This post was originally published on Audible.com.
Women's health issues are under-researched, underfunded, and underdiagnosed across the board, plagued by inaccessibility, discrimination, and silence. It's hardly surprising, then, that menopause is a subject that remains taboo socially and in health care settings alike. In a world where "women's health" is stigmatized and characterized by a distinct lack of research, it's all the more important for women, those assigned female at birth, and all those who experience menopause to have access to accurate, useful, and helpful information about "the change."
Luckily, there is no shortage of authors breaking down those barriers and speaking openly about their own experiences with menopause and women’s health. These fascinating, deeply important listens embrace the topic of menopause and aging, examine women's health from new angles, and encourage open conversations about health, well-being, and aging.
Nonfiction
Samantha Bee wants to talk about menopause.
Okay, she actually doesn’t want to, but she must. Half of the world’s population will spend one third of their lives in it, yet it’s been completely shrouded in secrecy—until now. The Emmy Award-winning host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee shares everything she has learned in her new one-woman show, How to Survive Menopause. Because everyone needs that one best friend who will keep it real for them—like, really real. Performed for a sold-out crowd at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre and now available in audio, this is the hilarious, soothing salve you didn’t know you needed. It’s perfect for anyone who is going through it, has gone through it, will go through it, or knows someone who has. Basically, the entire population.
Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.
At thirty-six, Naomi Watts had just completed filming King Kong and was trying to start a family when she was told that she was on the brink of menopause. It is estimated that seventy-five million women in the United States are currently dealing with menopause symptoms (dry itchy skin, raging hormones, night sweats), and yet the very word "menopause" continues to be associated with stigma and confusion. With so little information, many women feel unprepared, ashamed, and deeply alone when the time comes.
This is the book Naomi Watts wishes she had when she first started experiencing symptoms. Like sitting down over coffee and having an intimate chat with your girlfriend, Dare I Say It blends funny and poignant stories from Naomi and her friends with advice from doctors, hormone experts, and nutritionists to take the secrecy and shame out of menopause and aging. Answering questions such as: What's hormone therapy and should I be on it? Will I ever sleep again? Will I get myself back? What happened to my libido? Do I need 18 serums for my aging skin? Whose body is this anyway? Who am I now? Naomi Watts shares the most up-to-date research on how to manage menopause symptoms and tackle the physical and emotional challenges we encounter as we age.
Irreverent, bold, and reassuring, Dare I Say It is the companion every woman needs to embrace the best version of herself as she moves into what can be the most powerful and satisfying period of her life.
EXPERT-DRIVEN, GIRLFRIEND-APPROVED - The menopause manual that cuts through the chaos so you can take back control of your body, your confidence, and your life, from Emmy award-winning journalist, documentary filmmaker, and social media powerhouse Tamsen Fadal.
What's happening to me? Is anyone else feeling this way? Why did no one tell me about this?
If you're ready to feel like yourself again, this book is "the talk" you never had.
How To Menopause is packed with actionable steps and evidence-based tools from a team of 42 experts including neuroscientists, menopause-certified physicians, sex and relationship therapists, sleep doctors, and a variety of lifestyle mentors.
Synthesizing research, stories, and strategies in a way that only an investigative journalist can, Tamsen Fadal helps you
- be your best advocate in a medical system not designed to treat women in midlife,
- understand the options that tame your symptoms, whether it's hormone therapy, supplements, or lifestyle changes,
- have science-backed strategies to get the best sleep of your life,
- be able to talk to your partner about sex, low libido, painful intercourse, or how your hormones might be impacting your relationship,
- update your style (hair, makeup, clothes) to match your changing body,
- learn simple workouts, skincare tips, and delicious recipes to deal with belly fat, dry skin, and hair loss (and don't worry, it's not all kale salads)--and much, much more.
How to Menopause answers all the questions you've been too nervous to ask, and brings you into a conversation with millions of other women. Together, we can embrace a stronger, sexier self at every stage of midlife-from perimenopause through menopause and into our "bolden" years.
