I absolutely love Dr. Gunter's books. She is informative without being pedantic, wise without being preachy. There is a ton of misinformation out there concerning women's health and wellness because in our society women's issues are hush-hush and forbidden. Definitely something every women of a certain age should read!

An incredibly detailed book, aiming to break down the taboo barrier so often placed around such a natural and normal part of the female body's journey.
In a nutshell, this book serves an education (and this is big praise coming from a school teacher)! I've rarely heard anyone talking about the ins and outs of what happens to women during this time, and it did more to teach me than any science book or the odd question to older relatives.
Dr Gunter's writing is informative and direct, and her stance at approaching this topic provides you with all of the science, history and humour you could need to learn about the menopause.
Essential reading for any woman!

After a few chapters of history/rumination on misogyny in medicine, a very comprehensive overview of what we know about menopause’s physical—including cognitive/emotional—effects and variations, as well as potential treatments for different symptoms that are causing distress. I definitely agree that we need more information about and discussion of menopause: I had no idea that much, much heavier periods—enough so that I became anemic—were reasonably common in the menopause transition, until I started researching. She’s a fan of properly prescribed hormone therapy, and down on compounded medications, whose quality control/dose regularity is worse than Big Pharma’s even though their chemical composition is no more “natural” or better in any other way: “Compounded hormones aren’t helping women avoid the gaps in medicine; they’re exploiting them.”

I remember being handed a number of books about women’s development when I was about 10 years old- from school, from the doctor, from my mum. I remember feeling really prepared. I did not feel prepared for menopause, which I am anticipating in the coming years, until I read ‘The Menopause Manifesto’.

This book provides clear explanations, and societal attitudes to women, and reproduction abilities of women, are fascinating.

It was quite US-centric, and as an Australian, I noticed this, but it didn’t impact on content.

Overall this is a book I would definitely recommend to all women ‘of a certain age’. I feel much more prepared and understand so much more about menopause now!

Thanks to NetGalley and Piatkus for a copy of this book in exchange with an honest review.

This book is a detailed, practical, heavily researched, and far reaching guide to menopause and all the life changes that occur adjacent to that transition.
It is dense with information, detail oriented, heavily focused on the science and the reality of the menopause transition. There are anecdotes and examples that ring true. The author has a clear and confident voice, erudite but approachable. You feel like she is talking directly to you. The author comes to this as a physician specializing in women's health, gynecology, menopause. Her dedication to patient autonomy and holistic decision making is evident throughout. I appreciated the references, the studies references, the distillation of data into understandable language. I am a physician myself and the level of detail and studies referenced was education and comforting.
This is a subject that is often discussed about in pejorative or dismissive terms, if at all.. This book takes that as a challenge and presents menopause as a whole; providing a frame and a reference as well as a roadmap on what to expect and what the current medical research shows.
This book covers it all--from history, to hormone replacement, dietary guidelines, details on symptomatology, treatment options, and the vast array of less studied options that garner headlines without having the scientific backup.
She provides information to help readers make their own informed choices and also highlights red flags when seeking treatment and researching options.
I would recommend this book to any woman, at any age, as a valuable reference for issues that at some point will affect us all.
Overall it was well-written, approachable and informative.

The copy I received is an ARC from Netgalley and there were occasional typographic errors as might be expected from a draft copy of a book. This did not hinder my readIng.

Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

Menopause is a conversation stopper. If you do not believe me, bring it up in conversation and see how fast the subject gets changed or the person suddenly has something else to do. This includes talking to your female friends, very few people want to talk about it. Enter Dr. Jen Gunter. She has written a book that is specifically about menopause, called The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism.

"The only thing that is truly predictable about the menopause transition is that it's unpredictable."

Before I read this book I knew what age the ladies in my family go through menopause (42), and that some symptoms are hot flashes and your period gets irregular. That's about it. What do you know about menopause? Hopefully more than me, but even if you do, I imagine it is not enough. If you think that this book does not apply to you because you are in your twenties, thirties, or even your forties, think again! Did you know that decisions you are making RIGHT now can affect you when you enter menopause? No? Neither did I. Did you know that some things that look like menopause could actually be something else? No? Neither did I, but now I do, and hopefully you will as well.

