Our Bodies Ourselves The Classic Written by Women for Women

Hailed by The New York Times as a “feminist classic,” and “Americas bestselling book on womens health,” the comprehensive guide to all aspects of womens health and sexuality, including menopause, birth control, childbirth, sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health and general well-being.

Six years after the 2005 overhaul of this classic guide to womens health, the 2011 edition focuses on what Our Bodies, Ourselves does best: provide information on womens reproductive health and sexuality; practical information on how find and access health information; and resources, stories, and information to educate women about health care injustices and inspire them to work collectively to address them. This new edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves includes the latest vital information on:

-Changes in the health care system—especially how health care reform affects women and how to get the care you need.

-Safer sex—how to engage in pleasurable, satisfying sexual experiences while protecting your health and the health of your partner.

-Environmental health risks—including minimizing exposure to everyday pollutants that endanger reproductive health.

-Body image—resisting negative media stereotypes and embracing healthier approaches to looking and feeling good.

-Local and global activism—using social media and organizing tactics to build community and advocate for policies that improve womens lives.

-As well as crucial information about gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and birth, perimenopause, and sexuality and sexual health as we age.

Together with its companion website, OurBodiesOurselves.org, Our Bodies, Ourselves is a one-stop resource for women of all generations.

"The best women's health reference book I've ever seen."

-- Julianne Moore

"Our Bodies, Ourselves is the bible for women's health...."

-- Byllye Avery, founder of the National Black Women's Health Project

"A mother lode of information and resources for the client/consumer and the physician."

-- Journal of the American Medical Association

"Nothing is more crucial than women inhabiting our bodies. This book provides the best pathway and tools."

-- Eve Ensler

"Its strength lies not only in the huge amount of information provided but also in the methodology. Topics range from diet and exercise to relationships, motherhood, sexuality, and physical and mental illnesses; coverage of each is exceedingly readable, strikingly comprehensive, and thoroughly documented."

-- Library Journal (starred review)

"More than a book, OBOS is a health movement and deserves a place on every woman's bookshelf."

-- Publishers Weekly

This flawlessly updated edition does justice to the legacy of Our Bodies, Ourselves, which has been synonymous with women's empowerment for the past 40 years. Incredibly detailed, empowering, and enriched by the extremely diverse opinions and positions of its collaborators, this should be on the bookshelves of women young and old worldwide!!

-- Nancy Redd, author of Body Drama and Diet Drama

The new edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves offers a relatable voice to help make the very confusing reality of health and sexuality as a girl easier to navigate. In a world that doesn't always offer girls such honesty, the new edition of OBOS makes me optimistic about the awareness and attitude of this generation of women and girls. My brain was fist pumping the whole way through.

-- Tavi Gevinson, thestylerookie.com and editor-in-chief of Rookie Magazine

This revamped edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves shows just how far we've come in the women's health movement. The level of inclusiveness of my community--those of us who are queer, trans or gender non-conforming--is remarkable. If this had been the edition that my mom gave me as a pre-teen, my life and coming-of-age would have been so different and much less confusing. It also artfully lays out the reality of women's health as a political issue--one that goes way beyond simply understanding how our bodies work. The 40th anniversary edition proves that education is a radical act and that sharing our struggles, triumphs and stories can ultimately change the world.

- -Miriam Zoila Pérez, Editor, Feministing.com, Founder, Radicaldoula.com, and recipient of the Barbara Seaman Award for Activism in Women's Health

OBOS is the most important resource on womens health ever written by and for women. It teaches every woman how to take charge of her own body and helps us all become well-informed health care consumers.

-- Loretta Ross, founder and the National Coordinator of the SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective

This is truly the bible on womens health! It has been completely revised and updated for a new generation of women who will need its guidance more than ever as they attempt to take control of their health.

-- Susan Love, M.D., author of Dr. Susan Loves Breast Book and Dr. Susan Loves Menopause and Hormone Book and co-author of Live a Little!

If only every little girl were born with a copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves in her hands, we would raise a society filled with healthy, confident women. And if women could have only one book on their shelves, let it be this classic tome filled to the brim with practical and empowering information.

-- Toni Weschler, M.P.H., author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility

THE BESTSELLING WOMEN'S HEALTH CLASSIC--INFORMING AND INSPIRING WOMEN ACROSS GENERATIONS

Hailed by The New York Times as a "feminist classic," this comprehensive guide to all aspects of women's sexuality and reproductive health--including menopause, birth control, childbirth, sexual health, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental health, and overall wellbeing--changed the women's health movement around the world and remains as important and relevant as ever.

Providing detailed and empowering information on women's reproductive health and sexuality, this latest edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves shows how to find and access health information and offers additional resources and stories to educate women about health care injustices and inspires them to work collectively to address them. Including the latest vital information on:

-Changes in the health care system--especially how health care reform affects women and how to get the care you need.

-Safer sex--how to engage in pleasurable, satisfying sexual experiences while protecting your health and the health of your partner.

-Environmental health risks--including minimizing exposure to everyday pollutants that endanger reproductive health.

-Body image--resisting negative media stereotypes and embracing healthier approaches to looking and feeling good.

-Local and global activism--using social media and organizing tactics to build community and advocate for policies that improve women's lives.

-As well as crucial information about gender identity, sexual orientation, birth control, abortion, pregnancy and birth, perimenopause, and sexuality and sexual health as we age.

Together with its companion website, OurBodiesOurselves.org, Our Bodies, Ourselves is a one-stop resource that belongs on the bookshelves of women of all ages.

Newly revised and updated, Our Bodies, Ourselves is the classic guide for women of all ages to every aspect of their health.

The gold standard for women’s health books, in time for the fortieth anniversary of the book’s first publication—featuring new material and a completely updated approach to critical women’s health issues.

The name “Our Bodies, Ourselves” has become synonymous with women’s health—and protecting it. This updated edition contains vital new information on such issues as the HPV vaccine, changes in the healthcare system, cosmetic surgery, violence against women, healthcare activism in the twenty-first century, and much more.

Since its original publication forty years ago, Our Bodies, Ourselves has sold more than 4 million copies worldwide, and resources based on the book are available in twenty-five languages, in print, digital, and social interactive formats, and Braille. Called “America’s bestselling book on all aspects of women’s health” and “a feminist classic” by The New York Times, 300,000 copies of Our Bodies, Ourselves have been donated to women’s groups around the world, creating an estimated readership of more than 20 million worldwide.

This new edition will tie in closely to the group’s website, one of the leading online women’s health resources and a recipient of citations for its excellent quality from International Planned Parenthood Federation and Scientific American.

The Boston Women's Health Book Collective (now known as Our Bodies Ourselves) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include Teresa Heinz Kerry, Susan Love, and Gloria Steinem. Their mission is to empower women by providing information about health, sexuality, and reproduction. Our Bodies, Ourselves is the organization's core vehicle for driving their mission. While OBOS is famous for its voice in policy, advocacy, and educational efforts related to women's health, they see their role as a global content provider as paramount. Judy Norsigian is the Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves.The Boston Women's Health Book Collective (now known as Our Bodies Ourselves) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include Teresa Heinz Kerry, Susan Love, and Gloria Steinem. Their mission is to empower women by providing information about health, sexuality, and reproduction. Our Bodies, Ourselves is the organization's core vehicle for driving their mission. While OBOS is famous for its voice in policy, advocacy, and educational efforts related to women's health, they see their role as a global content provider as paramount. Judy Norsigian is the Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves.