Heather Corinna

Books on menopause aren't the sort of thing one considers to be a "fun" read, but Corinna manages to entertain and educate in this insightful book. The wry sense of humor is evident from the title alone. The book addresses the history of menopause and, really, how people with gestational potential have been treated in medical research, and goes on to examine different symptoms and what might be helpful to get through, with an eye on the prize on the other side of the hey-I-stopped-bleeding landmark.

I've read a couple other books on the topic. I think this one is especially good at exploring the psychological complications around perimenopause, as some people will rejoice at the freedom from periods while others will grieve. The language throughout is incredibly inclusive; the author is nonbinary. There's even a chapter at the end that directly addresses the needs of trans individuals going through perimenopause. This is a book that acts as a good reminder that society tends to sneer in disgust or make a mockery of perimenopause, but it is nothing to be ashamed of and we are definitely not alone in what we're enduring. The author is a sex educator and quite blunt about their own experiences. Some of the lines are laugh out loud funny, like: "For the bulk of the time I’ve had them, my periods have, like Republican administrations, been painful and disruptive to my life and well-being."… (plus d'informations)

Perimenopause - that transition time before official menopause, when a person has been without a period for a full year - is a time we often dread, fear, ridicule, or just plain don't understand. It doesn't help when one lives in a world where women are second-class citizens and much of the time the medical advice has less to do with self-care of the person experiencing menopause than with managing symptoms for the benefit of everyone around her.

Enter Heather Corinna and their no-nonsense, validating and affirming approach to perimenopause. They address basic care that will help those experiencing symptoms, the things we all know are "good for us" like exercising and quitting smoking. They discuss questions for health care providers, the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy. But most of all, they advocate for taking care of yourself and embracing positive aspects of menopause in the midst of a culture that doesn't value women after childbirth. This is also one of the most inclusive books I've ever read, as you might expect from a non-binary sex education author. Heather comes alongside as someone still experiencing perimenopause, and having a rough time with it. They're not afraid to acknowledge the rough parts of perimenopause, yet do it in a way that I was laughing and enjoying myself reading about hot flashes and nominal aphasia. This gave me the confidence that I do know my body and I am experiencing perimenopause, as well as the language to ask my doctors questions at my next appointments.… (plus d'informations)

Ok, I wish this book had been available BEFORE I hit perimenopause. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be prepared for what you have to go through with perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Author Heather Corinna is hilarious, and she infuses humor throughout this very informative and fact-based book. I also like that the book is gender-inclusive; it's not just cis women who have to go through this.

I had read a review of this book, and that is what convinced me to read it. First of all, the title is hilarious and spot on. Second, here's the title of the first chapter: And In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was "Dammit." Hahahaha. I laughed out loud and knew that this book was for me. From details of the female anatomy, to explanations of how hormones work, to physical and mental repercussions of the menopausal process, to what to do to make things a little better during the process...this book covers the entire gamut.

I not only found this book eye-opening but also entertaining, thanks to Corinna's humor. And it was nice to know that all the weird stuff that I'm going through is not specific to just me.… (plus d'informations)