The only thing predictable about menopause is its unpredictability. Factor in widespread misinformation, a lack of research, and the culture of shame around women's bodies, and it's no wonder women are unsure what to expect during the menopause transition and beyond.
Menopause is not a disease--it's a planned change, like puberty. And just like puberty, we should be educated on what's to come years in advance, rather than the current practice of leaving people on their own with bothersome symptoms and too much conflicting information. Knowing what is happening, why, and what to do about it is both empowering and reassuring. Dr. Jen debunks misogynistic attitudes and challenges the over-mystification of menopause to reveal everything you really need to know.
The Menopause Manifesto presents a detailed and intelligent discussion of the biological processes that women experience during their lives. Women reading this book will be reminded they are more than the sum of their parts. The value women bring to the human species neither begins nor ends with their reproductive abilities ... One of the most interesting aspects of this book is Gunter’s obvious belief that women understand what is happening during menopause, want more information, and are ill-served by the medical profession ... Reading The Menopause Manifesto is empowering. It is invigorating and lets reader know that what is happening during menopause is normal, is not a disease, and need not be endured ... The Menopause Manifesto prepares women to make considerable noise to promote their own health.
Through a combination of personal anecdotes, hard science, and medical advice, [Gunter] breaks menopause down into its component parts, robbing it of its shame and secrecy ... Gunter notes that patriarchal social structures mean that a woman’s worth is weighed based on her youth and fertility, and that gender and racial bias in the medical profession also increase the risk of women with symptoms of menopause being dismissed ... The book is organized in a way that makes it possible to pick and choose what to read based on need and curiosity. Each chapter ends with a useful summary, and diagrams help to illustrate the book’s statistics. Additional material toward the book’s end delves further into medications and science.The Menopause Manifesto is practical as it reclaims menopause from myths, educating and empowering its audience in equal measure.
I didn’t expect this book to make me cry, but it did ... The Menopause Manifesto is equal parts medical guide and manifesto. Alongside evidence-based information about what menopause does to the body and about current interventions, we also learn about the many ways misogyny and the patriarchy have been harming women and those who were assigned female at birth ... I walked away from The Menopause Manifesto feeling empowered because I had several new choices I was able to put into action right away ... If your field of fucks is completely barren and you just want some straightforward, evidence-based information served with a healthy dose of snark and the occasional jab at pseudoscience and Gwyneth Paltrow, this will be the book for you. It’s comprehensive and empowering without being overwhelming, and explains so much of the WTF? that is confusing and mysterious about menopause.
