In a TikTok video posted on May 2, Jonathan Van Ness had a call and response of sorts with Dr. Karen Tang. He and the gynecologist went back and forth, saying "vagina," louder and more vividly each time. vaginal. vaginal. All vaginas. Don was being interviewed for the Van Ness podcast " Becoming Curious," and then summed up one of the overarching goals of her work: "Say the word. It's okay. It's not awkward." Her followers — more than 60 on TikTok and Instagram Wan’s fans — seemed to agree.
Earlier this month, she released her new book , It's Not Hysteria: Everything You Needed to Know (But Were Never Told) About Reproductive Health . Frank, trans-inclusive health guidelines are enlightening, to say the least. It feels like previous generations discovered our bodies, ourselves . inside, She lifts the lid on menstrual problems, pelvic pain, endometriosis, PMS, menopause, uterine fibroids and more - issues that she emphasizes are very common but still fairly secretive.
"There's an interesting perception that women's health isn't really medicine, that just like studying cancer or stroke, menstruation and menopause don't deserve medical attention or research funding," said Tang, who is from Pennsylvania. "Even in terms of insurance coverage, women's health continues to be the worst across all different types of medical care."
This book is dedicated to anyone whose health has been harmed by the patriarchy. As Tang writes, its title debunks the age-old notion that women's pain is "a combination of physical, emotional, and psychological pain that is somehow related to the womb or femininity." Tang says that whenever there is The legacy of hysteria remains when people in utero ask about reproductive issues, and their concerns or pain are ignored, minimized, misdiagnosed, or told it's all in their head.
"This Is Not Hysteria" is an extension of the persona she has cultivated online. Tang, who is in her 40s, entered the social media space during the pandemic when she began crafting succinct TikTok responses to the health misinformation spreading online. (One of her first goons was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has been promoting hatred of trans people.) She wryly calls herself an “elderly TikToker,” in a fun way , savvy ways to deliver reproductive health information and advice—like pairing a post-hysterectomy sexual satisfaction with a black panther meme.
"I'm always on social media reacting to current events or things I've seen on TikTok that have myths surrounding sexual or reproductive health," she said. "This becomes even more urgent as things develop, like really strict abortion bans. This is not just theoretical. This is the dilemma people face in real life."
Below, she discusses how to make the most of your gynecologist visits, the battle for women's health, and Ali Wong.
"If the doctor seems unwilling to accept your views and questions, this may be a sign that it's time to seek a second opinion."
How do you keep your head from exploding when you hear male politicians talk about banning abortion without knowing anything about female anatomy?
People do want the truth and you see a lot of doctors active on social media these days. If someone says that if you discard the embryos you are murdering the child and therefore IVF is murder, we just say "no". A lot of us are getting people to try to understand the medical facts, try to dispel some of the misinformation, and do whatever we can to make a positive impact. I think it makes a difference .
In recent years, the issue of menopause seems to have received increasing attention and attention. Do you also see other female conditions discussed more often, such as endometriosis and PMS?
Yes, there are different advocacy groups doing great work, one of which focuses on endometriosis. There's a great documentary called "Below the Belt" that's been shown to government leaders and universities. Several celebrities with endometriosis, including Amy Schumer, Lena Dunham and Padma Lakshmi, have spoken out, helping to raise awareness.
In the book, you advise readers to be prepared to ask questions when visiting their gynecologist. How do patients find the balance between asking for more information and inadvertently upsetting their doctors?
A good doctor-patient relationship should be collaborative. We have a concept in medicine now called patient-centered care, also called shared decision-making, where the doctor stops giving you answers and becomes more about asking you what are your thoughts, what are your goals, what are your goals? The idea is what medication versus surgery. Patients should feel empowered to find solutions that work for them. If your doctor seems unwilling to accept your opinions and questions, this may be a sign to seek a second opinion.
You include care for trans, non-binary, and intersex people in your book and passionately defend gender-affirming care . Why is inclusion of these groups so important to you?
It’s important to acknowledge that there are millions of trans, non-binary, and intersex people. It's not like it's a small portion of the population. I very intentionally invite experts and sensitive readers to read the chapters on trans, non-binary, and intersex communities because they are not included when people talk about women and cisgender women.
Among the many shocking facts you uncovered, you cited a study in which many medical students surveyed believed that black people have less sensitive nerve endings - in 2016 ? How can this be?
Yes. Many medical trainees believe this to be a biological fact, which has been confirmed by the actual finding that black patients with significant pain, such as fractures and appendicitis, are given less pain medication. It’s not like someone is saying, “I’m just going to blatantly perpetuate a racist trope,” but people are absorbing these messages in a certain way. They are internalizing it and accepting it as fact. This clearly affects how Black patients complaining about pain or menstrual problems are heard.
You mention in the book that you're a big fan of Ali Wong, whose comedy specials explore sex, pregnancy and cultural misogyny. Why do you think she is such a good spokesperson for reproductive health?
She shows that as a sexual person, there is no shame in talking about one's body, one's sexuality, one's self. We should all feel free and comfortable talking about these issues, and part of the problem with not enough research and funding is because sexual health is considered dirty or shameful. Having the freedom to discuss issues openly is important. That's why I hope this book gets published and sparks discussion.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity .
