Book Review: Going Menopostal by Amy Alkon

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently finished Going Menopostal by Amy Alkon, and I’m giving it a solid four stars. This book dives into a topic that affects half the population—menopause and perimenopause—but is often misunderstood or overlooked in mainstream healthcare.

Amy Alkon’s journey begins with her own experience of a sudden hot flash, followed by night sweats, insomnia, and that frustrating brain fog. What really hit home for me was how she felt lost and angry, yet also hesitant to turn to medical professionals because so much of women’s healthcare is still based on outdated myths rather than solid evidence. According to recent studies, over half of the medical care in the US might not be backed by adequate research, which is pretty alarming.

Alkon’s deep research uncovers some shocking facts: many gynecology departments don’t even have doctors trained specifically in menopausal medicine, and perimenopause—the years leading up to menopause—is often dismissed as just “menopause lite.” Contrary to popular belief, estrogen levels can actually rise during this phase, causing many symptoms that go unrecognized or untreated. Even more surprising was learning that a lack of progesterone, not estrogen, is often the real culprit behind symptoms like insomnia and hot flashes. And yet, there’s safe, FDA-approved progesterone therapy that could help a lot more women than currently receive it.

The book also sheds light on how medical research has largely focused on middle-class white women, ignoring important differences in symptoms and risks among women of color. This gap in knowledge can lead to misdiagnosis and inadequate care.

What I really appreciated about Going Menopostal is how it’s written in a straightforward, relatable style—no advanced science degree needed here—and sprinkled with Alkon’s sharp wit. She doesn’t just inform; she empowers readers with the right questions to ask their doctors and the confidence to demand appropriate, evidence-based treatment instead of being brushed off.

If you’re new to the topic or feeling frustrated by the lack of clear answers out there, this book is definitely worth a read. It’s meticulously researched and packed with actionable insights. Alkon’s mission to equip women with knowledge and assertiveness is clear and inspiring. Overall, Going Menopostal gave me a lot to think about and the tools to take control of my own healthcare journey. Highly recommend!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Going Menopostal is well-written from the author’s personal experiences. Although I found it informative, you have to really be interested in the topic to follow through on the whole book. As someone who is not quite perimenopausal, it was only somewhat relevant to me, but helps me know more for when I do get to that stage. Although the author is not a doctor, she justifies her expertise well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

I am a physician and woman "of a certain age" who started hormone therapy recently, so I was very intrigued when I saw the description of this book. It is very well researched and informative - so much so, that at times I almost felt like I was reading a textbook. The author described her menopausal symptoms somewhat (over) zealously, but all of us who have gone through this should can relate, to a certain degree. The bottom line is that - after a very comprehensive review - the author strongly encourages women without risk factors to take oral progesterone for perimenopausal symptoms, specifically at the 300 mg dose if possible. She also discusses the use of estradiol and progesterone in the postmenopausal time frame for their other health benefits, including cardiovascular health and bone health. The ethnic differences she pointed out about African American and Asian women were really interesting, as most of the accepted research has been done on white women.

I did find some of the comments about doctors to be unnecessarily disparaging, as not all doctors in the community are clueless about menopause, but I respect the fact that the author was describing her specific experience. Also, she frequently referred to gynecologists as the doctors who treat menopause, but primary care doctors manage this every day, especially us female docs. But perhaps the community I practice in is different than where she lives.

I had some annoyances with the audiobook narrator which I will detail in my NetGalley review of the audiobook.

All in all, incredibly well researched and super informative. I enjoyed it!

I enjoyed reading this, and found it quite easy to understand/not dry or textbook-y. It was well researched and written.

Going Menopostal is a bold, eye-opening, and often darkly funny deep dive into the wild world of menopause and perimenopause—where myths too often replace medicine. Amy Alkon blends meticulous research with personal experience to expose how women's midlife health is routinely misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and mistreated.

What starts with her own battle against debilitating symptoms becomes a mission to arm women with the scientific truth. Alkon unpacks the hormonal chaos of perimenopause, reveals how many women are being treated with outdated or harmful protocols, and makes the case for evidence-based care that too few receive. As someone who has had major issues with perimenopause that started a few years ago, this book has helped me so much and I took notes to take to my Dr. So thankful for it.

Written in plain language and laced with wit, this book is as enlightening as it is empowering. Going Menopostal is essential reading for anyone navigating midlife health—or who loves someone who is.

I don't think I've ever taken so many notes from a book before (that wasn't for class)! I can't remember a time when perimenopause and menopause were ever discussed so publicly as within the past few years, and it's wonderful for women's health. We need more of this! Alkon has gone the distance, doing tons of medical research, slogging through the systems, and even trying out various treatments so that we don't have to (granted, every body is different, and you'll still need to see what works best for you). She's given us a blueprint for empowerment as we move through these seasons of life, and knowledge and empowerment make a huge difference in navigating a better quality of life. I'll definitely be recommending this book to everyone in my peer group!

Menopause is certainly having its moment in the spotlight. Amy Alkon, author of "Going Menopostal" is determined that menopause stay in the spotlight for as long as it takes for medical professionals to take this part of women's life more seriously. As a women approaching menopause, I am grateful to authors like Ms. Alkon who are taking the lead and making this underserved and mis-served population heard. I especially appreciated that the author provides specific questions to ask a provider before agreeing to treatment. as well as advice on how to talk with your doctor. If you are interested in hormone therapy, you may find this book helpful in how to navigate that conversation with your doctor.

Thank you to NetGalley, BenBella Books, and Amy Alkon for this advanced reader copy. The opinions here are my own.