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Genderqueer Menopause: Navigating Menopause for Trans, Gender-Nonconforming, Genderfluid, and Other Queer-Bodied Folx
For readers of What Fresh Hell is This? and Next Level, a queer, gender-affirming guide to navigating menopause—find gender euphoria, learn how to advocate for your healthcare, and empower yourself
Prompts, tools, and expert wisdom for living well through menopause and beyond
The diverse menopause experiences of nonbinary, trans, and other queerbodied individuals have been overlooked—and actively invisibilized—for far too long. Genderqueer Menopause is an indisputable and empowering resource for those navigating symptoms and seeking gender-affirming care during the menopause transition.
Author, menopause doula and coach, and genderqueer educator Lasara Firefox Allen, MSW, pushes back against the norms of mainstream menopause care, asserting that menopause should not—and will not—be suffered in silence. They help
Gain tools to enhance your awareness of premenopausal, perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal life
Reframe negative beliefs and internalized bias
Push back against heteronormative medical standards of care
Manage symptoms like brain fog, sleep problems, and genitourinary and menstrual changes
Hear from the voices of trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people
Demystify menopause and define your own experience
Allen’s perspective centers the genderqueer experience and the community’s needs from an affirming frame. Genderqueer Menopause challenges conventional narratives surrounding menopause and guides readers through this life transition using practical resources and exercises.
Genderqueer Menopause is a powerful resource for gender expansive folx to empower themselves, find relief, and gain support. Menopause can be a time of both grief and celebration for many of those in the trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer communities. Use this book to ease the process and live well.
Prompts, tools, and expert wisdom for living well through menopause and beyond
The diverse menopause experiences of nonbinary, trans, and other queerbodied individuals have been overlooked—and actively invisibilized—for far too long. Genderqueer Menopause is an indisputable and empowering resource for those navigating symptoms and seeking gender-affirming care during the menopause transition.
Author, menopause doula and coach, and genderqueer educator Lasara Firefox Allen, MSW, pushes back against the norms of mainstream menopause care, asserting that menopause should not—and will not—be suffered in silence. They help
Gain tools to enhance your awareness of premenopausal, perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal life
Reframe negative beliefs and internalized bias
Push back against heteronormative medical standards of care
Manage symptoms like brain fog, sleep problems, and genitourinary and menstrual changes
Hear from the voices of trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people
Demystify menopause and define your own experience
Allen’s perspective centers the genderqueer experience and the community’s needs from an affirming frame. Genderqueer Menopause challenges conventional narratives surrounding menopause and guides readers through this life transition using practical resources and exercises.
Genderqueer Menopause is a powerful resource for gender expansive folx to empower themselves, find relief, and gain support. Menopause can be a time of both grief and celebration for many of those in the trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer communities. Use this book to ease the process and live well.
- GenresNonfictionHealthQueer
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 13, 2026
8 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 5, 2025
Book Review: Genderqueer Menopause by Lasara Firefox Allen & Marie Benkley
Rating: 5/5
Genderqueer Menopause is a revolutionary and deeply compassionate guide that shatters the cisheteronormative framework of menopause care, offering a lifeline to trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals navigating this often-marginalized life transition. As a reader invested in inclusive healthcare narratives, I was moved by its unapologetic affirmation of queer embodiment and its rigorous yet accessible approach to dismantling medical biases.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
Allen and Benkley’s work is groundbreaking in its inclusivity. The book’s structure—blending personal anecdotes, clinical insights (e.g., managing brain fog or genitourinary changes), and community voices—creates a tapestry of validation rarely found in mainstream menopause literature. Chapters like "Some Empowering Menopause Reframes" and “Advocating For Your Needs” resonated profoundly, challenging readers to reclaim agency over their bodies while confronting systemic erasure. The exercises (e.g., menopause journaling, self-expression rituals) are not just practical but radical acts of self-liberation, transforming menopause from a medicalized “problem” into a space for gender euphoria.
The authors’ intersectional lens is impeccable. They address how race, disability, and neurodivergence compound menopause disparities for queer folks, a nuance often absent even in progressive health guides. The critique of heteronormative medical standards (e.g., binary hormone therapy protocols) is both incisive and actionable, empowering readers to advocate for equitable care. As a reviewer, I wept at passages affirming that menopause can be a “time of grief and celebration”—a duality rarely acknowledged in clinical spaces.
Constructive Criticism
While nearly flawless, the book could enhance its impact with:
-More clinician-focused tools: A supplemental guide for healthcare providers (beyond the excellent endorsements) could bridge gaps in gender-affirming care.
