Taking Care of You

A comprehensive "what-you-need-to-know" resource for women of all ages and stages of life who want to understand and take charge of their own health and health-care, presented in short, focused and easy-to-read chapters.

For many women, middle school health class is the last time they learn about what to expect from their female bodies and how to approach feminine health. After that, there are few, if any, required health lessons or even women's health books outside of the reproductive health arena to help women understand and own their health.

Orthopedic surgeon Mary O'Connor and medical anthropologist Kanwal Haq are out to change that. In their woman-centric anthology on modern health and health care, O'Connor and Haq have solicited and collected the expertise of women doctors from across the country on a range of nonreproductive health topics as they pertain to women.

Taking Care of You surveys how women access and navigate female medical care in the current health landscape and addresses the many social aspects of women's health, including environmental and socioeconomic issues affecting women, as well as the challenges faced by women of color and sex and gender minority women. Filled with practical advice and written in an inclusive, supportive voice, Taking Care of You illuminates:
What choices women have when it comes to treatment for different conditions Specific questions for women to ask their doctors How to break down health care barriers when you're a woman of color How to talk to your doctor when you're a gender minority How to get the most out of telehealth When to go to urgent care vs the emergency department How to find the right doctor or clinician What to do if your illness is a mystery What to know about women and research The latest on personalized medicine How to increase your quality of life
Taking Care of You is an accessible, jargon-free guide for adult women of all ages to empower them to advocate for their own health. This is a book to be passed around from daughter to mom, to sister, to aunt, to grandmother - an essential resource for every woman.