The Change Before the Change: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Healthy in the Decade Before Menopause

"There's no need to be a martyr!" insist the authors of The Change Before the Change: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Healthy in the Decade Before Menopause, ob-gyn Laura E. Corio and health writer Linda G. Kahn. They wrote The Change for women, usually over 35, who have started experiencing some of the symptoms that indicate that menopause is approaching. This transition time, which can last for several years before menstrual periods stop, is called perimenopause. Symptoms may include "irregular bleeding, hot flashes, palpitations, mood swings, headaches, insomnia, memory loss, vaginal itching and dryness, lack of libido, dry skin and hair, weight gain." The Change documents how perimenopausal women can counter these symptoms by adding certain vitamins, minerals, herbs, and foods to their diet; making simple lifestyle changes; and using hormone preparations, including natural hormones and low-dose estrogen. At the same time, Corio and Kahn wisely stress that relief isn't a quick fix, but should be an ongoing collaboration between you and your doctor. "Your body is not a car that you simply take to the shop for a new set of spark plugs," they say. "It's a complicated, fascinating organism that should command your full interest and attention."

The book covers the symptoms of perimenopause; changes in fertility; long-term health of the heart, breasts, reproductive organs, thyroid, and bones; and therapies including medical treatments, supplements, and herbs. Corio and Kahn don't tell you what to do if you're encountering perimenopausal symptoms; rather, they introduce you to your options, as if you were a patient asking for advice. Many case studies and anecdotes from Corio's own patients make The Change lively and involving. --Joan Price