Rachel E. Gross on the mysteries of the female body

Published September 1, 2022 at 10:10 AM MDT

While suffering from a gynecological infection, the science journalist Rachel E. Gross did what she does best: she researched. She wanted to know how the vagina works. But she soon ran into the big problem of how little we actually know about the female body.

For generations, our knowledge of female anatomy has actually been based on male anatomy. In her book “Vagina Obscura,” Gross explores the work of a new generation of scientists who have turned their attention to women’s bodies. They’re gaining insight into things like the vaginal microbiome, ovarian stem cells and the biology of menstruation. And what they’re learning, Gross shared, gives us a better understanding not just of female bodies, but of all bodies.

Rachel E. Gross’s book is “Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage” [Amazon|Bookshop]

Airdate: Friday, Sept 2, 2022 at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Original airdate: March 4, 2022