5 stars: An exceptionally good book.

The author is an ob/gyn and describes numerous aspects of perimenopause, menopause, and women's health through the aspects of the patriarchy to ensure that women have all the information that they need to make informed health decisions. Some readers may not like the feminist tones and humor but the information contained is first rate.

Kept, researched, highlighted, sent to others. Best advocacy I can give.

From amazon:

"The only thing predictable about menopause is its unpredictability. Factor in widespread misinformation, a lack of research, and the culture of shame around women’s bodies, and it’s no wonder women are unsure what to expect during the menopause transition and beyond.

Menopause is not a disease—it’s a planned change, like puberty. And just like puberty, we should be educated on what’s to come years in advance, rather than the current practice of leaving people on their own with bothersome symptoms and too much conflicting information. Knowing what is happening, why, and what to do about it is both empowering and reassuring.

Frank and funny, Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know about:

*Perimenopause * Hot flashes * Sleep disruption * Sex and libido * Depression and mood changes * Skin and hair issues * Outdated therapies * Breast health * Weight and muscle mass * Health maintenance screening * And much more!

Filled with practical, reassuring information, this essential guide will revolutionize how women experience menopause—including how their lives can be even better for it!" ( )

Dr. Jen Gunter does a great job of importing a lot of medical information about menopause into your brain. I am glad that I have a physical copy of this book to reference as I start this journey sometime in the next 7 years. ( )

As a 45 year old woman with very little idea of what’s coming for my body in the next decade or so, I thought this would be an important book to read. Gunter does a good job of separating fact from fiction and backing up her info with high quality studies. Problem is that there still just isn’t a ton of info about menopause that is reliable and thorough. But, she does a good job at covering what there is, and it was reassuring to know that there are options to treat many of the symptoms that women experience.

Because she sticks to the science, there were lots of anecdotal symptoms that I’m heard from friends that she does not cover, or covers lightly.

But I learned a lot about when to consider MHT (that’s what they call hormone therapy now), what to combine, the different ways to take it, and how to weigh the pros and cons.

She also goes through non-medication options that are proven to help menopause symptoms - like diet and exercise. She is very against supplements but does give thorough reasons why. And there is a good chapter on osteoporosis -which often occurs with menopause.

I did not get all my questions answered and definitely want to read more to have a balanced view, but I’d recommend this if you’re going through it or have a partner who is.

Original publication date: 2021
Author’s nationality: American
Original language: English
Length: 400 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Format/where I acquired the book: purchased
Why I read this: to gain knowledge about the topic ( )

Listen sisters, there are over 45 million women in the USA alone who are in some stage of menopause, yet there is no chatter. Whether you’ve been through it, are there now or have it to look forward to (haha), this is a part of our natural body process, and we need to be talking about it… with each other, our doctors, our partners. We need to normalize talking about the mood swings, heavy bleeds, 6 week periods (omg seriously!), clots the size of golfballs, and what options are out there for relief. It’s a lonely, scary and wtf kind of place to try to navigate alone, and with so many of us, there’s no need. My sista friend was kind and open enough to talk with me recently & she recommended this book- it saved my sanity, opened conversation on this new adventure and I challenge us all to keep it going.
The Menopause Manifesto was written by an OB/GYN who understands not only the physiology of menopause but also the emotional and social aspects to it. Her voice is like talking to your smartest girl friend about wth is going on with your body when it seems like you no longer know yourself! There’s some female medical history, where we were and why we're here with the silence, a lot of what’s happening to your body and why, and options broken down. Dr Gunter is witty and real, this does not read like a medical or self help book but let me tell you, a lot of validation was occurring within the first hour of reading and I didn’t feel so alone in this. Like ‘Taking Charge of Your Fertility’ (not just about fertility- this teaches you about your female body & how it changes throughout your cycle each month!) and ‘What to Expect when You’re Expecting’, this book needs to be on your shelf. Facebook group posts mention some kind of women's health here & there which is great to get conversations started, but the misinformation and lack of knowledge about our bodies and how they function is rather shocking. Too many of us don’t know what’s happening within us, from puberty through menopause, or why, and this book goes a long way in entertainingly educating us about so much of it. Do yourself a favor and pick it up. Let’s normalize what over half the world population is going through that no one talks about. ( )

Dr. Gunter's book came to my attention via Twitter and I felt compelled, now that I have begun "the transition," to educate myself on what to expect going forward. It was certainly eye-opening, and I found myself oscillating between wishing I could sear all of the information into my brain to recall as needed and feeling increased anxiety about growing old and decrepit. While the subject matter doesn't exactly make it a page-turner, the tone is surprisingly casual and conversational which I appreciated (some may not), though I'm certain that some of the more complex terminology and physiological explanation went over my head. My single biggest complaint is grammatical: misplaced and missing commas. Had these been edited properly it would have helped significantly with legibility. I sometimes had to read a sentence two or three times to understand how it was meant to be parsed. Though I work at a public library and rarely purchase books anymore, I'd consider purchasing my own copy of this book. The supplementary information in the back looks like it could come in handy, and overall it has given me lots to think about as I consider my own health over the next several decades. ( )