A Great New Book About Menopause
My new go-to reference book from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
I’ve long held the position that reading at least one reputable book about menopause should be required for women in their forties. We only get one body - shouldn’t we all have at least a basic understanding of what’s happening with it?
But also, so few doctors are adequately prepared to treat menopausal women which means we need reliable foundational information so we can advocate for the care we need and deserve.
I previously reviewed six great options here, and have another to add to the list. It’s called Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Wants You to Know, published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Here are my thoughts:
What I liked: Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Wants You to Know is incredibly thorough with accurate, up-to-date information by a reputable organization with strict standards. The book is very well-organized and the information easy to read and understand - it’s my new go-to reference book for menopause topics I want to learn more about.
I also appreciate that the book is published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Why? Because I think the information in the book would be particularly well-received by health practitioners who don’t know enough about the menopause transition to appropriately treat symptoms. It would be a great book to take to medical appointments to help your provider better understand what is happening in your body, assuming they haven’t had the appropriate training (and most haven’t).
What I didn’t like: Although the book was written for all women going through the menopause transition, it looks incredibly clinical. The cover design would be fine for a medical publication, but doesn’t feel appropriate for the subset of women it was actually written for. I can see a lot of women - including myself - passing up on this incredible resource simply because it looks designed for medical providers. And I think that’s a shame.
Also, the title feels a bit misleading. I feel like a more accurate title is, Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Should Want You to Know but if We’re Being Honest They Probably Need to Read This Book as Much as You Do.
While Ob-Gyn’s are more likely to have had menopause training than other doctors, training is still the exception rather than the rule. One 2023 study reported that only 31% of Ob-Gyn residents had a menopause curriculum during their residency and only 29% had any dedicated time assigned to a menopause clinic.
Who this book is for: if you want a well-organized book on menopause from a reputable organization that your medical provider will respect, this book is for you.
You can buy Menopause: What Your Ob-Gyn Wants You to Know at Bookshop here.
xo, Rebecca
P.S. Definitely not taking me down.