Books and podcasts can help demystify the experience of menopause and perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, but many titles are rampant with misinformation. To help you sort through the options, here are recommendations from experts in the field.
"The Menopause Guidebook" by the North American Menopause Society. This was the most recommended title by the experts. Rebecca C. Thurston, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, said it is "the most rigorous, evidence-based information about menopause and its management."
"The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts and Feminism" by Dr. Jen Gunter. "Dr. Gunter's claims can be backed up by the science," said Dr. Nanette Santoro, a menopause researcher and professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She added that the book steers clear of pseudoscience and unproven treatments.
"The Natural Menopause Method: A Nutritional Guide Through Perimenopause and Beyond" by Karen Newby. This book is for anyone interested in adjusting their diet during perimenopause and menopause.
"What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, and Other Indignities and You" by Heather Corinna. Corinna has been a champion of sex and relationship education. "What Fresh Hell is This?" has helped make the literature on perimenopause more inclusive, said Dr. Mary Jacobson, the chief medical officer for Hello Alpha, a telemedicine service for women.
"The Complete Guide to the Menopause: Your Tool Kit to Take Control and Achieve Life-Long Health" by Annice Mukherjee. Dr. Mukherjee, an endocrinologist in the United Kingdom, offers a road map for dealing with aspects of perimenopause, including how to handle it at work and when to consider hormone therapy.
"Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond" by Rachel Lankester. Ms. Lankester blends personal narratives with evidence-based research to help women handle the emotional and physical changes during perimenopause and menopause, as well as how to redefine their priorities.
"Black Girl's Guide to Surviving Menopause" hosted by Omisade Burney-Scott. Menopause is not just about hormone replacement and hot flashes - it is a physical, cultural and political experience. The host creates a warm space for Black women, transgender and gender-expansive people to share thier stories and to discuss issues such as intimacy, vulnerability, race and shifting identity. Research shows that Black women experience differently. Listen to learn.