Oh, the joys of learning.
There’s never a bad time to learn something new — and when it comes to women’s health, a surprising fact is usually just around the corner. Why? Because women’s health and wellness are critically underresearched fields. Many of us have been victims of half-truths, misinformation, or no info at all for years.
Well, knowledge is power. And today, we’re sharing eight facts about women’s health that’ll shock (and educate) you. Keep ‘em in your back pocket for your next cocktail party chatter, awkward elevator ride, or birthday dinner.
Here goes.
1. The G spot is real.
But it might not be where you think it is. For those who don’t know yet: the famous Grafenberg spot, or “G-spot”, is a particular spot in the vagina that, when stimulated, leads to heightened sexual pleasure. Its existence has been hotly debated, but a 2023 systematic review published by the National Institute of Health found that several studies agree: the G-spot does, indeed, exist. Phew.
However, none of the research teams could seem to align on where exactly it is, what size it might be, or what its biological origins are. So, in many ways, the G-spot still remains a mystery.1
2. A healthy vagina is about as acidic as a tomato.
Clinicians agree that the ideal pH balance, or measure of acidity, for the vagina is between 3.8 and 4.5. Guess what substances have pH readings within that range? Apples, soft drinks, and whole tomatoes.2 We will never look at bruschetta (or spaghetti!) the same way again.
3. Women weren’t required to be included in clinical trials until the 90s.
If your jaw dropped, you are not alone. The NIH Revitalization Act of 1993 required the inclusion of women and other marginalized communities in clinical research in the United States — but before this, medical research trials were largely lacking in female subjects.3 This not-so-fun fact is part of why women’s health is so underresearched, even today.
4. It’s possible to feel yourself ovulate.
Say it with us three times fast: Mittelschmerz! Mittelschmerz is a term for a one-sided pain in the lower abdomen that occurs during ovulation, typically “on the side of the ovary that’s releasing the egg.” Not every menstruating person will experience this phenomenon in their lifetime, but it’s totally possible — and totally normal. So sadly, yes: ovulation cramps are a thing.4
5. Women live longer than men in the United States.
It’s true — according to the New York Times, women live five years longer on average than men in the U.S.5 This difference is also known as the longevity gap, and there are multiple factors that contribute including genetics, lifestyles, and more.
6. Vaginas and sharks have something in common.
The vagina’s natural lubricant is composed of several elements. And according to scientists at McGill University, one of those elements is the organic compound squalene.6 Where else can you find squalene, you may ask? Shark livers. Which gives “Shark Week” a whole new meaning, honestly.
7. Vibrators were once considered a mental health treatment.
You read that right: one of the most popular sex toys started out as a medical instrument. Many Victorian era doctors perceived orgasms to be a potential cure for female hysteria, a catch-all (thankfully defunct) diagnosis once given to women who struggled with a myriad of symptoms. And, quite frankly, women who didn’t behave according to certain standards.
When Joseph Granville patented a mechanical vibrator meant to relieve aching muscles in the late 19th century, some doctors saw the opportunity of a lifetime and took advantage. According to Scientific American, a surge of women’s health retreats soon began “offering vibration therapy.”7 …We don’t even have to make a joke here, do we?
8. Women’s health textbooks date back to Ancient Greece.
Here’s a new icon to add to your moodboard: Metrodora. Metrodora was a Byzantine physician and “innovative gynecologist, midwife, and surgeon” living somewhere between the first and sixth century AD (historians are split on this fact).8
Though her identity is largely unknown, Metrodora is the author of On the Diseases and Cures of Women, a manuscript that delves into women’s medicine, childbirth, contraception, and cures specific to the female body.8 It’s largely known as the oldest medical text written by a woman.
It’s also proof that women’s health and wellbeing has been of interest for centuries — someone was doing the research, even back in Ancient Greece.
