The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism by Jennifer Gunter

The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism Reviews

• 
  Claudia

  "When told by a patriarchal society the story of menopause is one about deserted youth, frailty, and diminished worth. The story I want you to remember is about value, agency, and voice and the knowledge to keep yourself in the best of health while demanding an equal seat at the table.
  That's my manifesto."
  
  Another book by Dr. Jen Gunter? Sign me in! I am a huge fan of her previous book,
  The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine, which I think should be taught in schools, so when I heard of this one, it instantly ended up on my need-to-read-asap-list.
  
  As I expected, the book is a great source of information - think of anything related to menopause and you'll find it in here. Every topic is dissected and presented under her eagle's eye, from all points of view, with pluses and minuses, and observations based on available studies.
  
  Menopause is much more than just your period stopping, and I think that's the only good thing about it, from a comfort point of view. She takes it step by step and presents all symptoms, possible treatments for its discomforts, diet, exercises, and a lot more.
  
  I was stunned to learn that many women see it as a shame and don't talk about it, or that they feel their sex life, or life, in general, is over: why?! Or maybe there is such a cultural difference between North-American culture and our East-European one? I never heard of a woman here feeling ashamed by it, nor being belittled by men for it.
  
  Anyway, for a medical book, it is a highly compelling read; I could not put it down, and that is also thanks to her writing skills. She explains everything as clear as possible; there is not a single topic to be poorly understood. I think it's a must read for every woman after 40 years old. Menopause is not something that may or may not occur to us, it is something we will have to deal with, and most of the times it comes with a lot of other health problems and discomfort, so it's better to know what to expect.
  
  Dr. Gunter, Chapeau! Again.
  
  >>> ARC received thanks to Kensington Books / Citadel via NetGalley <<<
• 
  Krista

  A manifesto is a public declaration or proclamation and we are well past due for a manifesto on menopause as 2021 is the 200th anniversary of the introduction of the word. My manifesto is for every woman to have the knowledge that I had to help them with their own menopause. I demand that the era of silence and shame about menopause yield to facts and feminism. I proclaim that we must stop viewing menopause as a disease, because that means being a woman is a disease and I reject that shoddily constructed hypothesis. I also declare that what the patriarchy thinks of menopause is irrelevant. Men do not get to define the value of women at any age.

  
  Dr Jen Gunter (OB-GYN, women’s health advocate, and internationally renowned author of
  The Vagina Bible) states in her introduction to
  The Menopause Manifesto that most women will approach menopause woefully unprepared for the changes they will encounter; societal shame dissuading women from even talking about their experiences among themselves. And as Western medicine has traditionally put most of its focus on men’s bodies and their care, women entering the menopause transition tend to not even get good information from their primary care providers: life-disrupting symptoms are dismissed as “normal” and “inevitable”; treatments offered are one size fit all; and in the US, ongoing cost and duration of medical care can be a deterrent for access. Gunter makes it very clear throughout this book that this lack of information and adequate care can be tied to the patriarchy, and she concludes the introduction with, “It shouldn’t require an act of feminism to know how your body works, but it does. And it seems there is no greater act of feminism than speaking up about a menopausal body in a patriarchal society.” The information that follows is clear and comprehensive, Gunter’s tone is generally informal and engaging, and although I picked this up on a bit of a whim, I’m very glad that I did: all information is power and I learned quite a lot. (Note: I read an ARC through NetGalley and passages quoted may not be in their final forms.)
  
  

  There’s a common fallacy that women were never “meant” to experience menopause. This assertion claims that menopause is an accidental state that resulted from longer life expectancies from modern sanitation and medicine, allowing women to live beyond their ovarian function. A benevolent patriarchal society allowed the failings of women — menopause — to be uncovered. The tenacity of this myth is testament to the impact of patriarchal dogma. Erasing menopausal women from history is literally reducing women to the functioning of their uterus and ovaries. When something feels off balance I replace the word “women” with “men” to see how it sounds. If it sounds reasonable I’m more likely to consider the hypothesis worthy of further evaluation, but if we would never speak about men that way, then there’s going to be a lot of side eye on my part. Has anyone ever in the history of medicine ever uttered these words? “Through good sanitation and health care, men are now living long enough to develop erectile dysfunction?” Doubtful.

  
  I knew so little about menopause that I didn’t even realise that only humans and toothed whales experience it (and for killer whales, it seems to confer some kind of an advantage: female orcas usually live to be around ninety, and males just to fifty), so that does beg the question: why menopause? Dr Gunter proposes the “grandmother hypothesis” — that human women (evolutionarily speaking) stop reproducing in order to help their daughters raise their own children, sharing their hard won knowledge and wisdom (this seems to be true for the whales, too) to the benefit of the species — and I suppose this shifting role is better than being consigned outright to the rubbish heap. Whatever the reason for the menopause transition, women’s bodies will go through a range of unpleasant experiences (from hot flashes and irregular periods to insomnia and incontinence) and Gunter stresses that a doctor should describe such experiences as “typical” instead of “normal” (where “normal” implies that these are just things women need to deal with instead of addressing). In some cases, women suffering from life-altering symptoms may be prescribed MHT (menopausal hormone replacement) and Gunter goes into interesting detail about the history of hormonal treatments — including an explanation for why it’s no longer pejoratively called “HRT” (hormone replacement treatment; nothing is being replaced because nothing is failing) — and I appreciated that she explained why the small increase of risk for breast cancer can be offset by estrogen’s role in preventing the more likely onset of cardiovascular disease or osteoporosis. I also appreciated the information she shared about so-called natural alternatives (hardly natural and never effective), the uselessness of a daily multivitamin, and the danger of pharmacist-compounded, rather than pharmaceutically manufactured, hormone creams (why do these even exist? Even the so-called libido-enhancing “scream creams” sound like snake oil.)
  
  

  The best way to approach menopause is to be informed so women can understand if what is happening is menopause-related; what diseases she may face due to her combination of genetics, health, and menopausal status; and what is the best way to achieve quality of life and health and how to best balance those goals against any risks. This can only happen with accurate information and without the prejudice of the patriarchy.

  
  There is a lot of good, specific information in The Menopause Manifesto, far beyond what I took away as general interest, and I can totally see how it could be a useful resource for a woman to consult before seeking medical advice. I’m glad this exists and that I read it.
  
• 
  Emmalita

  I have been eagerly anticipating both menopause and The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism for quite a while, and right now I’m disappointed in both. I know Dr. Jen Gunter knows that not every one with a uterus is a woman. I have seen her speak inclusively about trans men and nonbinary people. She also started the hashtag IfMenHadPeriods, which, well, some men do have periods. Unfortunately, The Menopause Manifesto seems to be only for women, and this undermines her stated desire to use facts and feminism to dismantle the patriarchy. In 2021, centering a book about menopause solely on women feels like a deliberate choice. I don’t know what her purpose is in ignoring trans men and nonbinary people, but the result is I cannot recommend or support this book.
  
  It particularly bothers me that in the introduction she declares the irrelevance of the patriarchy’s opinion on menopause while clinging to patriarchal definitions of gender. I am a cis woman and I have always resented people telling me who I should be because my body has female reproductive organs. It would be even more frustrating to have female reproductive organs and be defined as a woman even when you know you are not. Feminism that allows people to be defined by their bodies is going to fail in it’s goal.
  
  It��s a fact that not everyone with a uterus who will go through menopause is a woman. The feminism that insists on gender binary is not trying to dismantle the patriarchy. It’s trying to rent a room in the patriarchy while slamming the door on trans, nonbinary, and genderfluid people. It won’t work. We have over a hundred years of a feminist movement that shows dismantling the patriarchy just a little gets women nowhere. Women won’t have equality until everybody has equality.
  
  I am crying out for more conversation and science based knowledge about menopause. I would like to know what the hell is going on with my body as I transition into menopause. But, I can’t trust a woman physician who directs her information only at women any more than I can trust a man telling me about my body. I can’t trust that she’s seeing facts and not building a reality that suits her vision.
  
  I really want to like this book. I want to be able to recommend it to my friends, but I can’t.
  
  I received this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Kaethe

  Jen Gunter on Twitter is my hero!
  
  Her books are excellent and I agree with what Ayelet Waldman said of
  The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine: you need to read this book "if you have a vagina or spend any time at all in reasonably close proximity to one."
  
  I wish I had this book in my early 40s so I could be forwarned about what to expect, know how to discuss symptoms with my doctor, and know how to deal with the transitional chaos and the flooding. I really wish I had known about the flooding ahead of time. Warning: surfing the crimson tide is one thing, but after years of the same waves there will come random flood tides. Be prepared: these will be super plus AND extra heavy overnight situations.
  
  Also it's good to know someone who isn't afraid to call out bullshit on medical advice from celebrities or misogyny on the internet. Gwyneth knows what she did. Also Oprah, and Suzanne Somers. Dr. Jen has zero toleration for doctors who are ill-informed, fat-blaming, or otherwise unacceptable.
  
  Since it wasn't written yet, I've been reading this after the fact, and it is still helpful in practical advice for dealing with my much-interrupted sleep at night, which of course I thought was just me.
  
  And the science geek in me really loves that, when applicable, she includes racial and ethnic breakdowns of the studies, as well as including disparities in outcomes by demographics.
  
  Read this and be well.
  
  Somers spelling corrected 30Apr2922
  
  Library copy
• 
  Donna Craig

  Another menopause book DNF’d. I guess it is the thing now—to be angry about menopause and blame the patriarchy. I’m just not buying it. No one I know is angry about menopause. Who wants their fertility to continue into their fifties? Why aren’t women writing about how exciting it is to step into the next phase of life? I won’t be reading books about menopause that label themselves as feminist. It seems to be code for angry and resentful.
• 
  Louise H - ⭐ Life in the Book Lane Reviews ⭐

  I found The Menopause Manifesto to be an informative and entertaining read. It is clear that Dr Jen Gunter feels passionately about the topic, along with the importance of the medical profession understanding how the menopause affects countless women.
  
  As a woman of a certain age myself it can be difficult to find reliable information that is useful, non judgemental and is offered by someone who clearly knows what they are talking about. Whilst the internet is a mine of useful information, it is also a font of misinformation, old information and quackery. Medical sites, such as the NHS website in the UK, tend to be quite dry, overly factual and don't always offer more than the bland, generic advice that you will hear from most male doctors. Reading this felt like being amongst friends, ones who are willing to share the good, the bad and the ugly of menopause along with their own personal insight and advice of what they have found helpful.
  
  Every woman will experience menopause differently, yet treatment is often very generic. This book made me feel more confident in understanding what I am going through, how I can deal with it. This was all achieved with a writing style that is warm, friendly and humorous, whilst also being educational and packed full of useful information.
• 
  Hannah Greendale

  Women need 25 g of fiber a day and men 38 g—I'm sure there is a great joke in here about men being more full of shit. A snarky and informative book, but Dr. Jen Gunter is so busy being (understandably) angry at the patriarchy, that she forgets to celebrate women's bodies.
  
  Another amusingly absurd quote: I could write a ten-thousand-word essay on how wipes are a combination of infantilizing women (they're meant to remove stool from a baby's bottom; women are not babies and are capable of wiping with toilet paper or using a bidet), a remnant of purity culture (the cleanliness, or faux cleanliness of wipes means a woman is "good"), and the obsession of a patriarchal society with degrading women based on their normal bodies (if women need their skin prepped for men and the reverse isn't true, then the conclusion is women are inherently dirty). If wipes were about genital hygiene and not oppressing women, then there would be shelves of these products for men with scents such as Dick's Delight, Sunset Escape, and Puppy Paws.
• 
  Tanya

  I really enjoyed Gunter's
  The Vagina Bible, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this follow-up, even though I'm still a good twenty years away from having to deal with these issues.
  
  The word "menopause" first appears in an 1812 paper by French Dr. De Gardanne, but how or why it became widespread is not exactly known (and Gunter makes a great case for why it is less than ideal). Before "menopause" a variety of other terms were in use, from the good "change of life", to the not-so-great "middle-age decline", to the positively awful "women's inferno", "women's winter", and "death of sex".
  
  Much like her "vagenda" in The Vagina Bible, her menopause manifesto aims to dispel myths rooted in misogyny and empower women through knowledge and facts with a readable blend of expert advice, humor, personal anecdotes, and historic perspective. As expected, this proves harder in this volume: The only predictable thing about menopause is that it's unpredictable, and there is an even greater amount of taboo and misinformation circulating about this topic than any other phase of women's health, all compounded by often inconclusive scientific data due to a lack of research.
  
  With engaging, accessible writing, Gunter goes into the biology of menopause, as well as the pros and cons of available (somewhat US-centric, because of the brand names given) treatments and therapies. Some chapters were denser with information than others, but there is, again, a concise "bottom line" section at the end of each chapter, summarizing the most important take-away points. A lot of the contents were complete news to me, and I think that even just the explanations of symptoms would be reassuring to many who are going through it and feeling alone. There are practical tips and strategies for lifestyle changes that have scientifically proven, positive effects, and don't require a medical professional, such as dietary changes and physical exercise. Because of this, and the sensible way it is structured, it would be a good reference book to have on hand, and I'd recommend it to anyone who is approaching the menopausal transition, is currently going through it, or is living with someone who is, and wants to understand this change of life, and be supportive.
  
  Menopause is a planned change in a woman's life, just like puberty, not a disease, and if it was openly discussed and demystified, many women wouldn't suffer bothersome symptoms in silence, either assuming it was something they had to accept as normal, or worse, being dismissed by medical professionals for the same reason after trying to get treatment.
  
  —————
  
  Note: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
  The digital advance copy struck me less as a review copy, and more as a rough draft; it included many placeholders, typos, and other errors, as well as oddly formatted text, and the many tables and diagrams weren't displayed properly—all issues which should hopefully get resolved before the official release, so I didn't let them influence my review or rating.
• 
  Sally Kilpatrick

  Lots of great information here. I would say too much information, but I'm not sure I believe in such a thing. That said, those who are suffering and looking for specific solutions might be frustrated with discussions of history. I, on the other hand, found the book to be empowering through knowing the history of how menopause has been perceived and treated.
  
  Gunter is mad, and I don't blame her. Throughout the book she calls out both society and the medical profession for how they've treated--or not treated, in some cases--the very natural menopause transition.
  
  At the end of the book she talks about her rage and says "The source of my rage was this reproductive reckoning. The realization that menopause was just one more way that the burden of perpetuating the species is unequally borne by women and one more way that our biology is weaponized against us. It is the ultimate gaslighting because it's this biology--from puberty to grave--that literally birthed humanity as we know it."
  
  Honestly, I'm pretty salty, too. The fact that medical research is so damned skewed toward men means that Gunter only has so many suggestions to give because she wants to give good information with scientific backing. Again and again, she points to "cures" for menopause that haven't been properly studied. Again and again, she declares that women deserve better.
  
  Come for the history of menopause and for what facts she can give us on how to ease symptoms and generally make our way through a fraught reverse puberty that not a one of us asked for. Stay for her reminder that menopause has actually contributed to the longevity of the species, most specifically through how grandmothers have helped mothers keep the family hearty and hale. As she further says in the conclusion, "Many women have been conditioned to fear menopause as an expiration date for relevance and as a sign of weakness only because that is what men thought. In fact, we have this amazing data that tells us that menopause is the opposite--a time when historically women contributed great things to society because of their knowledge and their age....When told by a patriarchal society the story of menopause is one about deserted youth, frail, and diminished worth. The story I want you to remember is about value, agency, and voice and knowledge to keep yourself in the best of health while demanding an equal seat at the table."
  
  Side note: Before reading, I heard complaints that this book did not address the trans community. Early on in the book, Gunter noted that all of the studies she could find to cite involved women who have or had ovaries. She also noted that "More research is desperately needed." She does give what information she can in that early chapter.
• 
  Camelia Rose

  When I was a fresh faced college graduate, I had a particularly nasty colleague who happened to be a middle-aged woman. I didn't hesitate to hull "menopause"--the most powerful verbal insult I could think of--at her. It didn't take long for me to feel ashamed. While I still think she was cruel, attributing cruelty to female hormones or the lack of is a harmful way of thinking.
  
  Dr. Jen Gunter has everything you need to know about menopause. Hot flushes? Bone health? Sleep disturbance? Her view on MHT (Menopause Hormone Therapy) is insightful and nuanced. Yes, this book is infused with feminism, and no, it doesn't make it less scientific.
  
  "Apparently there is nothing of lower value than an aging woman’s body, and many in our society treat menopause not as a phase of life, but rather as a phase of death. Sort of a predeath."
  
  "When menopause is discussed in Western society, it’s often viewed negatively, as a cruel joke or even as a disease."
  
  "Interestingly, in some ancient Greek societies postmenopausal women were appointed as priestesses (menopause was viewed as a renewed virginity affording the level of purity a woman needed for priesthood)"
  
  "So the question should not be why does ovarian function and consequently fertility have a hard stop around fifty? Instead the question we should consider is how did women become so physically successful that they began to live beyond their reproductive capacity?"
  
  
  The language is clear, friendly and funny at times. Highly recommended for every woman of 40+ or women of all ages, really.
  
  Another cool quote:
  
  "A very cool and sort of mind-blowing fact is when your grandmother was pregnant with your mother she also contained the primordial follicle inside one of your mother’s ovaries that was destined to become you."
• 
  Shelleyrae at Book'd Out

  “I demand that the era of silence and shame about menopause yield to facts and feminism. I proclaim that we must stop viewing menopause as a disease, because that means being a woman is a disease and I reject that shoddily constructed hypothesis. I also declare that what the patriarchy thinks of menopause is irrelevant. Men do not get to define the value of women at any age.”
  
  After 38 years of regular but long, heavy and painful periods (minus 4 successful pregnancies and three miscarriages), I’ve actually been looking forward to menopause in some ways. At 48, I have now been experiencing the symptoms of peri menopause for about 18 months, and while I expected some of the more well known effects such as hot flushes, insomnia and irregular bleeding, I now realise, thanks to Jen Gunter and The Menopause Manifesto, that the inexplicable joint pain I have been suffering may also be related.
  
  For the uninformed, menopause occurs when there are no more follicles in the ovaries capable of ovulating, meaning there are no more eggs, and menstruation ceases. The average age when this happens is 50-52 years. However the transition to menopause (often referred to as peri menopause) can start several years earlier, and the length, and the severity of symptoms, may vary significantly from woman to woman. There are dozens of common symptoms and conditions associated with menopause from an increased risk of heart disease to a decrease in libido, but they don’t just occur in a vacuum - they may be influenced by general health, age and lifestyle factors. Gunter provides detailed but mostly accessible medical facts about the biological process of menopause, its medical ramifications, and a comprehensive guide to treatment options. Useful chapter summaries in point form are provided if you are inclined to skim the denser scientific material. Personal anecdotes and blunt observations from the author ensures the material is rarely dry.
  
  The Menopause Manifesto not only delivers the science but also explores how menopause is perceived (primarily in America and similar cultures). Gunter includes discussion about patriarchal medicine’s tendency to dismiss or minimise the experience of menopause, the culture of shame attached to the transition, and the lack of education surrounding the process. The feminist slant of the book is unapologetic as Gunter encourages women to empower themselves with knowledge so as to better advocate for their own health.
  
  The Menopause Manifesto is a comprehensive, practical resource for all in possession of female reproductive organs. I wish I had read something like this five years ago and strongly recommend that women aged from in their early forties consider educating themselves about menopause well in advance.
• 
  Bookworm

  I was expecting something different. I think this book is fantastic if you are a medical professional wanting to learn more about how to treat patients during the menopause years. It includes many different ailments that women experience and how to treat them. Lots of information about medications and when to prescribe what. I found it too technical though. And to be honest, it left me feeling depressed because there are so many health problems women can experience during and after menopause that I didn’t even know existed! I started worrying that I might one day suffer from some or many of these. Yikes!
• 
  Isil Arican

  Vagina Bible was one of the best books I read, so I was looking forward to publication of The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter again and it did not disappoint! Not to mention how timely it was for me to read it as a woman who started her ups & downs journey into the realm of peri-menopause.
  
  I love Jen Gunter's style: She is factual, informative, fun and can explain complex medical concepts with a plain language and able to fill the gaps between clinical data & social implications, so we can question not only the biological/physiological facts but also the preconceived ideas the society imposes on us regarding women's health.
  
  Menopause Manifesto should be a handbook for every women going through a major stage in their lives (and their partners). It explains the changes in the body, the reasons behind it as well as how to approach various solutions & treatments available. While doing so, it provides science based explanations along with lots of food for thought on how menopausal women are treated in our patriarchal cultures. She provides comparative examples to show the absurdity of some claims & suggestions. For example many women will develop fibroids by the time they reach to menopausal age, and in some cases they are suggested to get a hysterectomy (removal of uterus)- which is fine and potentially a good approach for some. However they are also mostly advised to get oophorectomy along, for the sake of 'preventing future ovarian cancers'. She points out the absurdity of this, by comparing a similar situation in men. No men has been ever offered to get their testicles removed while -say during inguinal hernia operation as a preventative measure for testicular cancer. She gives a great tip related to this biased approach in society: If you are in doubt replace women w/ men in these advices and see how that sounds. If it sounds ridiculous, re-evaluate the advice given to women. Most likely the advice is due to the fact women are seen as 'incubators' in a patriarchal society and the advice revolves around their usefulness.
  
