What Women Know – and Don’t – about Perimenopause
Each year, approximately 2 million women in the US enter perimenopause – the transitional phase leading up to...
At Inflexxion Health, we’re big readers so we’ve assembled a reading list of great books about menopause.
The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts
Author: Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Publication Date: April 30, 2024
Summary: A #1 New York Times bestseller that provides a comprehensive, science-backed guide to everything women need to know about menopause. Dr. Haver, a board-certified OB/GYN and menopause specialist, offers an A-to-Z toolkit for managing symptoms ranging from hot flashes to brain fog, cardiovascular risks, and sleep disruption. The book emphasizes empowerment through self-advocacy and includes the latest research on hormone replacement therapy benefits and risks.
Estrogen Matters: Why Taking Hormones in Menopause Can Improve and Lengthen Women's Lives — Without Raising the Risk of Breast Cancer
Author: Dr. Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris, PhD
Publication Date: First published 2018, revised edition 2024
Summary: A compelling defense of hormone replacement therapy that challenges the widely misinterpreted Women's Health Initiative study. The authors, a medical oncologist and social psychologist, present evidence that HRT can improve women's health and longevity without increasing breast cancer risk, providing a critical review of the science behind the anti-hormone therapy movement.
The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence
Author: Dr. Lisa Mosconi, PhD (with foreword by Maria Shriver)
Publication Date: March 12, 2024
Summary: An instant New York Times bestseller from a world-renowned neuroscientist specializing in women's brain health. Dr. Mosconi explains how menopause affects the brain, not just the ovaries, revealing the connection between declining estrogen and cognitive changes. The book covers cutting-edge hormone replacement therapies, lifestyle changes, and dispels the myth that menopause signifies an end, showing how women can emerge with enhanced brain function.
Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy
Author: Dr. Sharon Malone
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
Summary: A New York Times bestseller and NPR Best Book of the Year that serves as both medical handbook and empowering guide, particularly for women of color. Dr. Malone, an OB/GYN with over 30 years of experience, provides practical advice on navigating the healthcare system, advocating for better care, and understanding menopause as part of comprehensive women's health throughout the lifespan.
The New Rules of Menopause
Author: Dr. Stephanie S. Faubion (Medical Editor)
Publication Date: 2023
Summary: Published by Mayo Clinic Press, this guide is divided into three main parts: understanding menopause, managing it, and thriving afterward. Dr. Faubion, director of Mayo Clinic's Women's Health Clinic, provides updated content on diverse menopause experiences, current femtech trends, expanded perimenopause information, and the latest tools for symptom management.
Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause
Author: Naomi Watts (with foreword by Dr. Mary Claire Haver)
Publication Date: January 21, 2025
Summary: A New York Times bestseller that blends personal storytelling with expert advice from a celebrated actress who experienced early menopause at age 36. Written in a conversational, girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone, Watts shares funny and poignant stories alongside advice from doctors, hormone experts, and nutritionists. The book tackles practical questions about hormone therapy, sleep, libido, skincare, and identity changes, aiming to remove stigma and shame from menopause discussions.
The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health During the Change
Author: Dr. Christiane Northrup
Publication Date: Originally 2001, updated editions available
Summary: A comprehensive guide that views menopause as an opportunity for growth and transformation. Dr. Northrup combines medical expertise with holistic approaches, addressing physical symptoms while emphasizing the psychological and spiritual aspects of this life transition, encouraging women to embrace their wisdom and power.
The Complete Guide to Menopause: How to Navigate Your Hormones, Health, and Happiness After 40
Author: Dr. Anna Cabeca
Publication Date: 2020
Summary: An integrative approach to menopause that combines traditional medicine with functional medicine principles. Dr. Cabeca, a gynecologist and functional medicine expert, provides strategies for optimizing hormones naturally, addressing root causes of symptoms, and maintaining vitality throughout the menopausal transition.
The Slow Moon Climbs: The Science, History, and Meaning of Menopause
Author: Susan P. Mattern
Publication Date: 2019
Summary: A unique historical and cultural perspective on menopause that examines how different societies have viewed this life stage throughout history. Mattern, a historian, explores the evolution of medical understanding of menopause while challenging ageist and sexist assumptions about women's value beyond their reproductive years.
