Where to find balanced information about the menopause
- Dr Natalie Hutchins
- Feb 20
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 22
BOOK IN REVIEW: The Menopause Manifesto by Dr Jen Gunter
Having been brushed aside as a life stage that is supposed to be quietly endured and a ‘niche’ industry in terms of research and tech funding, menopause is now fully mainstream. With 50% of the entire world population now a potential customer, companies are waking up to potential 600 billion dollars to be made.
And with that comes the inevitable requirement to ensure women stay suitably anxious about this transition to keep them engaged ….and spending. Welcome to menowashing: from menopause skin care to menopause exercise gear to menopause make up, I’m not surprised that many younger women feel overwhelmed and anticipate this transition with fear.
Don’t get me wrong, as someone who has been caring for women in the menopause transition for over 15 years, it’s fantastic that women wanting information about the menopause can find it much more easily independent of their ability to access good healthcare, but that information is supposed to empower, not frighten.
The truth is menopause can be highly impactful to a woman’s physical, mental, emotional and social wellbeing, but like other transitions in our lives (think the 5 Ms), that is not always the case. Some will breeze through, but for some it will be much more problematic; we are all different. In fact, evidence shows that whilst 50% of women do have symptoms that impact on their home, work and relationships, 50% do not; so I think this calls for more balanced conversations.
Step in The Menopause Manifesto by Dr Jen Gunter, an American Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and author. If you are looking for evidenced-based, practical, balanced and truly empowering information on the menopause, this is such a great starting place. And its beautifully written and engaging too. She has no vested interest in trying to sell you some miracle cure, supplement or compounded hormone; she just tells you how it is, so you can make fully informed decisions that work for you.