  Dr. Gunter explains the changes happening in the body through menopause journey, goes into the details of preventative strategies for muscle loss, bone loss or other symptoms, details potential interventions from surgical options to hormonal ones with their pros and cons, and explains how 'one size does not fit all' because it is such a personal decision for each woman. She also dissects some claimed 'remedies' that are not supported by science and data in detail, and cautions the reader against them.
  
  As a person who is trained to be a medical doctor, many of the physiological/clinical aspects of this book was known to me to an extent. But I still learned so many new things and found this book extremely useful and fun to read. It even helped me to answer some questions I had on my own health and well being, the questions I was unable to find a solid answers from other resources, including my own doctor. As a result, I am much more informed and feel empowered to make certain decision on how to approach some health issues I am having, or what kinds of support I would need as I step deeper into the realm of menopause.
  
  Vagina Bible was a major gift list item for many of my female friends, and now Menopause Manifesto is also added to the list of amazing gifts I will consider giving to my close age friends.
  
  The last paragraph tells it all:
  "When told by a patriarchal society the story of menopause is one about deserted youth, frailty, and diminished worth. The story I want you to remember is about value, agency, and voice and the knowledge to keep yourself in the best of health while demanding an equal seat at the table. That’s my manifesto."
  
  A solid five star book.
• 
  Dawn

  I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley. I found Gunter's
  The Vagina Bible: The Vulva and the Vagina—Separating the Myth from the Medicine extremely helpful even at my relatively advanced age. Needless to say, I was thrilled to find this latest title all about one of my favorite topics, menopause. (Yes, I lead a fairly sad life.). Gunter presents the information in a way that feels like one your best girlfriends is talking with you and sharing super valuable tips. Add this to her experience as an OB/GYN and you have a great combo. If a book on menopause can be "fun" to read, then this is that book. My only slight criticism is that at times the author takes the feminist slant a bit far in her rebuke of the "patriarchy". I would take that aspect of the book with a grain of salt and just focus on the information she is sharing. As a woman who is deep in menopause (sorry, TMI), I learned a lot about my body and found the book to be reassuring as well as informative about other strategies I might explore with diet, MHT, etc. I think this book would be helpful for women approaching perimenopause, those like myself who are in the thick of it, and even for their partners/loved ones to better understand what the woman-of-a-certain age in their life is going through.
• 
  JP

  This book is very straight forward and told in a relaxing text which put me at ease. I’ve been looking for ANYTHING that would be helpful to help me understand what was happening and how to try to manage my symptoms.
  The author says, this book was created so that we (as women) can better advocate for ourselves and become more educated about our medical needs and choices. I can not express enough how much, if you’re a women that you need to read this! I’ve ordered two copies myself because I’m giving one as a gift! This is a life changer.
  Ive been menopausal for three years and nothings been as helpful or as informative as this book.
  I also want to say that this isn’t just about menopause but a lot of other women’s issues.
  Dr Gunter carefully examines and explains the issue. Then she shares ALL of my available options.
  Hot flashes, memory, depression and osteoporosis were my favorite topics. I could go on forever so I’m just going to list some things about the book. I highly recommend this. You won’t be sorry.
  
  The book discussed symptoms such as:
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Hot flashes
  • Night flashes
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Brain Fog (cognitive changes)
  • Joint pain
  Along with medical conditions such as:
  • Heart disease
  • Osteoporosis
  • Dementia
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Depression
  • Metabolic syndrome
  • Diabetes
  • UTI
  Thanks Citadel Press, HighBridge Audio via Netgalley.
  
  Quotes from the book:
  
  “If menopause were on Yelp it would have one star.”
  
  “Menopause is puberty in reverse.”
• 
  Trisha

  Is it ever wrong to find out more about female health? No, I don't think it is! I'm in!
• 
  Coffee&Books

  I'm increasingly interested in the enigma that is the human body, specifically this point in life when things that have been working as designed (or not) for so long chug to a stop and we enter another stage in life. This book is conversational, bringing bodily functions and explanations down to a layperson's level, which I appreciated. There's a lot of history, a lot of biology, much of which, as the author stated, could be found in the vagina bible, so I felt it could be left out, but for the sake of a complete guide, I understand why it was included.
  
  There was no ground breaking or lightbulb revelations- if you've searched symptoms of menopause and 'what does this mean?' you know all of this info, anyway. The benefit is having all of those internet searches in one book. This would be a great book to have in print so the reader could highlight, tab and reference, especially part 3 which can be read in full or in parts.
  
  I had a hysterectomy and kept my ovaries, so I don't have clues like menses grinding to a halt to clue me into menopause. This book is a useful guide to the process, and all involved.
• 
  Sonja

  Dry as dust. (no pun intended)
• 
  Rain

  I’m not there yet, but I can see the proverbial menopausal storm off on the horizon. Hence feeling it was a good time to read this one.
  
  I don’t understand the complaints that this book spoke too much about the patriarchy. It’s the title of the book, this is a feminist book about menopause.