"Women want more information about menopause and that knowledge can reduce suffering."

Dr. Gunter caught my attention in the introduction when she said, "This establishment has temperature control issues. Drenching heat followed by terrible chills. Defies the laws of thermodynamics. Would not recommend." I literally laughed out loud. The doses of humor and the anecdotes that Dr. Gunter uses throughout the book, make what could be a dry subject (no pun intended) an easier read.

"Menopause is puberty in reverse."

Not only does Dr. Gunter cover every symptom of menopause in detail, but she also takes the time to explain where the term came from, and the stigma behind it. She explains, "The culture of silence about menopause in our patriarchal society is something to behold." Dr. Gunter is willing and able to break that silence by explaining what is common with menopause and what needs to be further checked out. She gives clear information on when menopause typically happens, how your body should respond, and if you are earlier or later than the "normal" range of how the body is affected.

"One woman dies every minute from cardiovascular disease."

A few of the things that I learned is that the age of the mother and sisters (if you have any) affect when you will go through menopause. Genetics also plays a role. Menopause also can affect your heart; you start losing muscle mass quicker, and it affects your bone health. Dr. Gunter covers these topics and more in-depth. I was fascinated by all that I did not know and what I could do now to start helping myself. She also talks about different therapy options and so much more.

I would highly recommend this book to any woman who has not gone through menopause yet. Whether you are in the beginning stages or you are far from it, this is a great book to pick up and have on hand for quick reference. It is the most thorough and highly researched book on the subject that I have come across. Even if you are not ready to break the silence about menopause, you can still read this book and become educated on your health.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Press for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to give a positive review but am more than happy to. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I kept laughing while reading The Menopause Manifesto, not at the content, but in Dr. Jen Gunter's honest discussion of it. I felt like I was discussing menopause with my best friend, who was very knowledgeable about it and threw in wisecracks every so often. This made the book both informative and fun to read. I also appreciate how honest the author was about her own experience--she knows this topic as a professional and as someone who has experienced menopause herself. To get a taste of Dr. Jen Gunter's style, check out her TED Talk, "Why Can't We Talk About Periods" and you'll see why she is a refreshing voice on the topic of what menopause really is and is not.
This book is scheduled to be published on March 25, 2021. #TheMenopauseManifesto #NetGalley

Good writing, like the Yelp! review at the beginning, which ends. "And the sex was dry" lolsob, but I couldn't, in good conscience, finish or recommend at book that felt trans exclusionary. Men experience perimenopause, too; womanhood isn't exclusive to producing estrogen, etc.

She also has that arrogant doctor thing going, being sure to point out that she started medical school at 20, and how perimenopause was easier for her because she understood what was going on with her body, and she's kind of being a missionary to us ignorant savages explaining our bodies to us. Even if it's true I don't understand what's going on with my body, I don't need to be patronized.

Dr. Jen Gunter's book gives women what they've needed for a long time: an honest conversation about menopause. Gunter provides in great detail the history of menopause through the ages, letting the reader know how society's current views have been influenced historically by misinformed men. As a doctor, she gives detailed information on how our bodies work during menopause and offers detailed explanations on how different medical procedures and medicines work or don't work. Her frank observations lighten up the detailed medical explanations making this book not only informative, but also entertaining. My favorite quote, "it's a penis, not a magic wand," had me laughing out loud. A must read for women who are starting to experience the lovely transition known as menopause.

I received an e-ARC through Netgalley.
This is a very well-researched book about the history, possible causes, treatments and thoughts on menopause. The author shares her own personal experiences along the way which add a nice aspect to the clinical parts of the book. The author is an OB/GYN so has a professional interest in the subject matter as well.

Really interesting and honest book about the menopause. I think this should be something that perhaps could be introduced into schools as it’s not until it happens that you know what to expect.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC to read and review.

