service starting in January, and for the first time in the UK there are now more female doctors than male.

THE HEADACHE GAME

Pain during menstruation, childbirth, endometriosis - this is something common for most women.

“I asked if feminist beliefs are that women endure more pain than men,” says Polly.

But women are not always given proper recognition for their pain. The annual Nurofen Gender Pain Index report highlights that girls expect not to be believed when they express pain, and many ignore it for fear of wasting others’ time.

BLAME THE HORMONES

How many times have you explained your mood with hormonal states?

“It may seem somewhat mystical, as if it holds us in its grip and there’s nothing we can do about it,” says Polly.

However, there are many things you can do to improve hormonal health.

PROTECT YOUR PARTS

Your vagina is not just a body part, it's an indicator of your overall health.

“I’ve heard a lot about the gut microbiome, but the vagina performs work of equivalent importance and needs care,” says Polly.

STRENGTHEN THESE MUSCLES

Yes, we know you’ve heard this before, but you really need to exercise your pelvic floor muscles. Polly Vernon explores the female body from intimate details to clinical research, highlighting the importance of diagnosing and treating women's issues, as well as increasing the number of female doctors. Battling stereotypes and the lack of recognition of female pain is one of the key themes highlighted in her research.