The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver, MD
After reviewing Dr. Haver's book The Galveston Diet, I wished that I had that book before I began my menopause journey in 2009. You can check out my review of this not-really-a-diet-book HERE. But when I read The New Menopause, I wished that I had this book back in my early 30s when I began navigating the pre-menopause jungle.
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is a force to be reckoned with on Tiktok and other social media. However, Tiktok is where I found her. She is a board-certified OB/GYN, a Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist, and a Certified Menopause Provider, who uses fact-based research to design the best life for pre- and post-menopausal women. She frequently shares research documents, which then allows her followers to arm themselves with evidence to provide their medical providers.
Part one of the book takes the reader through the history of menopausal medicine and talks about how most of us who've brought up symptoms other than hot flashes to our doctors have had to endure countless tests with normal results. We've probably been told that it's all in our head or that it's the price to pay for aging (This is VERY untrue!).
Part two discusses the symptoms of menopause, possible solutions and strategies, as well as how menopause is affecting your body biologically. She discusses the options for hormone therapy and the pros and cons of each.
Part three, the menopause toolkit, was the most-informative part of the book for me. Dr. Haver lists dozens of symptoms, explains why it's occurring, and the overall strategies available to combat them. These topics include the common menopause symptoms like hot flashes and acne, as well as those that might have been overlooked such as brain fog, heart palpitations, joint pain, and vertigo. Frankly, it was shocking to read through this list to see so many of the symptoms that I had been dealing with for 5 or more years leading up to my hysterectomy and in the years following that I had stopped taking estrogen, because online information was incorrectly telling me that I should get off of it after 5 years.
Like The Galveston Diet, I can't say enough about The New Menopause. While it came into my life too late, it doesn't have to be too late for you. The time is now, no matter if you're in your 30s, 40s, or 50s. You need to arm yourself with solid medical evidence if you intend to talk to your doctor and this is the best place to start. The New Menopause: Navigating your path through hormonal change with purpose, power, and facts is the second book from Dr. Haver due out on April 30, 2024 but available for pre-order if you click on the book below.
I received this book from Rodale Books for free in exchange for an honest review. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.