Marlies Bongers was a gynecologist at the Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven and Eindhoven, the Netherlands. From 2015-2025, she was an associate professor at Maastricht University.Corien van Zweden is a journalist who writes about health and has published several books, including Breasts: The Life of an Intimate Body Part, which was translated into several languages and nominated for the best journalistic book of 2019.

• Foreword1. A Pear-Shaped Muscle in the Pelvic CavityOn the anatomy of an ingenious organ and what can go wrong2. The Uterus as Performer of the Monthly CycleOn the complex interplay of hormones and the role of blood3. Preventing the Uterus from Doing its JobOn ways of avoiding, preventing, terminating, or eliminating pregnancy4. The Uterus as a Threat to HealthOn fibroids, neoplasms, tumors, and heavy blood loss5. The Uterus as a CocoonOn an extremely expandable muscle and what grows inside it6. The Uterus as an Expelling ForceOn the process of giving birth7. The Non-Fertile YearsOn the half of life in which the uterus cannot give birthGlossaryAcknowledgmentsLiterature

“An informative take on one of my favorite organs. If you want a comprehensive look at the uterus—written by experienced and knowledgeable authors, and with interesting case studies to boot—look no further!”—Kate Clancy, author of Period: The Real Story of Menstruation“This book will embolden readers to shake stigma and speak out loud about this marvelous organ, the uterus, and its complex role in everything from menstruation to menopause and beyond.”—Amanda Thebe, author of Menopocalypse"In Pear-Shaped, the uterus—misunderstood and often misdiagnosed—finally gets a long overdue biography. A fascinating and fantastically human look at an organ that is so much more than our shared entryway to life."—Abby Norman, author of Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain

Marlies Bongers was a gynecologist at the Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven and Eindhoven, the Netherlands. From 2015-2025, she was an associate professor at Maastricht University.Corien van Zweden is a journalist who writes about health and has published several books, including Breasts: The Life of an Intimate Body Part, which was translated into several languages and nominated for the best journalistic book of 2019.

• Foreword1. A Pear-Shaped Muscle in the Pelvic CavityOn the anatomy of an ingenious organ and what can go wrong2. The Uterus as Performer of the Monthly CycleOn the complex interplay of hormones and the role of blood3. Preventing the Uterus from Doing its JobOn ways of avoiding, preventing, terminating, or eliminating pregnancy4. The Uterus as a Threat to HealthOn fibroids, neoplasms, tumors, and heavy blood loss5. The Uterus as a CocoonOn an extremely expandable muscle and what grows inside it6. The Uterus as an Expelling ForceOn the process of giving birth7. The Non-Fertile YearsOn the half of life in which the uterus cannot give birthGlossaryAcknowledgmentsLiterature

“An informative take on one of my favorite organs. If you want a comprehensive look at the uterus—written by experienced and knowledgeable authors, and with interesting case studies to boot—look no further!”—Kate Clancy, author of Period: The Real Story of Menstruation“This book will embolden readers to shake stigma and speak out loud about this marvelous organ, the uterus, and its complex role in everything from menstruation to menopause and beyond.”—Amanda Thebe, author of Menopocalypse"In Pear-Shaped, the uterus—misunderstood and often misdiagnosed—finally gets a long overdue biography. A fascinating and fantastically human look at an organ that is so much more than our shared entryway to life."—Abby Norman, author of Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain

Marlies Bongers was a gynecologist at the Máxima Medical Centre in Veldhoven and Eindhoven, the Netherlands. From 2015-2025, she was an associate professor at Maastricht University.Corien van Zweden is a journalist who writes about health and has published several books, including Breasts: The Life of an Intimate Body Part, which was translated into several languages and nominated for the best journalistic book of 2019.

• Foreword1. A Pear-Shaped Muscle in the Pelvic CavityOn the anatomy of an ingenious organ and what can go wrong2. The Uterus as Performer of the Monthly CycleOn the complex interplay of hormones and the role of blood3. Preventing the Uterus from Doing its JobOn ways of avoiding, preventing, terminating, or eliminating pregnancy4. The Uterus as a Threat to HealthOn fibroids, neoplasms, tumors, and heavy blood loss5. The Uterus as a CocoonOn an extremely expandable muscle and what grows inside it6. The Uterus as an Expelling ForceOn the process of giving birth7. The Non-Fertile YearsOn the half of life in which the uterus cannot give birthGlossaryAcknowledgmentsLiterature

“An informative take on one of my favorite organs. If you want a comprehensive look at the uterus—written by experienced and knowledgeable authors, and with interesting case studies to boot—look no further!”—Kate Clancy, author of Period: The Real Story of Menstruation“This book will embolden readers to shake stigma and speak out loud about this marvelous organ, the uterus, and its complex role in everything from menstruation to menopause and beyond.”—Amanda Thebe, author of Menopocalypse"In Pear-Shaped, the uterus—misunderstood and often misdiagnosed—finally gets a long overdue biography. A fascinating and fantastically human look at an organ that is so much more than our shared entryway to life."—Abby Norman, author of Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain