The Complete Idiot's Guide to Menopause

The "Complete Idiot's Guide to Menopause" is divided into seven parts: 1) Enter Primetime; 2; Midlife Metamorphoses; 3) Ch-Ch-Changes: Menopause Symptoms; 4) HRT or No HRT, That's the Question; 5) Menopause Treatment au Naturel; 6) Self-Care While You're Going Through Menopause; and 7) Vibrant, Feminine, Wise, and Wonderful. Each chapter begins with a box listing everything that will be covered in the chapter and ends with a box called "the least you need to know" summarizing what was just discussed. Throughout each chapter there are also several boxes that provide interesting and helpful information: "wise up" which describes and explains technical terms; "Hot Flash!" boxes give warnings and cautions; "wise woman's wisdom" features quotes from various women; "wellspring" boxes provide tidbits and factoids about menopause and related topics; and "embracing change" boxes give helpful hints and suggestions. Finally, three's a pullout reference card at the front of the book discussing the risks and benefits of HRT on one side and integrative approaches to managing menopause on the other side. This was one of the most informative books on Menopause that I've read. The authors paint menopause in a positive light rather than the doom and gloom attitude so many other books on the subject use. Each and every chapter is informative and what makes the book so useful is that no matter what is going on with your menopause, there's sure to be a chapter addressing it. There are a lot of eye opening quizzes addressing issues such as how ready and how much you know about menopause. The authors approach whether or not to use HRT, always a hot topic, very evenly, giving the pros and cons of HRT as well as alternatives to HRT. The book even has information on what happens to a woman and her body after she is totally in menopause. The appendix at the end of the book is very useful, as is the list of websites dealing with menopause. After reading this book's positive approach to menopause, I was motivated to make several changes in my life, such as exercising more and eating better, so I'll be better equipped to deal with menopause whenever it happens to me. Highly recommended!