Management of the Menopause

Review

Reviewer: Kate Brian, trustee, British Menopause Society and RCOG Women’s Voices Lead

It is a somewhat daunting task to be asked to write a lay review of a book aimed at healthcare professionals, but Management of the Menopause is a book many lay readers would absolutely love to discover. Clearly written in an accessible way, it is packed with accurate evidence-based information covering everything you might want or need to know about the menopause.

Starting with an explanation of what the menopause is and the symptoms women may experience, it goes on to cover diagnosis, treatment, impact and long-term effects. There are chapters on sexual health and contraception, osteoporosis, on premature ovarian insufficiency and on how the menopause affects women with existing medical conditions. Every aspect is covered, and information on complementary and alternative therapies with an assessment of the scientific evidence for their efficacy is particularly welcome to the lay reader.

Many women feel anxious about HRT and the straightforward information in Management of the Menopause covering the medical options for helping with menopausal symptoms explores the risks and benefits of HRT in an open way, including previous and more current research. The information about bo-identical hormone therapy is also very useful to the lay reader as there is often an assumption that this is more “natural” and safer than HRT.

Inevitably, there are some sections of the book where the fact that it is aimed at heathcare professionals is more evident than others, but that doesn’t mean that it would not be recommended to a lay reader who wants factual evidence. All too often, women struggle to find the guidance they need when experiencing menopausal symptoms and may be given conflicting advice. For them, this book would be a godsend to help them to make properly informed decisions.

What is even more important, however, is that Management of the Menopause is read by healthcare professionals, particularly GPs who are often a first port of call. Many women are still being given out-of-date advice despite the guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, and being confident about the most recent evidence on the subject would help GPs to help women.

Management of the Menopause should not just be on your bookshelf, you should have read it cover-to-cover. It really is a complete guide to the menopause, and one which is highly recommended whether you are a gynaecologist, a GP, a nurse or a lay reader who wants to know more about this phase of life.