Menopause Books Worth Reading, Chosen by Evidence
This is not medical advice — it is general information based on what you searched for that may help.
General information based on published sources and the symptoms you searched for. This isn't medical or legal advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Please consult a doctor about your own symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, seek urgent care.
Evidence:Graded per option below
Disclosure: this page contains paid links, which are labelled. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission if you use them. That never changes an evidence grade or a ranking.
The menopause book market is filled with conflicting advice, ranging from predatory anti-aging promises to outdated medical warnings. As part of our menopause care guides, we reviewed the three most prominent doctor- and scientist-authored books available today to help you find guides grounded in clinical science [@gunter-menopause-manifesto, @haver-new-menopause, @sims-next-level].
Summary: which book suits your needs?
| Book | Author | Core focus | Best for | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Menopause Manifesto | Dr. Jen Gunter (OB/GYN) | Biological science, feminism, debunking scams, rigorous trial data | Women wanting an uncompromising, evidence-based breakdown of biology and medical treatments | Dense reading; takes a strict stance against all alternative wellness products |
| The New Menopause | Dr. Mary Claire Haver (OB/GYN) | Symptom catalog, doctor advocacy scripts, hormone therapy options | Women preparing for clinical visits who want clear talking points and symptom checklists | Strong advocacy for hormone therapy requires personalized discussion with your physician |
| Next Level | Dr. Stacy Sims (PhD Exercise Physiologist) | Heavy lifting, interval training, protein intake, athletic physiology | Active women wanting practical strength training and nutrition adaptations for shifting hormones | Focused on exercise and nutrition; does not cover prescription medical therapies in depth |
1. The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter
Dr. Jen Gunter is a board-certified obstetrician and gynaecologist known for her fierce advocacy for evidence-based medicine. The Menopause Manifesto takes a deeply scientific, feminist approach to dismantling shame, secrecy, and exploitative marketing surrounding reproductive aging.
- What it does well: She explains the evolutionary biology of menopause, breaks down the Women's Health Initiative trial errors with clinical precision, and systematically deconstructs predatory “hormone balancing” supplements.
- Who it suits best: Readers who value hard data, peer-reviewed study citations, and a no-nonsense medical perspective.
- Limitations: The tone can be clinical and blunt, and readers looking for gentle lifestyle approaches may find her dismissal of alternative remedies unyielding.
2. The New Menopause by Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Dr. Mary Claire Haver is an experienced OB/GYN who developed an extensive following by addressing the wide range of under-recognized perimenopausal symptoms that many standard practices overlook.
- What it does well: The book is organized around an accessible symptom toolkit. It provides practical scripts for talking with dismissive doctors, clear explanations of estrogen's systemic roles, and sensible dietary recommendations for metabolic health.
- Who it suits best: Women preparing for an upcoming healthcare appointment who need help articulating complex, fluctuating symptoms and evaluating hormone therapy options.
- Limitations: Her enthusiastic endorsement of hormone therapy for broad prevention should be viewed as one clinical perspective; every woman needs an individualized assessment of her personal cardiovascular and oncologic risk profile.
3. Next Level by Dr. Stacy Sims
Exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist Dr. Stacy Sims coined the phrase “women are not small men”. Next Level addresses the specific physiological shifts of perimenopause and postmenopause: sarcopenia (muscle loss), visceral fat redistribution, and bone density loss.
- What it does well: She delivers concrete athletic protocols: why postmenopausal women benefit more from heavy resistance training and sprint intervals than long steady-state cardio, and how to time protein intake to preserve lean mass.
- Who it suits best: Women who want an actionable training and nutrition roadmap to maintain power, muscle, joint stability, and bone density through midlife and beyond.
- Limitations: It is an athletic and nutritional performance book, not a medical treatise. It does not address medical management of vasomotor symptoms, genitourinary changes, or hormone replacement protocols in depth.
How to use these books with your care team
Reading evidence-based books helps you become an informed advocate for your own health. As you read, make notes on questions that resonate with your situation, and bring them to your doctor.
To help structure your medical discussions, explore our guide on questions to ask your doctor about perimenopause or start tracking your daily patterns with our symptom tracker.
Where are you right now?
Still tracking
Not sure if your symptoms fit? Start tracking your daily patterns.
Log and spot your patterns with the symptom checklist →Ready to talk to a doctor
Have an upcoming appointment? Bring structured questions and your history.
Prepare your 10-minute doctor appointment questions →Already on treatment
Evaluating your response or wondering what to adjust next?
Explore evidence-graded treatment and lifestyle options →Related pages
- Getting Menopause Care: Options, Guides, and Daily Support →
- Perimenopause: stages, symptoms and evidence-graded options →
- Menopause treatments: evidence-graded options →
- Strength Training Through Menopause: What the Science Shows →
- Menopause symptom tracker and doctor report →
- Does insurance cover menopause care? →
References
- Jen Gunter. The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health with Facts and Feminism. Citadel Press, 2021.
- Mary Claire Haver. The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts. Rodale Books, 2024.
- Stacy Sims, Selene Yeager. Next Level: Your Guide to Kicking Ass, Feeling Great, and Crushing Goals Through Menopause and Beyond. Rodale Books, 2022.
- The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement Advisory Panel. The 2022 hormone therapy position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause (The North American Menopause Society, now The Menopause Society), 2022. Funding: Funded by donations to the NAMS Education & Research Fund; the statement reports no commercial support. Individual panel disclosures not yet reviewed..
Change log
- : Initial publication of evidence-evaluated menopause books guide