88: Surprising Truths That Every Woman Should Know About Her Body with Dr. Kate Clancy

In this Episode

Most of us have inhabited our bodies for several decades, so why do we know so little about it? Why aren’t we versed in the history of menstruation and the uterus? Why are the female body and menstruation still often cloaked in mystery and shame?

Quite simply, it’s because of the massive gender gap in science and research that we’ve often been left guessing about the “whys” and “hows” of being in a female body. Society and cultural norms have also told us to “keep quiet” about our periods and reproductive system and, sadly, many women our age were told to do just that.

Dr. Kate Clancy and her book Period: The Real Story of Menstruation, answer and uncover the many mysteries of the female body. She blends history, personal experience, and science to challenge many of the myths and false assumptions that have defined the study of the uterus.

Clancy is an American biological anthropologist who specializes in reproductive health. She has a BA cum laude from Harvard University in Biological Anthropology and Women’s Studies. She also has a PhD in Anthropology from Yale. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, in the Department of Anthropology. Her additional research and policy advocacy work focuses on sexual harassment in science and academia.

Today, she and Sara discuss her book and a wide range of topics including:

• The ongoing gender gap in research and science
• Challenging the assumption that menstruation causes iron deficiency
• The uterus’ adaptive role in pregnancy as an active participant in the process
• Follicular waves and their role in ovulation
• Women have a sperm crypt?!
• Environmental stressors that can affect menstruation and the endocrine system
• How weight and beauty standards are culturally constructed and can be harmful to all bodies
• The complex truths of evaluating the COVID vaccine’s impact on women’s reproductive system

“Human biology or any biology,” says Dr. Clancy, ” is just wild and wonderful.” After this conversation, we know you’ll agree.