About me

I am an OB/GYN and a pain medicine physician, and it would be hard to find someone who knows more about the vulva and vagina. I’ve been called Twitter’s resident gynecologist, the Internet’s OB/GYN, and one of the fiercest advocates for women’s health. And I’m here to build a better medical Internet.

I became interested in dubious online medical claims when my own children were born extremely prematurely. I found separating the facts from the fiction difficult and I wondered, if finding quality medical information online was hard for me as a doctor, how did everyone else manage? I know people sit up late at night and fall down rabbit holes of misinformation, because I’ve been there. And with reproductive health there is an added challenge—the vagina, vulva, and uterus are erroneously labeled as shameful, toxic, or dirty and women and people with vaginas have their valid symptoms dismissed or minimized.

I write books (The Vagina Bible was a New York Times bestseller and a #1 bestseller in Canada and it has been translated into 7 languages and there are 11 translations in the works). I battle medical misinformation and misogyny on social media. I am a New York Times contributor-and have written for many other publications including Glamour, STAT, The Cut, and Chatelaine. I am the host of the record-breaking CBC web series Jensplaining (CBC Gem in Canada and Amazon Prime elsewhere). I did a TED talk on menstruation for TEDWomen (why we have periods and why they hurt — it may surprise you). All part of my campaign to empower people about their health through quality, accessible, bias-free content.

What else…my two boys are budding skeptics who keep me so honest it hurts and I have a third son who died at birth. That hurts in a different way. I met the love of my life when I was 53 (I know, right?). I have a lab named Hazel and a one-eyed cat named Luna who is often the star of my Twitter.

The 411 on the Vajenda

Come for the science, stay for the sex. Come for the sex, stay for the science.

The Vajenda is an evidence-based hub for reproductive health matters. It’s the next evolution of my effort to fix the information gaps in medicine, because you can’t be empowered about your health with inaccurate information. A paid subscription brings at least two posts a week, a weekly newsletter with a deep dive into one subject and Ask Dr. Jen, where I will answer your questions. There may be more content some weeks depending on what’s in the news or what’s irritating me (righteous indignation is a huge motivator). A paid subscription is required to comment and also gives access to The Dodge, a weekly support group/chat for women in the menopause continuum. All this for $5/month or $50/year. With a free subscription you get one post a week (the deep dive) and one Ask Dr. Jen column per month and the additional post here and there.

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