Understanding Menopause

"A clear, balanced, and up-to-date guide to dealing with issues arising from the menopause - it couldn't have come at a better time."
—Dr Mark Porter, Practising GP, well known Writer and Broadcaster

As the variety of treatments to alleviate the physical and psychological symptoms of menopause continues to expand, doctors are encouraging women to take an active role in choosing treatment options for themselves.

Understanding Menopause will help you to make these decisions by providing clear, unbiased information about all aspects of menopause, as well as first-person accounts by women of their psychological and sociological menopausal experiences.

Written by an expert in women's health, this reader-friendly guide bridges the gap between medical knowledge and everyday life to help you cope with the menopause both physically and mentally.

• Features women's accounts of what the menopause actually feels like
• Includes the most up-to-date information on the results of the recent high-profile study into the risks of heart disease and stroke amongst women who have taken HRT
• Written in an easy-to-understand style by an expert on women's health

About the Author.

Acknowledgements.

Introduction.

Chapter One. Biological Changes During the Menopause.

Chapter Two. Experiencing Symptoms During the Menopause.

Chapter Three. Treatments for Heavy Bleeding.

Chapter Four. The 'Change of Life'.

Chapter Five. Keeping Healthy After the Menopause.

Chapter Six. Changes in the Menopause Over Time.

Chapter Seven. Non-Hormonal Therapies for the Menopause.

Chapter Eight. Hormonal Treatments for the Menopause.

Chapter Nine. Contraception After the Age of 40.

Chapter Ten. The Future.

Useful Addresses.

Index.

"…provides answers to all the questions they would like to ask…" (The Waiting Room, Summer 2003)

“... an easy book to read. It is balanced and would be helpful for women deciding whether to take HRT.” (Family Planning and GUM Interface,April 2007)

Karen Ballard is a medical sociologist with a particular interest in women's health issues. She has carried out extensive research into women's experiences of the menopause and their use of hormone replacement therapy. She is an academic at King's College London, where she works in the department of General Practice and Primary Care. Menopause is a naturally occurring body process, yet women experience it in very different ways.

Whilst for some women it may simply mean the end of menstruation, for others it brings a number of troublesome symptoms. Understanding Menopause looks at issues such as:

• Knowing what to expect during menopause and how to deal with it.
• Knowing how life changes will influence your experience.
• How to deal with heavy bleeding and choices surrounding hysterectomy.
• How to keep healthy after menopause.
• Decisions surrounding HRT and alternative therapies.

Karen Ballard shows, through the voices of real women, what menopause is really like. She provides practical solutions, historical insights and an unbiased account to empower women's choices at this important time.