5 must-read books about menopause—for every doctor who treats women
Key Takeaways
From a celebrity memoir to a physician’s top menopause myths and misconceptions, here are some must-read women's health books for doctors.
The Menopause Manifesto
From the New York Times best selling author Jennifer Gunter, MD, The Menopause Manifesto (published May 25, 2021) dives into the myths and misconceptions of menopause.
Presenting the cold hard facts, evidence-based science, historical perspectives, and advice from the experts, Dr. Gunter provides readers with all they need to know about this important life stage.
Whether it’s the truth about hot flashes and libido or information on sleep disturbances and breast health, The Menopause Manifesto has it covered.
Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause
Actress Naomi Watts was 36 and trying to start a family when she was told she was on the brink of menopause. Dare I Say It (published January 21, 2025) is the book she wished she had had access to when she first began feeling symptoms.
Watts combines funny and personal stories from herself and friends, together with advice from physicians and hormone experts, to explain some of the complexities of menopause and put to rest the shame and secrecy surrounding this life stage.
The book answers questions like “Will I ever sleep again?” “What happened to my libido?” and “Will I get myself back?” in a frank and funny manner that feels like you’re chatting with your best friend.
The Menopause Brain
In The Menopause Brain (published March 12, 2024), leading neuroscientist and a women’s brain health specialist Lisa Mosconi, PhD, unpacks the mysteries of menopause and explains how this life stage can impact the brain as well as the ovaries.
This New York Times best seller is a roadmap for women to navigate menopause and emerge on the other side with a better brain than ever.
Dr. Mosconi examines hormone replacement therapies, hormonal contraception, and lifestyle changes as options to conquer some of the challenges menopause brings.
It's the Menopause
Everything you ever needed to know about menopause, with a dash of humor on the side, is how author Kaz Cooke serves things up in It’s the Menopause (published October 17, 2023).
Featuring top tips from physicians who specialize in menopause and other experts, as well as first-hand accounts from thousands of women who have been through it, Cooke’s book offers a survival guide for the change of life—something that is essential for women and the doctors who treat them.
Discussing the physical and mental challenges of perimenopause, menopause, “early” menopause, and more, the book details symptoms and treatment options, and demystifies some of the oddest aspects of menopause.
The Menopause Guidebook
In its 10th edition, The Menopause Guidebook from The Menopause Society (published February 14, 2012) promises to “help midlife women make informed healthcare decisions about menopause and beyond.”
The Guidebook provides essential information on menopause that is evidence-based, accurate, balanced, and without bias. The 10th edition includes up-to-date discussions on symptoms of menopause as well as other health issues women may face in midlife.