"How to Menopause is more than just advice--it provides a lifeline. Through her honesty, humor, research, and relentless commitment to women's health, Tamsen Fadal has created a guide that is both practical and deeply personal. Whether you're just beginning to experience perimenopause or well into this transition, these words will leave you feeling more confident, more informed, and most importantly--never alone." --Lisa Mosconi, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Menopause Brain
Brought to you by Penguin.
THE INSTANT NUMBER ONE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Menopause is inevitable. Suffering through it is not.
This is the empowering approach that pioneering women’s health advocate Dr Mary Claire Haver takes for women in the midst of hormonal change in The New Menopause. A comprehensive, authoritative book of science-backed information and lived experience, it covers every woman's needs, including:
- Changes in your appearance and sleep patterns, neurological, musculoskeletal, psychological and sexual issues, and a comprehensive A-to-Z toolkit of science-backed options for coping with symptoms.
- What to do to mediate the risks associated with your body's natural drop in oestrogen production, including for diabetes, dementia, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and weight gain.
- How to advocate for yourself and prepare for visits to the doctor, including questions to ask and how to insist on whole-life care.
- The very latest research on the benefits and side effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Arming women with the power to secure vibrant health and well-being for the rest of their lives, The New Menopause is sure to become the bible of midlife wellness for present and future generations.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
Brought to you by Penguin.
Did you know that up to 90% of women experience menstrual abnormalities or pelvic problems in their lifetime? Yet these issues are overwhelmingly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed. Conditions such as PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, PMDD, or pelvic floor dysfunction, don’t receive the stream of funding for research and new treatments that other conditions do, despite affecting up to half the population.
It's Not Hysteria shares critical knowledge that anyone impacted by these conditions desperately needs. Covering everything from the anatomy and reproductive health basics you wish you learned at school, to issues such as abnormal periods, PCOS, endometriosis, and fibroids, to more complex aspects of gynaecologic care like fertility, sexual health, and hysterectomies. Dr Tang's accessible advice empowers listeners to take action and advocate for themselves with healthcare professionals.
At a turbulent time when global health, reproductive, and human rights are under siege, Dr Tang is determined to revolutionise how gynaecologic health and pelvic pain are treated by the medical community. This book will be part of the fight for the healthcare all people with uteruses deserve - healthcare that is intersectional, gender-affirming, validating and hopeful.
Menopause hit Darcey Steinke hard. First came hot flushes. Then insomnia. Then depression. As she struggled to understand what was happening to her, she slammed up against a culture of silence and sexism. Some promoted hormone replacement therapy, others encouraged acceptance, but there was little that offered a path to understanding menopause in an engaged way.
Flash Count Diary is a powerful exploration into aspects of menopause that have rarely been written about, including the changing gender landscape that reduced levels of hormones brings, the actualities of transforming desires, and the realities of prejudice against older women.
It is a deeply feminist book, honest about the intimations of mortality that menopause signals but also an argument for the ascendancy, beauty, and power of the post-reproductive years in women's lives.
A Black Woman's Guide to Menopause - Navigating the Journey with Grace and Strength
Embark on an enlightening journey through menopause with 'A Black Woman's Guide to Menopause' - a comprehensive and insightful book tailored specifically for Black women. This guide offers a unique blend of medical expertise, cultural understanding, and personal empowerment, making it an indispensable resource for navigating this significant life transition.
Key Features:
- Empathetic and Informed Guidance: Authored by experts in women’s health, this book provides an in-depth understanding of menopause, with a focus on how it uniquely affects Black women. It offers compassionate advice combined with scientific research, ensuring listeners receive both supportive and factual information.
