Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Since the 2001 publication of the first edition of Moore's well-received book, menopause has come into the media spotlight. Research showing that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can have negative side effects has many women rethinking the wisdom of approaching menopause as a medical problem. Moore, a physician in private practice in New Hampshire, calls menopause a "phase of development" not unlike adolescence and encourages readers to be patient with, and attentive to, themselves in this transitional time. She offers professional and personal advice about menopause's emotional and physiological symptoms, explaining complementary treatments, such as herbal supplements, meditation and exercise, as well as traditional therapies. She reviews recent data on HRT and devotes a chapter to estradiol, a very powerful estrogen she refers to as "the forgotten estrogen." Moore includes specific recommendations for coping with symptoms ranging from night sweats to low libido, and outlines menopausal women's "major health concerns," namely, osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. "Most of the physical discomforts of the menopausal process are transient and can be eased using a combination of therapeutic approaches described in the pages of this book," she writes. "The drive toward the completeness of self can be a lasting legacy of this process." Women looking for a comforting guide to menopause, with practical information as well as a sense of spirituality, will find it here. (Nov. 30) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Two women who have experienced menopause share their personal stories along with advice for others. Posner, who had a family history of breast cancer, decided to write a book about her trial-and-error experience with nonhormonal approaches to treating the symptoms of menopause. Wanting to avoid both natural and synthetic estrogens, she researched and mapped her own course of treatment, relying on exercise, diet, and massive amounts of supplements. Written more like a autobiography than a medical book, her story isn't really that interesting, and Posner throws out some options like acupuncture because she "just felt it was not the way I wanted to treat menopause." An optional purchase, recommended only where there is a great interest in first-person health narratives. Women who really want authoritative help deciding what they should do will find better information in Moore's book. Moore also mentions her personal experience and does, in fact, recommend some of the same therapies that Posner uses, but this is advice coming from a medical practitioner. As a physician in private practice, she advocates starting small, using the least toxic treatments for symptoms such as hot flashes, migraines, and osteoporosis. She is open to all types of treatments ranging from homeopathy to hormone replacement. A more balanced treatment of menopause that includes allopathic and alternative therapies, her book is recommended for public and consumer health libraries.--Elizabeth Williams, Houston Acad. of Medicine-Texas Medical Ctr. Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Reassuring, accurate, informative help from a sympathetic guide. Physician Moore is comfortable with traditional and alternative medical practices, and she incorporates here both approaches into her intelligent, practical discussion of menopause and its possible discomforts. Moore believes that "this time in a woman's life is a natural phase of development, not a medical problem." In her view, therefore, symptoms of menopause need not be routinely treated. Rather, she provides information, including that on "the availability of intervention," so that women are equipped to make their own choices according to individual situations. She first explains the phases of menopause--perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause--and then looks at common health concerns of this age (including cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis). She then discusses the various allopathic, complementary, herbal, and homeopathic therapies that can support each phase of menopause. Finally, she discusses hormone replacement therapy. Throughout, thankfully, Moore stays away from the feel-good pep talks of some other guides for this age--she is down to earth all the way. On hot flashes and night sweats: "During the day, it is easier to appreciate a hot flash as a 'power surge' and to affirm your status as a new woman, but somehow resources waver in the depths of the night." Knowledgeable, sympathetic, practical help. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
