Finally, a clear explanation of menopause.
Irregular periods. Night sweats. Poor sleep. Mood changes you can’t explain. Conflicting headlines about hormone therapy. If you’re approaching or going through menopause, it’s easy to feel confused about what is happening and what your options really are.
Understanding Menopause is an evidence-informed guide written for everyday readers. It explains the menopause transition from the earliest signs of perimenopause through the years after, without hype, fear, or oversimplification.
What you’ll learn:
- What actually happens in your body during perimenopause and menopause, and why symptoms vary so much from woman to woman
- How to tell perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause apart, including early, premature, and surgical menopause
- The full range of symptoms, from hot flashes and sleep problems to brain fog, joint aches, and vaginal and urinary changes, plus the warning signs that need medical attention
- How menopause is diagnosed, and why most women over 45 don’t need hormone tests
- How hormone therapy works, the different types and forms, and what “bioidentical” really means
- The benefits and risks of hormone therapy, the Women’s Health Initiative, and what the FDA’s 2025 and 2026 labeling changes did and did not change
- FDA-approved and off-label non-hormonal prescription options, including newer medications
- Which lifestyle approaches and supplements research supports, and which it doesn’t
- How menopause affects your bones, heart, metabolism, sexual health, mood, sleep, and memory
Built for real conversations with your healthcare professional.
Each chapter includes key takeaways, and the book includes symptom-tracking exercises, question lists for appointments, safety callouts, comparison tables, a glossary, a frequently asked questions section, and a list of reputable resources.
Current and carefully researched.
The research in this edition was last verified in September 2026 and draws on sources including the FDA, NIH, The Menopause Society, the US Preventive Services Task Force, and peer-reviewed studies. A full reference list is included.
This ebook is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It has not been independently reviewed by a clinician.