Perimenopause and menopause are natural stages of life, which are marked by a series of physical and emotional changes. The experience can be complex and challenging, with seemingly a lot of information out there, so I wrote this article to share a handpicked selection of books on menopause (& perimenopause) that I’ve come across that are both educational and empowering.
During perimenopause and menopause, knowledge is power, and finding the right resources to guide you through this transition is essential. Whether you’re approaching this life stage or supporting someone who is, these books on menopause will provide valuable insights, practical advice, and emotional support to help you navigate this journey.
Must Read Books On Menopause
So, let’s dive in; from coping with hot flashes to understanding the emotional rollercoaster of your menopause transition, these books on menopause will be your comprehensive guide to finding the information and inspiration you need to work with your body, not against it.
Next Level
Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond is written by best-selling author Dr Stacy Sims and Selene Yeager. I bought Next Level as soon as it was published in 2022, as the ‘next level’ after reading Dr Sims previous book, Roar!
This book is very much rooted in physiology and research, aimed at active women but as a Personal Trainer myself, I’m a huge advocate for the benefits of being physically active no matter what stage of life you’re in.
“For active women, menopause hits hard. Overnight, your body doesn’t feel like the one you know and love anymore–you’re battling new symptoms, might be gaining weight, losing endurance and strength, and taking longer to bounce back from workouts that used to be easy. The things that have always kept you fit and healthy just seem to stop working the way they used to.”
– Next Level
The book covers everything starting with the science (physiology) of menopause, right through to how to perform (in your sport or activity), plus the nutrition and mental health side of things.
It does also cover Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) plus natural alternatives such as adaptogens and other interventions. When it comes to MHT, it really is one of those things you need to “try on” for yourself to see if it does or doesn’t work for you, and this book supports that school of thought.
Like Dr Stacy Sims though, I’m also a huge fan of adaptogens which are plants that increase your body’s resistance to stress, so over time you experience less stress. I’m gonna cover a bit more about menopause supplements I’ve tried and tested but Next Level is a great place to start reading.
Black and Menopausal
This new book, Black and Menopausal: Intimate Stories of Navigating the Change is a personal collection of stories bringing together a wide range of Black experiences on the menopause journey. This book is important because there are a lot of factors which can affect the symptoms you experience, as well as when you enter your menopausal years but race and ethnicity also play a role.
According to data, women of colour tend to enter perimenopause and menopause earlier than their peers, have longer transition periods and experience more intense symptoms and hot flashes (Sims, 2022)
Black and Menopausal does a beautiful job to draw on the historical and cultural importance of storytelling traditions in African and Caribbean ancestry to break through what is still often seen as a taboo topic.
The book also draws on different intersectionalities of being Black, including various heritages, sexual orientations, ages, and gender identities which creates an “intimate treasury of journeys full of honesty, pain, healing, and liberation”.
Topics on emotional, mental, and sexual health as well as complementary therapies are all discussed with empathy and sincerity, allowing the reader to broaden their depth of understanding on the experiences of Black people impacted by the menopause.
Perimenopause Power
As premenopausal, I read Period Power by Maisie Hill and it honestly was the catalyst to changing my life. I loved that she covered even the political aspects of periods so I have no doubt that this book will be just as epic and thought provoking.
“During perimenopause three quarters of women will experience symptoms such as mood changes, insomnia, hot flushes, and weight gain, but there is little in the way of evidence-based information out there to help and guide us. Perimenopause Power is the essential handbook to understanding what the hell’s going on and to empower us to improve our experience of the dreaded ‘change’.”
Perimenopause Power
Maisie Hill, is a women’s health expert, who with her writing, takes us through the physiological changes of perimenopause and menopause, step by step, with calm positivity. In this invaluable guide – Perimenopause Power: Navigating your hormones on the journey to menopause – she shares tips and advice to support women through the challenge of wildly fluctuating hormones.
It’s yet another well-researched, evidenced-based book on perimenopause and menopause, packed with practical advice and information you might need to address hormonal needs.
The New Rules of Menopause
This next two menopause book recommendation comes from friend and fellow Cycling Coach Alison Wood. Alison’s forever sharing episodes of ‘Press Play Not Pause’ podcast with me so I knew she would have a book recommendation or two.
The New Rules of Menopause: A Mayo Clinic guide to perimenopause and beyond by Dr. Stephanie S. Faubion which steps in to fill the gaping hole as the definitive guide to the menopause transition.
The book guides you through understanding menopause, managing it, and thriving in the years that follow, over the course of three main sections. Published in 2023, the content is new and updated to acknowledge the diversity of the menopause experience.
It also includes a historical perspective on menopause, discussion of the current “femtech” boom and how to be a savvy health care consumer. All in addition to expanded information on understanding and managing perimenopause, and the latest wisdom and tools to manage menopause symptoms such as mood changes, brain fog and dry skin.
Menopausing
Now, this book gets an honourable mention for the fact that Davina McCall has done a lot for the visibility of midlife women. Her book, Menopausing, a self-help guide to help you cope with symptoms and live your best life during menopause has been a part of that.
The book was written with the intention of building an empowered, supportive community to break the terrible silence surrounding menopause and depending on your perspective, they may or may not have succeeded.
Menopausing has a free accompanying Facebook group community called Menopausing and Me. But I don’t recommend you join as it isn’t heavily monitored and the vibe is quite depressing if I’m honest.
There’s ALOT of discussion in the group about Hormone Replacement Therapy and a lot of women desperately seeking advice and sharing their menopause experience.
Through the book and community, they explore and explain the science, debunking damaging each menopause myth. Also aiming to smash the taboos around the perimenopause and menopause. It’s a practical guide with useful resources which can equipt women to make informed decisions about their health… and their lives.
Menopausing also celebrates individual stories, enabling women to feel less alone and more understood to talk openly and positively about menopause. This sentiment definitely extends to the community on Facebook too.
I hope you enjoy whichever of these books on menopause that you choose. They’re a much needed and welcome alternative to some of the menopause content (and myths) that’ve been around far too long.
Menopause really seems to be a current hot topic, and I hope that’s for all the right reasons.
Got another menopause book not mentioned here you can recommend?
Elle
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