Period Books Everyone Needs To Read

If you’re like many women, you probably don’t know that much about your cycle. Sure, you know the basics - like you get a period roughly every month and if you miss it, it might mean you’re pregnant. But beyond that, most women don’t really understand the other phases of their cycle or what’s happening in their bodies. Most women have no idea how much of an impact hormones have on their day-to-day lives - everything from mood, energy, athletic ability, sleep, appetite, personality, skin. You name it. Hormones probably have something to do with it. 

One of the things we’re passionate about at Guud Woman is educating women about their cycle so they can embrace it and work with it, rather than fight against it. So, in this post, we’re going to give you some homework! 

But wait a second, shouldn’t we have been taught about our cycle in the first place? Like when we were much younger? 

Sigh. Yes, we absolutely should have been taught more about our cycles as young women but unfortunately, education on menstrual health and body awareness has, historically, been really limited. But today, that is slowly changing and women are starting to get more clued up on their cycle and their relationship with their bodies. 

This reading is optional of course, but we think you’ll get a lot out of it. And if you’re in the “winter phase” of your cycle, you may feel like curling up with a book anyway, so it might as well be a Guud one! Here is our list of the top period books to read. 

In the Flo by Alisa Vitti 

What it’s about: This book is basically a biohacking programme for women that tells you all about how to use your cycle to optimise your time, diet, fitness, work and relationships. It talks about how many common things women do (read: diet, deprive ourselves of certain foods and over-schedule our lives) actually ignores the intuitive rhythm of our bodies. Instead, Alissa provides a step-by-step guide on how to live according to the schedule our bodies naturally keep: a monthly cycle with four distinct phases. 

Why you should read it: Alisa Vitti is a functional nutrition and women’s hormone expert as well as the bestselling author of WomanCode, and founder of modern hormone healthcare company FLOliving.com. She’s a true expert when it comes to all things menstrual health so you can trust the accuracy and accessibility of the information. This book is a practical guide on how to manage your energy and time according to your own unique biochemistry. It also includes practical things like meal plans and recipes for each phase of your cycle, charts for phase-specific exercises, a daily planner to help you align your strengths with each phase and a biohacking “toolkit” for navigating period problems. 

Het Cyclus Kompas by Morgane Leten 

What it’s about: This book is all about how to live according to your cycle and get the most out of your hormones. Written by Guud Woman co-founder Morgane, this book aims to break taboos around menstruation and remove any shame women have been taught to feel because of their period. It’s also an educational powerhouse designed to help women understand that their cycle is much more than the days they are bleeding. Morgane will tell you everything you didn’t know about your own body. She provides tips and insight on how you can use your cycle to your advantage and make better decisions based on the seasons. Plus, you can also find a wealth of insight and testimonials from women like Eva Daeleman, Lynn Van Royen, Ellen Kegels, Hilde De Baerdemaeker & Uwe Porters about how they discovered the power of their cycle.

Why you should read it: First of all, it’s written by our co-founder so we might be a little biased, but much like the other books in this list, we firmly believe this book could be eye-opening, educational and potentially life-changing. Her book also include contributions from a variety of experts like gynaecologist Joke Bulthé, mid-wife Rebecca Verhofstede, hormone expert Bénédicte De Jaeger, general practitioner Annaïk van Branteghem, Nutrition & Gut health expert Lily Joan Roberts, and osteopath Colette Peeters. It’s a groundbreaking book that will change your view of hormones forever! 

Period Power by Maisie Hill 

What it’s about: If you’re looking for straight talk on your cycle and a no-nonsense explanation of what happens with your hormones each month, this is it. Maisie’s book talks about PMS and how there’s a huge lack of understanding about what it actually is, and more disappointingly, a limited range of treatment options. Her book offers a practical guide on not only how to plan for the “down” days of your cycle, but how to actually improve them! She also provides practical tips on what she calls your “cycle strategy” to take advantage of the “superpowers” of each phase of your cycle so that you can plan your month to perform your best. 

Why you should read it: Maisie Hill is an expert in women’s health with a unique background. She has a BSc in Chinese medicine and acupuncture and is a member of the British Acupuncture Council. She also has over a decade of experience as a women’s health practitioner and birth doula. She is considered an authority on menstrual health and has been quoted in some of the top national newspapers and consumer magazines for women. Her book has been dubbed the “hormone bible” with many saying her informative, clear and funny writing style makes a potentially complex topic an empowering and practical guide. While we can’t tell you for sure that it will be life-changing, you will undoubtedly have a few “a-hah!” moments while reading it.

The Period Repair Manual by Lara Briden 

What it’s about: If you’ve struggled with period problems in the past and you’re simply living with PMS-symptoms each month, this book will help you. We love this book because it is a guide to better periods using natural treatments like diet, supplements, herbal medicine and natural hormones. It also contains advice for women of every age and situation including things like how to come off hormonal birth control, what your period should be like, how to talk to your doctor and treatments for common period problems including PCOS and endometriosis. 

Why you should read it: Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor with more than 20 years of experience. We love her natural approach to hormonal health and her well-researched advice on everything that works for hormonal health. This book is a practical, easy-to-read and understandable guide for all period problems. All you need to do is take a look at the reviews of her book and see how many women this book has helped to see the value. One person said they think this book should be given to every girl at puberty as mandatory reading, and frankly, we agree! 

Is This Normal by Dr. Jolene Brighten

What it’s about: The title of this book alone might immediately appeal to you. How many times in your life have you experienced some sort of symptom and wondered to yourself, is this normal? Dr Jolene’s book gives the medically accurate answers you’ve been looking for but are too embarrassed to ask. Her book also addresses several women’s health myths we’ve been told for generations. It spans a huge range of topics like PMS, period problems, abnormal discharge, pain during sex and how hormones can rule your life.  

Why you should read it: Nothing is too much in this book. This book gives you some practical advice on the common hormone issues women face daily that can be easily corrected. Dr Jolene is a trusted physician and clinical sexologist so no topic is too personal. She addresses questions you have long asked about your menstrual and sexual health and gives you straight answers with advice you can implement today. 

What other books are on your reading list? Have you read something profound about women’s health lately? Tell us on our Facebook page or on Instagram. We love hearing from you and sharing advice.