Don’t Say Vagina

A significant part of my work is understanding the physical, emotional, and cultural landscapes of sexual and reproductive well-being. The Vagina Business by Marina Gerner offers a timely and trailblazing exploration into the femtech landscape including its technologies, taboos, and the women pioneering real change.

Gerner confidently points out how society has systematically marginalized female bodies. Her exploration of innovations like smart bras with EKG technology, saliva-based ovulation trackers, pelvic floor dilators to reduce birthing injuries, and apps supporting LGBTQIA health is remarkable. Gerner also doesn’t shy away from calling out the disparities in funding. Only about 2 % of venture capital goes to women-led health ventures. She mentions that the men in VC meetings don’t even want to hear the word “vagina.”

Gerner offers optimism about femtech’s potential, but she’s not naively celebratory. At moments, her breezy tone around tech solutions can give way to concerns about socioeconomic inequities and structural biases, especially in maternal mortality and healthcare access, which she rightly indicates, demand more than an app.

As a therapist, I encourage this duality: nurturing hope, while steadily advocating for systemic change. Tech may open doors, but implementing that change requires comprehensive investment in equity and attention.

Gerner’s The Vagina Business is a manifesto for visibility, equity, and innovation in women’s health. For sex therapists, this book is a must-read. It broadens our toolkit and inspires us to maintain our commitment to holistic, embodied, and empowered care.