  There’s a common fallacy that women were never “meant” to experience menopause. This assertion claims that menopause is an accidental state that resulted from longer life expectancies from modern sanitation and medicine, allowing women to live beyond their ovarian function. A benevolent patriarchal society allowed the failings of women — menopause — to be uncovered. The tenacity of this myth is testament to the impact of patriarchal dogma. Erasing menopausal women from history is literally reducing women to the functioning of their uterus and ovaries. When something feels off balance I replace the word “women” with “men” to see how it sounds. If it sounds reasonable I’m more likely to consider the hypothesis worthy of further evaluation, but if we would never speak about men that way, then there’s going to be a lot of side eye on my part. Has anyone ever in the history of medicine ever uttered these words?
  
  “Through good sanitation and health care, men are now living long enough to develop erectile dysfunction?”
  
  Doubtful.

  This book contains hard facts. Lots and lots of history, too much imo, the history bogs down the pertinent information. I was really interested in her thoughts on what is offered to pre and post menopausal bodies. Having watched my own mother suffer through the ‘cold turkey’ withdrawals from HRT back when everyone was terrified of it.
  
  Since we all have very different bodies and backgrounds, we need to do the hard research ourselves, and this book is one tool of many for that information.
• 
  Jenna Freedman

  Good writing, like the Yelp! review at the beginning, which ends. "And the sex was dry" lolsob, but I couldn't, in good conscience, finish or recommend at book that felt trans exclusionary. Men experience perimenopause, too; womanhood isn't exclusive to producing estrogen, etc.
  
  She also has that arrogant doctor thing going, being sure to point out that she started medical school at 20, and how perimenopause was easier for her because she understood what was going on with her body, and she's kind of being a missionary to us ignorant savages explaining our bodies to us. Even if it's true I don't understand what's going on with my body, I don't need to be patronized.
• 
  Sophie

  An excellent reference guide for women over 40. Well explained and easy to read. I’ll definitely buy the paper copy once published. Thank you for this ARC.
• 
  Barbara (The Bibliophage)

  Originally published on my book blog,
  TheBibliophage.com.
  
  Dr. Jen Gunther, MD is my new chief explainer of women’s health. Her upcoming book, The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism is brilliant. It’s an utterly necessary addition to every 35+ woman’s bookshelf. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore and pre-order a copy. Then, start reading on its May 25 publication date.
  
  So, what makes it so great? Simple. Gunther balances evidence-based medical advice with feminist observations about menopause and women’s health. For example, she gives readers the low down the medical perspective on sexuality during the menopause transition. At the same time, she repeatedly notes the differences in how we treat the aging man’s sexuality with dignity and the aging woman’s sexuality with scorn. And frankly, it’s just plain ignored as a valid concern for women “of a certain age.” (See my recent review of
  Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men.)
  
  The topics Gunther covers are broad. She discusses whether to take lots of supplements, change your diet, and get more exercise. And details the reasons why or why not. But what sets her apart is the common-sense medical information. If you need details about how the hormonal changes around menopause work, this book is for you. Gunther also includes when they generally start and when they may start to settle down. She explains the way various medically based hormone treatments work. The terminology used over the years is confusing and Gunther defines bioidentical hormones with plenty about what aspects are just hype.
  
  Every topic women in their 40s and 50s wonder about is covered here. Gunther includes hot flashes, insomnia, skin and hair changes, breast health, weight, and so much more.
  
  My conclusions
  As a post-menopausal woman, I wondered if this book would provide information I didn’t know. It absolutely did! I found possible solutions to try for some typical issues.
  
  On Goodreads, a friend in her early 40s asked if it’s too early to read The Menopause Manifesto. I encouraged her to give it a try. There is a LOT of information about the whole menopause transition, starting with peri menopause. A younger woman might not need everything right now. On the other hand, a trusted resource like this would definitely help. Navigating menopause is all about feeling informed and therefore in more control.
  
  And let me say one more time, I love the feminist perspective that Gunther adds to her medical information. She minces no words in calling out the patriarchy. Sometimes she does so by explaining the truly wild historical remedies. And then reminding us that we are sadly still moving past the fallacies about menopause.
  
  Our society treats women’s aging process, including menopause as an illness. It is not. And Gunther gives women the tools to make sure their doctors’ treat them with respect and dignity. She also gives them permission to move on and find better doctors by teaching them what is hogwash and what is evidence-based medicine.
  
  If you need a solid reference book to support your menopausal transition and healthy aging process, I recommend The Menopause Manifesto.
  
  
  Pair with Darcey Steinke’s terrific memoir,
  Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life.
  
