Women at the Change: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Menopause the Intelligent Woman's Guide to Menopause

This book delighted me, as it dealt with a wholistic view of menopause. Other books I have read focus mainly on the physical OR metaphorical aspects of menopause, but this book put it all together. The emotional, psychological, and spiritual changes associated with menopause were written with both a realistic and optimistic perspective. Compton didn't shy away from getting into the depths of some of the horrific experiences a menopausal woman may go through on her journey, and she is the first writer I have found that deals with the dark "abyss" that menopause often brings. Too many other books gloss over the changes and concentrate on an end result of glorious Cronehood. Her section on "The Little Herbal and Vitamin Bible for Midlife Women" is especially helpful and informative for the physical needs of a menopausal woman. I first checked out this book from a library and found it to be such a good resource that I bought it.

Is estrogen or hormone therapy for you? What about all the herbs? How do you know which "expert" to trust? Madonna Sophia Compton, in Women at the Change: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Menopause, provides information to help women sort out all the conflicting information. She divided her book into two parts: the non-physical aspects of menopause; and the physical symptoms. Compton says that "menopause is a time of new growths and strengths, new purpose and dreams." She encourages women to think of "menopause as the rite of passage it was meant to be, not as some dreaded force that is seeking to destroy us from within." In the first chapters of her book, Compton reviews the transitions that women make from maiden to mother to crone. She uses the birth, death, and rebirth cycle, as symbolized by the mythical story of Demeter and Persephone, to illustrate the transformations that all women undergo. Menopause provides a confrontation with the self that enables women to rediscover the depth of their souls, according to Compton. Later chapters discuss the causes of mid-life depression and discord. Compton also delves into the sources of spiritual unrest and suggests that "when aging is viewed as a spiritual journey, rather than a simple biological process . . . the crone woman can perceive her life as the culmination of a vast treasure house of wisdom and knowledge." Part Two of Women at the Change details the physical changes involved in menopause. Compton says that "each woman must weigh the choices and make her own decision about taking hormones during her menopause, and sometimes this decision can be an agonizing one." She emphasizes that the key to making the right choice is being well-informed. Compton dispels the myths surrounding what estrogen will and will not do for menopausal symptoms. For example, while it does eliminate hot flashes, it won't restore libido. She includes a full description of each kind of estrogen and the benefits and side effects of each. One chapter is devoted to the differences between progestins (such as Provera), which are synthetic, and natural progesterone. Compton quotes heavily from the studies conducted by Dr. John Lee, an established progesterone advocate. Compton cautions that, because natural progesterone cannot be labeled as such, "women must know exactly what they are looking for." She describes what to avoid, such as some "wild yam" creams available, and provides the names of some reliable preparations. Preventing bone loss and protecting the heart each has a chapter, as does herbs and vitamins for mid-life. Unlike their mothers, women today can choose from a variety of remedies to help see them through their menopausal years. Women at the Change: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Menopause will help women make the choices that are right for them.