A Journey to the Wondrous World Within: Vagina Obscura with Rachel Gross
Rachel Gross' fascinating and myth-busting voyage into the female body, Vagina Obscura, was named a New York Times Editors' Choice, a Science Friday Best Science Book to Read This Summer, and longlisted for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.
"...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. In Boston, a pair of biologists are growing artificial ovaries to counter the cascading health effects of menopause. In Melbourne, a urologist remaps the clitoris to fill in crucial gaps in female sexual anatomy. Given unparalleled access to labs and the latest research, journalist Rachel E. Gross takes readers on a scientific journey to the center of a wonderous world where the uterus regrows itself, ovaries pump out fresh eggs, and the clitoris pulses beneath the surface like a shimmering pyramid of nerves. This paradigm shift is made possible by the growing understanding that sex and gender are not binary; we all share the same universal body plan and origin in the womb. That’s why insights into the vaginal microbiome, ovarian stem cells, and the biology of menstruation don’t mean only a better understanding of female bodies, but a better understanding of male, non-binary, transgender, and intersex bodies—in other words, all bodies. 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."Shop what’s in this story
Frequently asked
What is Vagina Obscura about?
Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage is science journalist Rachel E. Gross's myth-busting exploration of the female body. Published by W.W. Norton in 2022 and named a New York Times Editors' Choice, it follows researchers remapping the clitoris, growing artificial ovaries, and studying the vaginal microbiome, arguing that science has long viewed women through a lens focused narrowly on reproduction, leaving vast gaps in what we know about half the bodies on the planet.
How many nerve endings does the clitoris really have?
For decades the commonly cited figure was about 8,000, a figure believed to be derived from livestock studies. A 2022 study at Oregon Health & Science University counted the fibers directly in human tissue and found an average of roughly 10,281 nerve fibers in the dorsal nerve of the clitoris, and there are two of these nerves, confirming the clitoris is even more richly innervated than long assumed.
Why has female anatomy been understudied for so long?
As Gross documents, medical science historically framed the female body around its capacity for reproduction, treating organs like the uterus, ovaries, and clitoris mainly in terms of baby-making. Foundational figures like the clitoris were left off anatomy diagrams and unmeasured for generations. A newer wave of researchers is now studying these organs as part of a dynamic, resilient whole, benefiting our understanding of all bodies.
What is the vaginal microbiome and why does it matter?
The vaginal microbiome is the community of bacteria that lives in the vagina. In most reproductive-age people it is dominated by protective Lactobacillus species that produce lactic acid, keep the environment slightly acidic, and act as a first line of defense against infection. Disruptions from douching, antibiotics, or hormonal shifts can reduce these lactobacilli and raise the risk of imbalance, which is why gentle, pH-considerate intimate care matters.
References
- Pleasure-producing human clitoris has more than 10,000 nerve fibers— Oregon Health & Science University
- Clitoris: Anatomy, Location, Purpose & Conditions— Cleveland Clinic
- The Vaginal Microenvironment: The Physiologic Role of Lactobacilli— NIH / PubMed Central
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Christine Mason
Founder & Author, Rosebud Woman
Christine Marie Mason is the founder and CEO of Rosebud Woman, a leading brand in women’s intimate wellness and self-care. She is the author of six books on embodiment, intimacy, and awakening, and the host of The Rose Woman podcast—ranked in the top 5% worldwide. A longtime yoga and consciousness teacher, Christine writes and speaks on women’s health, sexuality, and midlife vitality, helping people cultivate love, reverence, and radiant wellbeing in every stage of life.