After decades of flying under mainstream radar, menopause is finally getting more of the spotlight it deserves.
Celebrities are talking candidly about hot flashes, and some legislators and organizations are pushing for an increase in menopause research and funding.1 Now, women navigating this pivotal life transition can even find books about menopause symptoms and personal experience in the self-help aisles of bookstores.
Here we take a look at some of the more recent and top books on menopause and discuss how reading them can expand your wisdom about symptoms, inspire confidence in your ability to navigate the change, and prepare you for managing the hormonal rollercoaster that is menopause.
Why Are Menopause Books Important?
Knowledge. While middle school health classes are known for providing educational content on sex and menstruation, it seems covering life transitions past adolescence has been left out of the mix. In fact, a 2023 study of postmenopausal women found that more than 90% of the respondents never learned about menopause in school, while half reported feeling completely uninformed about the life stage.2
Solidarity. Not only have women been historically uneducated on their own bodies, but the lack of support and solidarity has kept many of them feeling alone in their struggles. Women approaching their mid-40s (or, in some cases, earlier) may start to experience hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and trouble sleeping— resulting in nearly two million women per year to manage symptoms with or without help from their healthcare providers or communities.3,4
Confidence. Often the difference between surviving and thriving is mindset. And while few women likely look forward to hot flashes and night sweats, tackling midlife equipped with knowledge and support can inspire confidence and boost self-esteem.5
New and Best Books About Menopause
Now that we know why books about menopause are important, let’s cover some of our favorite books on menopause and navigating the experience.
Dare I Say It: Everything I Wish I'd Known About Menopause by Naomi Watts
A relatively new book about a personal menopause experience, Dare I Say It was written by British actress Naomi Watts. The book uses unique storytelling to expertly capture the menopause experience. Watts weaves in the advice of doctors, researchers, and hormonal experts while making readers laugh, cry, and feel wholly supported throughout this transitional time.6
The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Mary Claire Haver, MD
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a board-certified Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist and a Certified Menopause Practitioner who dives deep into the science of menopause in the name of empowerment and self-advocacy. This book offers readers a how-to-guide on taking charge of the hormonal transition, providing them with an A to Z toolkit on symptoms, risk mediation advice on midlife health challenges, and even questions to ask physicians who will be guiding your menopause care.7
The Menopause Brain: New Science Empowers Women to Navigate the Pivotal Transition with Knowledge and Confidence by Lisa Mosconi, PhD
Written by a world-renowned neuroscientist, The Menopause Brain looks at menopause through the filter of brain health. While Dr. Mosconi covers the potential for cognitive decline, she offers readers hope that self-care and self-advocacy can allow women to emerge from menopause with brains that are not only maintained, but potentially enhanced.8
Hot and Bothered: What No One Tells You About Menopause by Jancee Dunn
While it’s important to read menopause books written by authors with credentials and degrees, the list wouldn’t be complete without another title that inspires equal parts, information and humor. Hot and Bothered is written by a New York Times columnist who felt totally unprepared for menopause despite writing about health for a living. Author Jancee Dunn uses humor to expose the science behind menopause as well as provides some actionable steps she utilized for managing symptoms and exploring treatments.9
Looking for Knowledge or Solidarity? Menopause Books May Help
Whether menopause is ahead of or behind you, emerging books about the science behind the transition and women’s personal experiences with menopause may help to keep you informed, expand your confidence, and squash feelings of loneliness often associated with this transition.
- https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8774?s=1&r=13
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10273865/
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/symptoms-causes/syc-20353397
- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/too-embarrassed-to-ask-part-3
- https://www.ncoa.org/article/how-to-stay-positive-during-menopause/
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746824/dare-i-say-it-by-naomi-watts/
- https://www.hudsonbooksellers.com/book/9780593796252?srsltid=AfmBOoquKwX_-HbJy__voIXVyqiJxKazEUmNiXIGhR5TnVuqnG-v09oK
- https://www.lisamosconi.com/the-menopause-brain
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714293/hot-and-bothered-by-jancee-dunn
