The Best Menopause Books to Guide, Inform, and Empower in 2024

Inspiring stories and practical insights offer guidance through this pivotal life phase.

By Sneha Tete, Integrated MA, Certified Relationship Coach

Created on Sep 22, 2025

Inspiring stories and practical insights offer guidance through this pivotal life phase.

The 10 Best Menopause Books of 2024

Menopause—often called ‘the change’—can affect nearly every aspect of a woman’s physical and emotional life. While personal discussion and advice from friends is invaluable, many women benefit from in-depth, expert information and heartfelt stories available in books. The past few years have seen a surge in menopause literature, covering more comprehensive symptoms, stages, and empowering narratives than ever. Here, we highlight ten of the best, most insightful menopause books published recently, spanning from medical guides to uplifting personal stories and more.

Essential Books on Menopause: What to Read

Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know
By Felice Gersh, M.D.
- Overview: Written by a board-certified OB/GYN and integrative physician, Felice Gersh’s book explores fifty common symptoms experienced during perimenopause, early menopause, and late menopause.
- Key Features: Clear explanations of biological changes, practical advice for symptom management, and a focus on inclusivity for all women—regardless of age, lifestyle, or individual experience.
- Why Read: The book serves as a comprehensive guide, helping readers to understand what is happening in their bodies and how to best prevent, treat, or cope with symptoms in a way tailored to them.
The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts and Feminism
By Dr. Jen Gunter
- Overview: Dr. Gunter—a celebrated physician and advocate—is known for her unflinching approach to taboo women’s health topics.
- Key Features: Seeks to destigmatize and demystify menopause for women and their healthcare providers. Balances science and humor, and positions menopause as a natural, open phase of life rather than something to be hidden or ashamed of.
- Why Read: Empowers women to take ownership of their health and demand better care and support, with a feminist and science-based approach.
Still Hot: 42 Brilliantly Honest Menopause Stories
- Overview: A lively anthology of diverse real-life menopause experiences, debunking the myth that ‘hotness’ fades with age.
- Key Features: Features 42 true tales from women of various backgrounds, offering candid, uplifting, and sometimes humorous perspectives on navigating menopause.
- Why Read: Offers comfort, validation, and community, proving you’re not alone and that you can remain vibrant through the menopause transition.
Healthy Aging: Well-Being and Sexuality at Menopause and Beyond
By Dr. Ghizzani
- Overview: Praised by the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) as both delightful and educational, this book reimagines menopause as a time of healthy change and continued intimacy.
- Key Features: Addresses outdated cultural views equating menopause with the end of sexual and emotional vitality. Focuses on managing physical, relational, and emotional transitions with practical advice.
- Why Read: Empowers women to understand that health and intimacy need not end with menopause, fostering well-being for midlife and beyond.
Flash Count Diary: Menopause and the Vindication of Natural Life
By Darcey Steinke
- Overview: Combining memoir and cultural critique, Steinke reframes menopause as both a spiritual and physical challenge.
- Key Features: Explores the stigma surrounding menopause, challenges ageist and sexist beliefs, and validates women’s identities at midlife.
- Why Read: Offers deep reflections on self-worth, beauty, and liberation from outdated societal norms.
The Menopause Diet Plan: A Natural Guide to Managing Hormones, Health, and Happiness
By Hillary Wright & Elizabeth Ward
- Overview: A practical dietary guide based on scientific research and real-world tips for thriving in menopause.
- Key Features: Outlines nutritional strategies for managing symptoms, keeping weight in check, and supporting heart, bone, and brain health.
- Why Read: Provides actionable meal plans, recipes, and advice for feeling your best through dietary choices.
Hormone Intelligence: The Complete Guide to Unlocking Your Body’s Natural Potential
By Dr. Aviva Romm
- Overview: Expansive guide covering hormone health and supporting your body during perimenopause and menopause.
- Key Features: Demystifies hormone fluctuations and how lifestyle, nutrition, and stress management help regulate symptoms.
- Why Read: Promotes self-advocacy and empowers women to understand and influence their own hormone health.
The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change
By Dr. Christiane Northrup
- Overview: Classic text that explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of menopause alongside medical information.
- Key Features: Blends scientific knowledge, personal growth, and healing strategies for overall well-being during menopause.
- Why Read: Offers holistic guidance to help women honor this time as an opportunity for transformation.
Estrogen Matters
By Dr. Avrum Bluming & Carol Tavris, Ph.D.
- Overview: Challenges misconceptions about hormone therapy and provides a nuanced analysis of evidence around estrogen and HRT.
- Key Features: Discusses risks, benefits, and myths about estrogen therapy, helping women navigate treatment choices.
- Why Read: Ideal for those considering or questioning hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
Menoliscious: Reboot Menopause With Food
By Mariella Frostrup & Belles Berry
- Overview: Combines practical, easy-to-prepare recipes with expert advice on managing menopause symptoms through diet.
- Key Features: Focused on the benefits of healthy eating, protein, fiber, and ‘upgraded’ food choices; also includes stories and tips for self-care from the authors’ own menopause journeys.
- Why Read: An accessible and supportive guide for women seeking to feel more energetic and in control through everyday meals.