  Acknowledgements
  Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books / Citadel, and the author for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for this honest review.
• 
  Kitty

  see ei olnud vast kõige lihtsam ja sujuvam lugemine (biokeemia, või tegelt üldse keemia, ei ole mu suurimate huvide hulka kunagi kuulnud), aga see oli hullult vajalik, sest... mida me teame menopausist? ma ausalt tunnistan, ma ei teadnud mitte midagi. seda puberteedivärki õpetati koolis ja sellest oli muidu kõvasti juttu, ja kogu lastesaamise või -mittesaamise teema tegin endale ka nii umbes 25 aastat tagasi olude sunnil selgeks, aga menopaus oleks küll vabalt võinud täiesti nii kohale jõuda, et ma poleks osanud midagi oodata ega arvata kogu loost. mis juhtuma hakkab, millal, miks, kas see on normaalne, kas see on valus, kas seda ravida saab, kas seda ravida tuleb?
  
  raamatu lugemise järel on pilt kõvasti selgem. see oli tegelikult kõik täitsa huvitav ka, kuigi tõesti, hormoonid on... keerulised. ja mis täpselt juhtuma hakkab, näeb ikkagi siis, kui ta juhtuma hakkab ja võib ka juhtuda, et ei juhtugi midagi erilist (ja mis puutub sellesse, millal, siis see selgub tagantjärele). meditsiin on teadus küll, aga tundub kuidagi, et mitte päris täppisteadus?
  
  igatahes sai siit kena ülevaate sellest, millised muudatused naise kehas menopausiga seoses tekivad (ja millised tekivad menopausi ajal vananemisega seoses ja kuidas need kaks omavahel suhestuvad) ja mida saab teha erinevate sümptomite leevendamiseks ja milliste terviseriskidega arvestada tuleb. mingeid lihtsaid lahendusi kuskil ei paista ja kõik äärmused on halvad, nii et ei ole nt ühest vastust, et kas kõigile hormoonravi või ei mingit hormoonravi. sõltub olukorrast ja ravitavast. aa, ja selgub, et "bioidentsed hormoonid" on puhas skämm ja neist tuleks eemale hoida. nagu ka suurest osast muust "loodusravist" ja toidulisanditest - paremal juhul ei ole neist midagi kasu, halvemal juhul sünnib lausa kahju.
  
  nagu ikka asjalikumates tervisteemalistes aruteludes, jõutakse ka siin paraku järeldusele, et imeravimeid pole, aga et ülekaalust hoidumine, regulaarne trenn ja mittesuitsetamine on ikkagi tõestatult väga abiks, et kogu see elumuutus meeldivamalt laabuks.
  
  ahjaa, pealkirjas lubatud feminismi on ka kenasti paras tervislik doos hulgas, meenutatakse, et paljud menopausiga seotud eelarvamused (mh see, et sellest ei räägita peaaegu üldse) on ikkagi puhtalt patriarhaadi mõju ja et aitab sest jamast. mina olen nõus. hakkame menopausist rääkima ja nõuame meditsiinilt oma sümptomitele leevendust, ärme lepi vastusega, et "ealised iseärasused" ja et nüüd nii tulebki elada.
• 
  Lindsay Van

  3.5 stars. While I think I’m
  Still a number of years away from
  Menopause, I think there is a real lack of information about this big change in a woman’s life and wanted to know more. Dr Jen Gunter is an OBGYN from
  Winnipeg who lives in California. She is a vocal detractor of snake oil peddlers such as dr oz and gwyneth Paltrow. She sets the record straight here on good solid Information about what happens to a woman’s body around age 50, stuff that I have never learned myself (except for maybe a small section in nursing school that I don’t remember). She also breaks down different therapies for the symptoms of menopause, including different medications. It’s a book I will prob reference in the years to come as its science based and provides good advice to bring up with your health care provider.
• 
  Deb

  I was looking for a source with facts and information about menopause that was anchored in research. This book delivered, hands down. The author, a well-respected OB/Gyn, also brought an unabashed feminist lens, calling out stereotypes, sexism and inequities, while reinforcing that women deserve truthful information in order to make decisions that are right for our bodies. She peppered in levity and candor which kept the book engaging. I recommend this book for anyone who is nearing menopause.
• 
  Angela

  I listened to this on audio because I wanted to add it to my list of recommendations for yoga students entering menopause.
  
  It is so long - 13 hours.
  
  A large portion of that duration is precise, easy-to-understand descriptions of physiological processes. I learned so much, about cardiovascular health, hormonal changes, thermoregulation, and so on. Complex topics are explained in ways that are not overly simplistic, and truly are fascinating. Clearly the author is fascinated by the material, in a way that makes her a great teacher of it.
  
  So I'm really glad this book exists, for this reason. It's a direct, easily readable way to brush up on a lot of health topics that otherwise you'd rely on the internet and your doctor to understand. Most people will want to have this level of understanding of their own systems before interacting with any medical bureaucracy around menopause time. For a long time, it wasn't so easy to just know what to expect and how to interpret doctors' advice. I'm grateful that access to information like this is getting easier all the time now.
  
  However, I'm concerned this book would severely annoy many readers. At least if you went in expecting the author to be a certain kind of ally. So I'm hesitant to recommend it. Especially since - given the highly marketable nature of this topic (on which more below) - there are likely to be other entries in the market soon.
  
  There are three big things going on in the book that I would expect to distract most people from the science education.
  
  1. It has a lot of words about how patriarchy is bad, but most of the book is about strengthening whatever it is the patriarchy might be. The first place this is apparent is in the foreword, which says some words about being trans-inclusionary.
  
  But the entire book is a very hard core trans-exclusionary project. Paragraph by paragraph, it transmits a kind of feminism that is not only a handmaiden to capitalism and specifically the pharmaceutical industry, but also a kind of feminism that reifies the gender binary.
  
  Whatever patriarchy might be, it's definitely fortified by ideological projects such as this.
  
  2. It's an advertisement for the pharmaceutical industry.
  
  The author drops the idea of "lifestyle factors" for justifying HRT early in the text, and spends many chapters subtly justifying this before getting into the big sell. We're also carefully urged not to judge anyone in any way. This is a "safe space" free of shame (not really, but this is how the text pre-insulates itself from critique).
  
