A myth-busting voyage into the female body.

A camera obscura reflects the world back, but dimmer and distorted. Similarly, science has long viewed woman through a warped lens, one focused narrowly on her capacity for reproduction. As a result, there exists a vast knowledge gap when it comes to what we know about half of the bodies on the planet.

That is finally changing. Today, a new generation of researchers is turning its gaze to the organs traditionally bound up in baby-making―the uterus, ovaries, and vagina―and illuminating them as part of a dynamic, resilient, and ever-changing whole. Welcome to Vagina Obscura, an odyssey into a woman’s body from a fresh perspective, ushering in a whole new cast of characters.

By turns funny, lyrical, incisive, and shocking, Vagina Obscura is a powerful testament to how the landscape of human knowledge can be rewritten to better serve everyone.

Reviews

“An eye-opening biological journey.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Impressive in its scope and thrilling in the hope it offers to those whose bodies have been overlooked by the medical establishment.”—BookPage (starred review)

“An enthralling and scrupulously researched popular-science study of the vagina ... A must read.”—Library Journal (starred review)

"This informative contribution to the history and science of women’s bodies should be required reading for all lawmakers."—Chicago Public Library

"Gross takes on a herculean task, exploring female anatomy from a medical, social and historical perspective, in eight chapters ranging in topic from the glans clitoris to the egg cell to the vaginal microbiome."—The New York Times (An Editors’ Choice book)

“Full of historical accounts and deep reporting, Gross’ book gives stories about vulvas the care and attention they deserve.”—WIRED

“Vagina Obscura reinforces that female bodies are more than ‘walking wombs’ or ‘baby machines.’”—Science News

“A compelling narrative about the anatomy in question, all grounded in medical history, those who studied it, and what has been left out of scientific knowledge.”—Booklist (starred review)

“Despite the many scientific advances of the past century Gross shows how women are still treated as if they are medical mysteries, and blamed and shamed for this.”—The Lancet

“These essays will enhance the knowledge of professionals who care for people with all body parts.”—Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy

Podcasts and Interviews

“Weekend Woman’s Hour,” BBC Woman’s Hour, Emma Barnett, November 26, 2022.

“Lady Parts: Overlooked Medical Science,” Big Picture Science, Molly Bentley, October 31, 2022.

“Why is women’s sexual health so understudied?” PBS News Hour, October 29, 2022.

“Myth-Busting the Vagina,” WYNC’s The Takeaway, Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry, September 15, 2022.

“Can ovaries make new eggs?” Vox’s Unexplainable, Byrd Pinkerton, August 17, 2022.

“What You Might Not Have Known About The Vagina,” NPR Science Friday, July 29, 2022.

“Vagina Obscura w/ Rachel E. Gross,” Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria, July 4, 2022.

“What medical science didn’t know about vaginas,” Think on KERA, Krys Boyd, June 1, 2022.

“At Home with Literati: Rachel E. Gross & Ed Yong,” Literati Bookstore, May 25, 2022.

“Why We Understand So Little About the Vagina,” Slate’s The Waves, Shannon Palus, April 14, 2022.

Articles and Q&A’s

"El verdadero mito es pensar que el Punto G es una experiencia universal para tener el orgasmo definitivo,” BBC Mundo, Irene Hernández Velasco, December 22, 2022.

“5 Facts About Your Vagina That'll Change The Way You Think About Sex,” Bustle, Elyssa Goodman, December 21, 2022.

“Rachel E. Gross: ‘La medicina ha descuidado el clítoris porque no se considera reproductivo,’” El País, Isabel Rubio, November 18, 2022.

“13 Ways of Looking: Rachel E. Gross and Armando Veve.” Pioneer Works, July 7, 2022.

“The female body is misunderstood and this is why, says Rachel E. Gross,” New Scientist, Catherine de Lange, May 18, 2022.

“‘Vagina Obscura’ Author Rachel E. Gross Takes Us on a Daring Anatomical Voyage,” Ms. Magazine, Carli Cutchin, April 26, 2022.

“Why do we know more about Mars than we do the vagina?” The Sunday Times, Rosamund Urwin, April 23, 2022.

“Rachel E. Gross’s Vagina Obscura Traces the Scientific and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Anatomy,” The Open Notebook, Emily Willingham, March 29, 2022.

“What Does the Inside of the Vagina Look Like? An Anatomy Lesson,” the Skimm, Carly Mallenbaum, Feb. 24, 2022.