The wisdom of menopause Book

Re-read updated 2012 version: November - December 2019

This version was 745 pages, including the index. The information from the author ends at page 666 and includes the resources section which I found very helpful, too.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this updated version! The book contains updated "wisdom" advice from Dr. Northrup as well as recent studies on women's health, bio-identical hormone therapy--now referred to HT for hormone therapy and so much more. I try not to write in my books and started by using stick-on colored arrows to mark pages, but finally got a pencil and underlined, asterisked and checked items as I read.

The book is a monster read and packed full of useful information. I do believe in the mind-body connection and I believe many doctors do the profession (and women) a disservice by not staying current on the use of natural/herbal supplements, not helping patients that are within the "normal" range results in lieu of optimal, continue to write prescriptions to help with symptoms while overlooking the cause and much more.

Nice to read medical advice on supplement use, bio-identical hormones, and much more from a licensed medical doctor! I have been following her advice and tips for years and it has paid off. As I now turn to the best time of my life, I am stronger, wiser and healthier.

Dr. Northrup, if you are reading this, your epilogue was write on point. I'm there, too!

I highly recommend this book to women ages 20-on. There is advice in this book that pertains to women athletes of any age including how excessive physical training can place the body into a stressful state (cortisol) and so much more. Information that all women should know is here.

The author shares small tidbits of Chakra tips, too, and what area of the body they are connected.

Another 5 Star + and Favorite of This Reader!

p.s. When I initially read this book in 2005 and again in 2009, Goodreads had not established the ability to separate multiple reading reviews, so below is my review from 2005 and/or 2009.

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This book was a valuable tool in my quest for answers to what is happening inside my body during this time of my life. Though the book is a whopping 589 pages, it was easy to read, well laid out, lots of diagrams and charts that helped break up the humdrum. The author shares her personal story in the beginning and then adds to it in the end. She also shares stories from her patients as well as Internet e-mail that she has been sent.

The first few chapters are about Dr. Northrup's personal experience(s) and she shares her philosophy on the mind-body connection, which I happen to agree with. She explains Eastern Medicine (chakras, etc) and I enjoyed reading it. She talks about how our brains actually begin to change at perimenopause. She goes on to state how we started changing in puberty, now is the time to finish the cycle. Rejoice in your life, make adjustments where you need to and live. She is not a man-hater and NEVER does she state we should all go out and get divorced. She simply asks that we look within ourselves to find out what our bodies are telling us.

Chapter 4: "This Can't Be Menopause, Can it?"

* This begins the nitty gritty of menopause, hormone testing methods, thyroid, symptoms: migraines, night sweats, heart palpatations, breast swelling and tenderness, vaginal dryness, erratic periods, loss of sexual desire, skin, bone loss, mood swings, insomnia, etc. (whew!)

Chapter 5: "Hormone Replacement: An Individual Choice"

* She gets right into the controversial topic of hormone replacement options. She says the medical field has believed for years that menopause was something that needed to be fixed in us poor women. Hogwash. Menopause is a natural part of our lives and we shouldn't feel like we need to take a bunch of medicine to fix us. She shows that many of the synthetic (man-made) hormones have actually harmed more women than they have helped. However, she does give examples when taking synthetics would be a wise choice.

Did you know that Premarin (estrogen) comes from the urine of pregnant mares? It was introduced in 1949 and is/has been thought to be the "queen of hormone replacement." She talks about this drug and it's side affects and shows how some of the "studies" were flawed test groups. She introduces other options to relieve symptoms always stating these medicines are meant to be used with the lowest dosage that will work for you and only for a few years to get a person through the rest of their growth.

* They are not meant to be taken until death.

* There is no fountain of youth and taking estrogen for the rest of our lives is harmful and does increase our risks of cancer and heart attacks.

* Bioidentical hormones are explained in this chapter.

* What about Progesterone?
- Most women believe their estrogen is too high, but what has happened is the Progesterone has dropped too low leaving the estrogen unbalanced. This is referred as "estrogen dominance." It will give symptoms of progesterone deficiency and show estrogen excess.

* Progesterone also affects brain function. It produces a sense of calmness...page 146. She mentions herbs, creams, etc. How much and where to get them are in the Resources section of the book.

Chapter 6 & 7 talk about foods and supplements to support the change. Vitamins, how much? Diet, exercise, herbs, etc. A lot of information on menopausal herbs.

Chapter 8 is pelvic health.

* Fibroids, heavy bleeding, treatments. When surgery is or is not right.

Chapter 9: "Sex and Menopause (myth and reality)"

* Many funny sections. Phallocentric reasoning, viagra.

* Why is it that men can buy Viagra on the Internet without seeing a doctor, while women still can't get birth control pills without a visit to the doctor's office?

* Women want the beauty of the context of sexual encounters to be more important than the act. They want to be touched in slow, sensual ways. They want to be ravished with intense passion that demonstrates how much their partners need them, rather than just needing an orgasm to relax. All in all, women want to be adored as precious feminine beings."

- "The fact that this need is incompletely met for women in our culture is what drives the multimilion-dollar romance novel industry. Many women are absolutely addicted to these stories, because they invariably show women being adored for who they are, not just for their bodies." page 269 and 270

* Nine steps to rekindling libido

Chapter 10: "Nurturing your Brain: sleep, depression and memory"

* tips for better sleep, natural sleep aids (progesterone cream!), depression. What is it? Treatment. Alzheimers. Brain food choices.

Chapter 11: "From Rosebud to Rose Hip: Cultivating Midlife Beauty"

* This was one of my favorite chapters.

* Drug companies like to use the dewey rosebud to sell their hormone pills implying that if you use their hormone treatment you will stay in the rosebud stage the rest of your life.

Dr. Northrup says that just won't happen. "Once you are on your way of becoming a rose hip, you can't go back to a rosebud." Get over it.

This chapter focuses on making peace with your body, skin, shape, etc.

A lot of info on skin: sun damage, smoking, preventing wrinkles, cleansing ideas, exfolliants. What you can do on your own and what you may need a prescription for. Midlife acne. Rosacea. Hair in the wrong places: electroysis, laser, meds. Alopecia. Plastic surgery. Varicose veins. Whew!

Chapter 12: "Standing Tall for Life: Building Healthy Bones"

* I found this to be very depressing. Bone growth, how it's done, what we can do to prevent damage, etc.

* Getting a bone density test done. What type of tests do what?

* Excellent chart of daily vitamins to help prevent bone loss.

* Exercise!!!!

Chapter 13: "Creating Breast Health"

* Cancer risks, emotional anatomy of breast cancer, lifestyle and breast health, what to do if you feel a lump; effect of HRT on breast health; effects of bioidentical hormones and breast health

Chapter 14: "Living with Heart, Passion, and Joy: How to Listen to to and Love Your Midlife Heart"

* Heart disease, brain-heart connection, high blood pressure, cholesterol, even periodontal disease and cardiac risk!, smoking, depression, foods for the heart, taking aspirin?, excercise! Her advice on hormones and the heart.

Another favorite for This Reader.