Menopause is diagnosed when it has been 12 months since the last menstrual period. However, there is a period of time (no pun intended) before menopause called perimenopause, which can last several years—even up to 14 years! It’s a time of falling and fluctuating estrogen and progesterone levels, with uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings or mood swings, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, heart palpitations, dry mouth, dry and itchy skin, decreased libido…need I go on? To make matters worse, many people are unfamiliar with the symptoms of perimenopause, when it may start, the impact it can have on life, and more—including healthcare providers. That’s why the best books on menopause are so important.
Perimenopause and menopause are not exactly topics that people like to talk about, and there is still a misogynistic, age-discriminatory shadow hanging over it all, as if fertility is the be-all and end-all of their worth, or as if getting older is a bad thing. As someone who has a Masters of Health in maternal and child health, I know that despite the countless courses on reproductive health, I learned nothing about menopause; there were never any courses on menopause, no lectures on perimenopause, menopause and health, nothing. The same is true of my health psychology program, even though menopause can affect mental and emotional health.
But even if your doctor dismisses your concerns about menopause (find a new doctor), there are some good books you can browse that offer fact-based scientific explanations, encouraging and wryly funny stories, and practical tools to help you advocate for yourself and figure out what you might need to get through menopause.
Here are some of the best books on menopause that you should read. Have you read any of them?
Menopause: A comical treatment by MK Czerwiec
Czerwiec is the editor of this collection of comics about menopause, which spans a range of gender identities, ethnicities, cultures, accompanying health conditions, and more. The result is a candid examination of this phase of life, with all its pain, embarrassment, humor, fear, and resulting context. Contributors include Lynda Barry, Kimiko Tobimatsu, Ellen Forney, and others.
The Menopause Manifesto: Taking Charge of Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Dr. Jen Gunter
In this book, Gunter tackles myths and misogyny surrounding menopause and provides factual, science-based information on a wide range of topics, including perimenopause, hot flashes, sleep issues, sex, libido issues, mood swings, health screenings, and more. In an age where everyone is so quick to believe what is posted on social media, no matter the topic, it’s important to have fact-based information – especially when it’s in an accessible format that reads like a conversation with a friend. Don’t fall for the scaremongering; read this book.
It’s Not Hysteria: Everything You Need to Know About Your Reproductive Health (But Never Told) by Karen Tang
This book is not “just” a book about menopause, but aims to demystify reproductive health and change the way we view our bodies and our relationship with healthcare. It is also a practical tool that can help you with prompts to talk to your doctor and symptom guides. Tang writes about pelvic pain, menopause, fertility, perimenopause, and many other reproductive health topics, providing comprehensive, factual education and encouraging readers to be active participants in self-care.
Pussypedia: A Comprehensive Guide by Zoe Mendelson and Maria Cornejo
Co-authored by the founders of the website of the same name, this book is (as it says) a comprehensive guide to everything related to… well, pussy, which includes menstrual cycles and menopause, but also many other topics. The information contained within has been verified for veracity using multiple medical and peer-reviewed sources, and it also examines myths and inconsistencies in health information that have been distorted by gender bias. In addition to providing factual information, the book also shows the reader how to better read scientific materials, with the caveat that no one knows everything.
Hot and Excited: What Nobody Tells You About Menopause and How to Feel Like Yourself Again by Jancee Dunn
Dunn, a health writer, has written a great book for those of us wondering what the heck is going on here and if it could possibly be perimenopause or menopause. She writes about her own experience in her mid-40s and how she was caught off guard despite working in medical communications. She thought if she was caught off guard as a medical writer, what about people who aren’t in the field? She interviews several experts and gets research-based information about perimenopause and menopause, as well as the pros and cons of treatments and ways to cope and manage the symptoms. And best of all, she does it with a dry sense of humor that is much needed!
What New Hell Is This?: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Humiliations and You by Heather Corinna
Corinna is an award-winning sex educator and they’ve written a fantastic book that is an honest and comprehensive resource for all things perimenopause and menopause. Everything you want to know, no matter how embarrassing it may seem, is covered in this book. It’s a factual, humorous and always honest book that tells you all about what’s really going on, why it sucks so much and how to talk to your doctor about it. They also specifically target disabled readers, LGBTQIA+ readers and marginalized readers, making this book probably the most comprehensive on this list. I know I’ve recommended it to many of my friends.
Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Health by Sharon Malone
Malone has written a practical, accessible book that, as she explains in the introduction, is aimed primarily at women of color, recognizing that their concerns are often downplayed or sidelined by the medical community, especially when it comes to reproductive health. It’s a hybrid of medical manual, memoir, and empowering text that combines research, resources, and anecdotes that encourage readers to recognize the power they have to get the care they need. It’s not a book exclusively about menopause per se; it’s a book about reproductive health, especially for older people, and about not being silenced when you suspect something about your health needs attention.
The Hormone Shift: Bring Your Body into Balance and Get Through Midlife and Menopause by Tasneem Bhatia
Okay, yes, Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop love this book. But don’t let that put you off. For those who want to combine Eastern medicine with traditional Western medicine, this book will certainly pique your interest. Tasneem explains what’s going on in the body during hormone changes and how hormones affect every aspect of health—but this can also be mitigated by things like diet, sleep, stress management, and other factors. Rather than viewing menopause as something to fear, she views it as an opportunity to see what’s going on in the body and take better care of yourself. And who wouldn’t want that?
The New Menopause: How to Master Your Hormonal Change with Determination, Strength and Facts by Mary Claire Haver
Haver goes into it all in this book, offering readers an encouraging, science-based book that explores everything you’ve ever wanted to know about menopause. She discusses a variety of treatments for all types of menopausal symptoms, how to reduce the risk of other conditions associated with the drop in estrogen, such as diabetes and osteoporosis, and provides practical, accessible tools for doctor visits so you can get the most out of your treatment.
