You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body

From the most trusted name in child health, American Academy of Pediatrics, comes a new, inclusive approach to learning about puberty! Remember that awkward day in school when the boys went to one classroom and the girls to another and everyone nervously giggled, learning about taboo topics like menstruation and erections? What if your kids could learn about changing bodies in a way that isn’t secretive or shameful? And what if it could even be inclusive, fun, and, well, kind of adorable? A new kind of puberty guide, You-ology embraces an inclusive approach that normalizes puberty for all kids. Traditional puberty education only contributes to a sense of isolation and often does not include all kids’ experience of puberty and leaves kids with questions about how puberty will affect their friends and classmates. For curious kids and parents looking to talk about puberty in an inclusive way, You-ology offers fact-based, age-appropriate, and body positive information about the physical, social, and emotional changes ahead for all kids. Colorful illustrations keep the tone upbeat and engaging, while short stories featuring a cast of diverse characters add relatability and humor. Helping kids understand what EVERY body goes through in puberty, grows greater compassion and empathy for all.

Dr. Melisa Holmes is a board-certified Ob-Gyn, author, and nationally recognized health educator. She is the Co-Founder and CEO of Girlology, a leading wellness app supporting girls and caregivers with personalized on demand health resources that guide them through puberty and adolescence with confidence. She has more than 20 years experience as an ob-gyn with expertise in pediatric & adolescent gynecology and as an educator for medical students, residents and colleagues.

Dr. Melisa is a Co-Founder of the Period Education Project, a national non-profit that trains medical students to deliver menstrual health education to under resourced communities. She has authored books for youth on puberty and sexual development as well as numerous articles and book chapters in the medical literature. She has consulted and created health content for global brands including Always, Tampax and CVS Health.

As a passionate patient advocate, Dr. Holmes received a national award from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists for patient education.

 

Trish Hutchison, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified pediatrician, nationally recognized health educator, and author. Dr. Trish is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Girlology, a leading wellness app supporting girls and caregivers with personalized on demand health resources that guide them through puberty and adolescence with confidence. She founded and directed a young women’s health center for the Department of Adolescent Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is an expert on adolescent development, teen sexuality, parenting, and has been listed among the Best Doctors in America.

Dr. Trish has authored books for youth on puberty and sexual development. She is also a Co-Founder of the Period Education Project, a national non-profit that trains medical students to deliver menstrual health education to under resourced communities. Dr. Trish has over 20 years of clinical practice and currently works in College Health at The College of Charleston. This keeps her up to date on issues that kids face daily, including her own two college aged daughters.

She earned her MD at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) then completed her Pediatrics residency at Vanderbilt University.
 

Kathryn Lowe, MD, FAAP (she/her) is a board-certified pediatrician, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and a proud mother of two middle school kids.  Dr. Lowe has an immense background advocating for LGBTQ+ kids and has taught extensively on the topic of gender.  In recognition of her expertise, she was elected a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Executive Committee of the Section on LGBT Health and Wellness and continues to serve on this national level committee today.

 

Dr. Lowe’s passion for advocating for kids began while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia where she worked with children in rural villages, and only grew stronger as she began her career as a pediatrician and then became a mother.  The idea for You-ology sprang from her endless search for the ideal puberty book to read with her two kids as they approached puberty.  

 

Dr. Lowe earned her medical degree through the University of Connecticut and completed her pediatrics residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, ME.  She loves enjoying life with her husband, two children, and always at least one furry four-legged companion.