- Email: [email protected]
The Midlife Bible, A Woman's Survival Guide
Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (2005) 12, 96
The Midlife Bible, A Woman’s Survival Guide By Michael P. Goodman, MD Robert D. Reed Publishers, Bandon, OR, 2003, 264 pages, $14.95 Goodman presents the many issues facing women in their forties and fifties. He provides information that may help the midlife woman understand the erratic physical and mental changes that can be associated with midlife. Topics covered include perimenopause and menopause; premenstrual syndrome; and natural, nutritional, hormonal, and lifestyle approaches to managing each. Other covered topics are hormones and breast cancer, irregular bleeding, bone health, sexual dysfunction, stress, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, vulvodynia, incontinence, interstitial cystitis, pelvic prolapse, and delayed childbearing. He provides the reader with information and management options. With this knowledge, the patient will be better informed to ask questions and to individualize the management of her symptoms with her physician. The informal writing style makes it very readable to the intended audience—the midlife woman. The book opens with an overview of the health-related issues that commonly are experienced by most middle-aged women (i.e., irregular bleeding, effects of hormonal fluctuations, hormone replacement and herbal therapies, midlife sexuality, urinary and pelvic floor problems, and depression). In the chapters that follow, he discusses these issues and others in more depth. Many times throughout the book, Goodman emphasizes the importance of daily exercise, “sweaty, out of breath, heart pumping exercise,” and eating a healthy diet. He strongly promotes lifestyle improvements in addition to the medical therapy options that are presented. Chapter 4 gives an excellent overview of the different
1553-4650/$ -see front matter © 2005 AAGL. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2004.12.005
etiologies for abnormal bleeding; diagnostic modalities; and hormonal, nonhormonal, and surgical treatment options. Chapter 6 reviews the arguments for and against hormone replacement therapy and helps the reader to understand the controversies surrounding this issue. All available forms of estrogen and hormone replacement therapies are presented. Chapter 7 is an informative discussion about the alternatives to synthetic hormonal therapy, including herbs, botanicals, supplements, and bioidentical compounds. The midlife sexual issues covered in Chapter 8 include decreased desire, vaginal dryness/discomfort, orgasmic issues, relationship issues, pelvic surgery, and psychological issues. Treatment options for each are presented. Chapter 20 provides an extensive listing of resources including websites, organization contact information, books, compounding pharmacies, and newsletters concerning the various topics throughout the book. The bibliography is extensive and provides the reader with ample references for further reading. Illustrations throughout the book are presented as cartoons and are entertaining to the reader. Since the intended audience is the patient and not the physician, the information is not presented in a scientific fashion, and there are many statements that are not referenced. The book is well written, easy to read, and affordable. Although it will answer many questions for the woman approaching menopause, it may also raise questions for discussion in the office. It will serve as an excellent resource for those women who request more information on what to expect as they approach the challenges of perimenopause and menopause. Lisa M. Roberts, MD Raleigh, NC
The Midlife Bible, A Woman’s Survival Guide By Michael P. Goodman, MD Robert D. Reed Publishers, Bandon, OR, 2003, 264 pages, $14.95 Goodman presents the many issues facing women in their forties and fifties. He provides information that may help the midlife woman understand the erratic physical and mental changes that can be associated with midlife. Topics covered include perimenopause and menopause; premenstrual syndrome; and natural, nutritional, hormonal, and lifestyle approaches to managing each. Other covered topics are hormones and breast cancer, irregular bleeding, bone health, sexual dysfunction, stress, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, vulvodynia, incontinence, interstitial cystitis, pelvic prolapse, and delayed childbearing. He provides the reader with information and management options. With this knowledge, the patient will be better informed to ask questions and to individualize the management of her symptoms with her physician. The informal writing style makes it very readable to the intended audience—the midlife woman. The book opens with an overview of the health-related issues that commonly are experienced by most middle-aged women (i.e., irregular bleeding, effects of hormonal fluctuations, hormone replacement and herbal therapies, midlife sexuality, urinary and pelvic floor problems, and depression). In the chapters that follow, he discusses these issues and others in more depth. Many times throughout the book, Goodman emphasizes the importance of daily exercise, “sweaty, out of breath, heart pumping exercise,” and eating a healthy diet. He strongly promotes lifestyle improvements in addition to the medical therapy options that are presented. Chapter 4 gives an excellent overview of the different
1553-4650/$ -see front matter © 2005 AAGL. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2004.12.005
etiologies for abnormal bleeding; diagnostic modalities; and hormonal, nonhormonal, and surgical treatment options. Chapter 6 reviews the arguments for and against hormone replacement therapy and helps the reader to understand the controversies surrounding this issue. All available forms of estrogen and hormone replacement therapies are presented. Chapter 7 is an informative discussion about the alternatives to synthetic hormonal therapy, including herbs, botanicals, supplements, and bioidentical compounds. The midlife sexual issues covered in Chapter 8 include decreased desire, vaginal dryness/discomfort, orgasmic issues, relationship issues, pelvic surgery, and psychological issues. Treatment options for each are presented. Chapter 20 provides an extensive listing of resources including websites, organization contact information, books, compounding pharmacies, and newsletters concerning the various topics throughout the book. The bibliography is extensive and provides the reader with ample references for further reading. Illustrations throughout the book are presented as cartoons and are entertaining to the reader. Since the intended audience is the patient and not the physician, the information is not presented in a scientific fashion, and there are many statements that are not referenced. The book is well written, easy to read, and affordable. Although it will answer many questions for the woman approaching menopause, it may also raise questions for discussion in the office. It will serve as an excellent resource for those women who request more information on what to expect as they approach the challenges of perimenopause and menopause. Lisa M. Roberts, MD Raleigh, NC