Two women who have been through it all with their own gut health issues offer groundbreaking honesty and advice to live a full life while navigating symptoms.

“Chloe Melas and Judy Batalion bring much-needed honesty, humor, and clarity to the conversation, connecting the dots between gut health and whole-body wellness.”—Dr. Mark Hyman, New York Times bestselling author and co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Function Health

Bloating. Pain. Cramps. Gas. Food fear . . . Your doctor gives you medical advice. Your nutritionist suggests dietary changes. But who actually knows what you’re going through? How do you work, date, travel, parent, dress, eat, and maintain relationships when your condition is with you every day?

In The Girl’s Guide to Guts, Chloe Melas and Judy Batalion, who together share decades worth of experience living with ulcerative colitis, show up with remarkable openness and candor about everything from bleeding and bloating to sex and fertility, what to do after a diagnosis, the anxiety of living with a chronic illness, what to bring in your carry-on (and we’re not talking heels!), and the countless lattes purchased in exchange for use of a bathroom. They also interview experts in their field to give you the inside scoop on what your doctor is actually thinking.

Here, you’ll learn about figuring out how to survive a first date when your stomach is gurgling, navigating colonoscopies and chronic pain while raising kids and working high-pressure jobs, and advocating for yourself with your doctors.

The Girl’s Guide to Guts takes bowel disease—our culture’s final taboo—from being a topic many women hold inside or only discuss privately into a conversation we’re ready to put center stage.