Well researched and fact heavy, The Menopause Manifesto is a must read for all women regardless of age.
Dr. Gunter tells us everything we need to know about Menopause and how to begin to normalize the process so that women can get proper healthcare recognition.

She advocates reclaiming the menopause experience in a fully feminine way and disregarding the centuries of male biased healthcare associated with it.

Fabulous resource.

So happy to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this wonderful book, precious to all women. So well written and contains so much information! Take away the shame of women getting older and embrace the change, easier to do when you have access to the information.

Dr. Gunter does a great job explaining menopause and gives background and important information about it.
I recommend for any women hoping to gain insight. My only quibble is the constant reminder that the patriarchy thinks all aging women are useless. Personally, I believe women are just as critical to other women regarding looking older etc. as men are. Regardless, I think women should know as much as they can about their bodies. This book is a great source of information.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the chance to read and review.

I read the first couple of chapters of this in the Buzz Books spring/summer preview and realized – Wow, I don’t actually know that much about menopause, even though it’s eventually going to happen to me! In fact, as this book explains, most women who haven’t lived through it yet (and even many who have) don’t know all the facts about this phase of life. And considering any person who menstruates and lives into middle age is going to go through this process eventually, that’s a real problem! We educate kids about what changes are going to happen to their bodies, and the effects these changes will have on their lives. Adults should be similarly prepared for what’s ahead.

The Menopause Manifesto not only delivers the facts about menopause, but it also takes a look at the phenomenon and the way society deals with it - and women who have gone through it - through a feminist lens. These insights are sprinkled throughout a detailed description of the reasons why we go through menopause, the effects it has on the body and mind, and the ramifications these changes can have both during the process of menopause and for the rest of the person’s life. She also explains the science behind, history of, and reliability of various therapies, and busts several myths and misconceptions related to menopause. The author covers a lot of very technical medical stuff, and while it can be a little bit too technical in some places for my level of comprehension (and admittedly shaky attention span), the information imparted is still very valuable. Overall, she does a great job of explaining the most important and useful information in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. Even if you can’t wrap your brain around all the technical stuff, the main takeaways are still very accessible.

One thing I should mention - I was surprised that the book did not make any mention at all of the medical needs of trans men and non-binary people with ovaries, especially considering that trans issues were apparently specifically addressed in her previous book, The Vagina Bible (which I have not read.) There is mention of the medical risks of different surgeries to remove the uterus or ovaries, so I would think that trans issues would be addressed at some point. A medical article I looked up on the topic of gender-affirming surgery for trans men (as this book made me curious and then didn’t answer my questions) mentioned the decision to remove the ovaries as a “personal choice.” Which I’d think would mean that trans men are just as in need of facts and medical guidance in this area as cis women. Of course, the information in the book is still valuable to any individual who has the organs in question, so they could still read it and get a lot out of it. I’m just a little surprised that the author (who included trans individuals in her previous book) overlooked this potential segment of her audience entirely.

The ARC contained quite a lot of typos and formatting errors – more than I have seen in any other ARC I’ve read - which I trust will be corrected before the book goes to print.

Overall, a very informative book on an important topic that for various reasons has gone ignored for too long.

Full of resources and information for women done in a well written and even humorous way! Can’t get enough books on women’s health! Great job. Highly recommend!

The Menopause Manifesto is a no holds barred, straight up truth about this important and overlooked stage in every woman’s life. As a woman and as a medical professional, I found Gunter to have sound medical knowledge and great considerations and ways to care and advocate for yourself. What I enjoyed most, I’d the delivery of the information was almost like having coffee with a close friend. The relaxed conversational tone is perfect. I received an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

We definitely need more book about womens health that is so unbelievably under-researched.
This book was very informative and although menopause is far away, I am glad I know more about what to expect when the time comes than I did before.
More books about women's bodies and healthy please!
Thank you Netgalley!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC. Very informative and enjoyable read. Liked the author's writing style. Very straightforward no holds barred haha. Perfect timing for me since "I'm of that age" There is some information that most know but there is a lot that is very helpful. Highly recommend.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. This book was very informative and brutally honest. Menopause is a word that we rarely mention, but affects women in different ways.