- Comprehensive Coverage: From the biological changes of perimenopause to the emotional and physical adjustments of postmenopause, this guide covers every aspect of the menopausal journey. It delves into hormonal shifts, symptom management, and long-term health considerations, addressing concerns like hot flashes, mood swings, sexual health, and more.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Recognizing the importance of cultural context, the book explores how menopause is perceived and managed in different cultural settings, offering insights that resonate with the Black community. It celebrates the rich diversity of experiences and approaches to menopause among Black women.
- Practical Tips and Strategies: Beyond medical advice, the book provides practical tips for diet, exercise, mental health, and lifestyle adjustments, helping listeners to maintain a high quality of life during and after menopause.
- Empowerment and Positivity: 'A Black Woman's Guide to Menopause' encourages listeners to view menopause as a period of growth and empowerment. It aims to shift the narrative around menopause, presenting it as a time of wisdom, freedom, and self-discovery.
Whether you're approaching menopause, currently experiencing it, or supporting someone who is, this book is a valuable companion. Embrace menopause with confidence and grace, and let 'A Black Woman's Guide to Menopause' be your guide on this transformative journey.
Don’t even think of navigating any stage of the menopause without this myth-busting and empowering guidebook.
Sick of hot flushes? Gone off sex? Feeling crabby and wondering why - when you’re eating less - your clothes don’t fit? Terrified you’ll have a sweaty meltdown at work but don’t know if you should take HRT?
Welcome to the menopause transition and its myriad challenges! Whether you’re at the start or coming out the other side (and wondering what the hell just happened?) you’ll discover talking about the menopause is still taboo. Women who’ve gone before us simply suffered in silence, sometimes for years, not knowing who to talk to or where to get help. Not anymore. This is the book that puts a stop to that silent suffering and shatters the taboo.
The Menopause Guidebook holds your hand through every step of your menopause and gives you all the answers you can’t find anywhere else. It doesn’t shy away from the truth but gives you the tools to make the best choices to navigate ‘The Change’. You’ll learn about the basic biology causing your symptoms and the lifestyle changes that can help. If you’re not sure whether HRT is right for you, this book will tell you and if you want to know what men really think about the menopause, it’s all here! Plus, it reveals the secrets of how fantastic life can be once you are out the other side!
Don’t suffer in silence. Don’t feel ashamed. This is a natural transition; one every woman will eventually face and with this book by your side, you won’t feel alone.
Listen to this book, and you’ll know more than most doctors about the menopause and how best to navigate and survive it. Click the “Buy Now” button, and start listening to this book today!
Fiction
The New York Times called All Fours "the first great perimenopause novel" with good reason. In Miranda July’s latest, an artist at the precipice of hormonal and libido changes decides that she needs to reinvent herself. Her cross-country road trip becomes a motel stay not far from home. She struggles with balancing what she wants with what she already has. July herself narrates this novel, a fitting choice as it has semi-autobiographical inspirations.
Part of a new series featuring menopausal protagonists, this book features a hot pro-hockey player and single dad who agrees to be Olivia's fake date to her ex-husband's wedding. She's struggling through the insomnia and hot flashes of menopause, and doesn't know if their connection is believable. So she's as surprised as anyone when the sparks between them start to feel real. Willa Jaymes and Lucas Dixon bring these fun, easy-to-root-for protagonists to vivid life.
Iconic for being the novel that inspired the 1991 Academy Award-winning film Fried Green Tomatoes (which was co-written by Fannie Flagg herself), this modern classic features two women, older Mrs. Threadgoode and middle-aged Evelyn, as they connect and bond over the story of two young women who ran a coffee shop back in the 1930s. Over the course of the story, Mrs. Threadgoode inspires and pushes Evelyn to enjoy this second part of her life. It's accompanied by a remarkable narration by Lorna Raver.
Three Long Island women start to experience the first signs of menopause—and with them, strange new powers that they can't explain. As the three of them have to relearn their relationships to their body and their lives, they stumble onto the mystery of a teenage girl, her body abandoned by the beach, her case written off by police. They decide to solve the crime themselves in this angry, fast-paced thriller narrated by fan-favorite narrator January LaVoy.