  "Lifestyle factors" is code for the consumer mindset. Capitalism offers us a certain lifestyle, and sometimes we need to add new forms of consumption to keep that lifestyle intact - to go on being good consumers. Lifestyle is the language of big pharma reps. Watch for it.
  
  But before we even get to the sell on HRT, we get the pharma perspective on everything else. Drugs and surgery are even offered as co-equal options for weight loss, as compared to addressing the diet.
  
  Feminism sells now. Sells extremely well. So it's the central brand strategy of the book. But in this case the feminism is inextricably intertwined with big pharma. The industry isn't subjected to ANY sort of questioning about its oppressive, unequal or oppressive nature. It's marketed as the SOLUTION to the problem of misogyny. And, in some ways, big Pharma can also bu the solution to the problem of menopause.
  
  There's a lot of different ways to do feminism. Neoliberal Pharma-feminism is definitely one of them. I suspect this book and all the add-ons around it will sell extremely well, and that it'll be the beginning of a genre of Big Pheminism. But the internal contradictions of such a project are already emerging....
  
  3. It teaches a very limited version of feminism, one which is already giving rise to internal contradictions.
  
  The rants are long. The rants are not substantive. And the rants 100% distract the reader from real critical thinking about the intersection of the medical system and gender. I imagine the rants are there because they are meant to appeal to a certain sort of reader. But it's pretty hard to BE that reader. The worldview just doesn't hold water.
  
  Many of the rants are expressions of righteous anger here about the connotations of words in the medical system. Like the word "exhausted" for certain reproductive material. Or "flash" instead of "flush." Ok.
  
  And yet the author uses a whole other set of words to subtly encourage us to see the change as a problem. A problem Big Pharma can fix. Negative words are ok if it's part of the marketing project whereby we name a problem and offer a solution.
  
  Another rant that shows up in the book is not focused on words, but rather on women not having enough access to prescription drugs. For example, "medical misogyny" is defined as women having fewer prescriptions for statins than men. So the solution to misogyny? More prescriptions.
  
  Back to negative connotations of certain words around menopause - for example "hot flashes." A lot of medical language portrayed as deeply offensive, maybe because it's not the language you, yourself chose. So, the feminist thing to do in this case is use any words you want for the hot times: hot flushes, hot blooms, "or even power surges." This is liberation. Ok.
  
  Meantime, more and more as the book progresses, the author uses negatively connoting words for menopause symtoms - the thermoregulation system and other biological processes "suddenly" become "wonky," for example. The side effects of hot flushes are "gross." Following directly on passages decrying the male establishment for insensitive language, this terminology is part of book length advertisement for pharmaceuticals. The essence of the marketing is that you have to think menopause is unnatural and a problem - for drugs to be the "empowering" solution.
  
  The misogyny the text describes is never located in the pharmaceutical industry or in capitalism itself.
  
  In one case, the problem is the idea of physical fitness. Having to sit through an awards ceremony where other children received a fitness award is described as a "trauma" whose effects lasted decades - it is this trauma that is blamed for the author not going to a gym and being out of shape during that time. Sterotypified men at gyms are also a problem. And hiring a personal trainer is the feminist thing done to redress the trauma of everyone not getting the same medal. I got a bit lost here and elsewhere. I think whatever feminism is for this world view, it is where you buy goods and services to redress inequalities. It does not have to do with systematic critiques of legal and medical structures that lock gender domination in place.
  
  So the mood of the book is characterized by consumer empowerment, in a way that insulates the profit-driven medical system itself from any sort of scrutiny.
  
  It's still such a great resource for talking to your doctor. There is just lot of bathwater that comes along with this baby.
  
  Again, the author is so good on medical topics, but if you're reading this review I am guessing the author's compromising of her own credibility could make this a tough read.
  
  Yet I don't think it's possible to just ignore the hard sell here. The book is being marketed to us with feminism. Feminism is branding here. And it's a specific, well, bio-powered feminism. In this world there is a problem (YOUR problem), and there is a solution: drugs prescribed by your doctor, and paid for by your health insurance.
  
  The critique - EMPOWER YOURSELF WITH FACTS AND FEMINISM- is real. It's true in some ways. And it is also a mask. (It's what keeps you from looking at the system.) And it's a brand. This kind of feminism is quite literally being sold and bought here in a transactional way.
  
  There are lots of feminisms out there in the world now. Let a thousand flowers bloom. This one - Big Pheminism - is suspiciously large, suspiciously bright, and it's right in the center of the field.
• 
  Chantal Côté

  3.5 stars
  
  Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary e-arc in exchange for my honest review..
  
  First of all, I am going through menopause and felt I wasn’t sufficiently informed. First part of the book about the history of menopause and then the medical part were difficult to read. I admit to skipping some of it.I liked the fact that the author shared where research are nowadays and rejects most .of them.
  
  My preferred part was on nutrition and supplements.
  
  I was interested in finding out how hair and skin can be impacted by menopause but it was not covered in this book.
  
  I would recommend this book only if you are considering hormone therapy. The book convinced me you can’t rely on anything but your doctor’s advice!
• 
  Jen W

  Excellent! Lots of good information, presented in an easy to follow and understandable way. Listened to the audio book which was read by the author. You could really hear her passion for women’s health and being our own advocates.