To deepen your understanding of this pivotal phase in women's health, you might want to explore our detailed guide on Navigating Menopause: Understanding the Middle-Age Transition. This resource reveals not just the physical changes, but the emotional and social aspects that women often face during this time.

Additionally, there are many lesser-known aspects of menopause that can greatly impact women's lives. To uncover these insights, don't miss out on our 6 Things You Probably Never Knew About Menopause. This informative piece addresses surprising facts that can help women feel more equipped and informed.

For anyone seeking a comprehensive resource on menopause, check out our Ultimate Menopause Guide: Everything You Need to Know. This extensive guide covers a wide range of topics that every woman should understand to navigate menopause effectively and confidently.

Why Menopause Books Matter

Menopause is much more than hot flashes and night sweats. The transition can touch every aspect of life—body composition, mood, sexuality, relationships, and self-image. Despite its universality, menopause has often been shrouded in silence and misunderstanding. Books on menopause help by:

Empowering women with science-backed advice to manage symptoms, navigate healthcare, and advocate for their own needs.
Destigmatizing menopause in culture and medicine, bringing hidden struggles to light.
Providing comfort and community through honest storytelling and diverse experiences.
Offering practical solutions for nutrition, exercise, mental health, and intimacy.

Table: Comparison of Popular Menopause Books

Book Title	Author	Main Focus	Recommended For
Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know	Felice Gersh, M.D.	Comprehensive symptom guide	All women; detailed symptom education
The Menopause Manifesto	Dr. Jen Gunter	Destigmatizing, feminist health advocacy	Women who want evidence-based, empowering guidance
Still Hot	Multiple contributors	Personal stories, emotional support	Those seeking community and validation
Healthy Aging	Dr. Ghizzani	Sexuality and well-being	Women interested in maintaining intimacy
Menoliscious	Frostrup & Berry	Diet, recipes for managing symptoms	Practical eaters and culinary enthusiasts

Frequently Asked Questions About Menopause Books

What type of menopause book is right for me?

If you want medical advice and symptom guidance, choose expert-authored guides like Menopause: 50 Things You Need to Know or The Menopause Manifesto. For storytelling, comfort, or inspiration, anthologies like Still Hot provide diverse voices and emotional support. If you are interested in nutrition or lifestyle strategies, practical guides like Menoliscious or The Menopause Diet Plan are best.

Should I read more than one menopause book?

Yes—the menopause experience is unique for everyone, so exploring different perspectives (medical, emotional, culinary, feminist) can give a fuller understanding and more practical tools.

Are these books suitable for people in early or late menopause?

The selection covers all stages—from early symptoms (perimenopause) to late menopause and postmenopausal living—making them useful at any age or phase.

Can these books help me talk to my doctor?

Absolutely. Books with medical guidance, like most featured here, give you language, symptom knowledge, and evidence to discuss your health confidently with healthcare providers.

Are there digital versions available?

Most titles are available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats, providing flexible options for reading and reference.

Tips: How to Choose and Use a Menopause Book

Assess your needs: Are you seeking information, support, inspiration, or practical tools? Choose books accordingly.
Check credentials: Prefer expert guides written by credentialed practitioners—doctors, nutritionists, or counselors.
Read reviews or sample stories: Online reviews and previews can offer insight into tone and practicality.
Combine perspectives: For a well-rounded journey, read a medical guide, a personal essay collection, and a cookbook or diet guide.
Share with peers: Discuss insights or stories in book clubs, support groups, or online forums.

Conclusion: Empowerment Through Knowledge

Menopause is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Whether you face sleep disturbance, mood changes, sexuality issues, or simply want to make the most of midlife, the right book can educate, comfort, and empower you. The best menopause books combine science, compassion, and honesty, supporting women to thrive during every stage of life’s transition.

Turn the page on silence and confusion—find your guide, your story, and your inspiration among 2024’s top menopause books.

References

Author

Sneha TeteBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Sneha is a relationships and lifestyle writer with a strong foundation in applied linguistics and certified training in relationship coaching. She brings over five years of writing experience to thebridalbox, crafting thoughtful, research-driven content that empowers readers to build healthier relationships, boost emotional well-being, and embrace holistic living.

Read full bio of Sneha Tete