Table of Contents
Introduction: The Manifesto ix
Part 1 Reclaiming the Change: Understanding Your Body as an Act of Feminism
1 A Second Coming of Age: Why Menopause Matters 3
2 The History and Language of Menopause: From a Critical Age to the Change 13
3 The Biology of Menopause: The Brain-Ovary Connection 25
4 The Evolutionary Advantage of Menopause: A Sign of Strength, Not Weakness 38
5 The Timing of Menopause: Understanding the Clock 48
6 When Periods and Ovulation Stop Before Age Forty: Why it Happens and the Recommended Medical Care 62
Part 2 Understanding the Change: What to Expect When You're Expecting Menopause
7 Metamorphoses of Menopause: Changes in Strength, Size, and Shape 71
8 The Heart of the Matter: Cardiovascular Disease 86
9 Is It Hot in Here or Is It Just Me? Vasomotor Symptoms and How to Quench the Fire 95
10 Menstrual Mayhem: Abnormal Bleeding and What to Do About It 114
11 Bone Health: The Basics of Bone Biology, Osteoporosis, and Preventing Fractures 132
12 This Is Your Brain on Menopause: Brain Fog, Depression, and Dementia 148
13 The Vagina and Vulva: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause and the Therapies 160
14 Bladder Health: Breaking the Culture of Silence 179
15 Let's Talk About Sex: The Complicated Story of Desire 190
16 Will I Ever Feel Rested Again? Sleep Disturbances and How to Tackle Them 205
Part 3 Therapy for the Change: Hormones, Diets, and Supplements
17 Menopausal Hormone Therapy: The Messy History and Where We Are Today 213
18 The Cinematic Universe of Hormones: What MHT Is Right for You? 232
19 Phytoestrogens, Food, and Hormones: Facts and Fads 247
20 Bioidenticals, Naturals, and Compounding: Separating the Medicine from the Marketing 258
21 Meno-Diets: What Makes a Healthy Menopause and Beyond 270
22 Menoceuticals: Supplements and Menopause 284
23 Contraception and the Menopause Transition: Pregnancy Prevention and Menstrual Management 304
Part 4 Taking Charge of the Change
24 Welcome to My Menoparty: How an OB/GYN Tackles Menopause 323
25 Final Thoughts: Putting It All Together 329
Supplementary Material Supplemental Tables 337
Appendices 342
Selected References 344
Acknowledgments 355
Index 357