-Global perspectives: Limited discussion of how cultural contexts outside Western medicine shape queer menopause experiences.
-Visual aids: Infographics on symptom management or hormone options might aid readability for neurodivergent audiences.
Why This Book Is Essential
This isn’t just a resource—it’s a manifesto for bodily autonomy. Allen’s background as a menopause doula and sex educator shines through in their tender yet fierce prose, while Benkley’s clinical expertise grounds the work in evidence-based practice. The endorsements from Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Heather Corinna underscore its urgency: it’s the first to center genderqueer voices in menopause discourse without sanitizing their complexity.
Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Genderqueer Menopause is more than a book; it’s a beacon for anyone whose body has been deemed “too difficult” by the medical-industrial complex.
Final Verdict:
Originality: 5/5 (Fills a glaring void in literature.)
Empowerment: 5/5 (Tools to combat dysphoria and demand better care.)
Research Depth: 4.8/5 (Clinical rigor balanced with lived experience.)
Emotional Impact: 5/5 (You’ll feel seen, furious, and hopeful in equal measure.)
A must-read for queer communities, allies, and every healthcare provider who claims to “do no harm.” 🌈✨
Rating: 5/5
Genderqueer Menopause is a revolutionary and deeply compassionate guide that shatters the cisheteronormative framework of menopause care, offering a lifeline to trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals navigating this often-marginalized life transition. As a reader invested in inclusive healthcare narratives, I was moved by its unapologetic affirmation of queer embodiment and its rigorous yet accessible approach to dismantling medical biases.
Strengths & Emotional Resonance
Allen and Benkley’s work is groundbreaking in its inclusivity. The book’s structure—blending personal anecdotes, clinical insights (e.g., managing brain fog or genitourinary changes), and community voices—creates a tapestry of validation rarely found in mainstream menopause literature. Chapters like "Some Empowering Menopause Reframes" and “Advocating For Your Needs” resonated profoundly, challenging readers to reclaim agency over their bodies while confronting systemic erasure. The exercises (e.g., menopause journaling, self-expression rituals) are not just practical but radical acts of self-liberation, transforming menopause from a medicalized “problem” into a space for gender euphoria.
The authors’ intersectional lens is impeccable. They address how race, disability, and neurodivergence compound menopause disparities for queer folks, a nuance often absent even in progressive health guides. The critique of heteronormative medical standards (e.g., binary hormone therapy protocols) is both incisive and actionable, empowering readers to advocate for equitable care. As a reviewer, I wept at passages affirming that menopause can be a “time of grief and celebration”—a duality rarely acknowledged in clinical spaces.
Constructive Criticism
While nearly flawless, the book could enhance its impact with:
-More clinician-focused tools: A supplemental guide for healthcare providers (beyond the excellent endorsements) could bridge gaps in gender-affirming care.
-Global perspectives: Limited discussion of how cultural contexts outside Western medicine shape queer menopause experiences.
-Visual aids: Infographics on symptom management or hormone options might aid readability for neurodivergent audiences.
Why This Book Is Essential
This isn’t just a resource—it’s a manifesto for bodily autonomy. Allen’s background as a menopause doula and sex educator shines through in their tender yet fierce prose, while Benkley’s clinical expertise grounds the work in evidence-based practice. The endorsements from Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Heather Corinna underscore its urgency: it’s the first to center genderqueer voices in menopause discourse without sanitizing their complexity.
Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Genderqueer Menopause is more than a book; it’s a beacon for anyone whose body has been deemed “too difficult” by the medical-industrial complex.
Final Verdict:
Originality: 5/5 (Fills a glaring void in literature.)
Empowerment: 5/5 (Tools to combat dysphoria and demand better care.)
Research Depth: 4.8/5 (Clinical rigor balanced with lived experience.)
Emotional Impact: 5/5 (You’ll feel seen, furious, and hopeful in equal measure.)
A must-read for queer communities, allies, and every healthcare provider who claims to “do no harm.” 🌈✨
September 2, 2025
Overall I felt this was a good resource and one that fills a niche left empty up to this point. Queer healthcare information is hard to come by (largely due to lack of resources and research being done) so a comprehensive and non-gendered information guide on menopause is great to see. While I feel it could have went more in depth it definitely had a solid amount of information as well as easy to locate sources for anyone who wishes to read further.
The few problems I did have with this are relatively minor. It falls into a trap many queer centered books do where it is bending over backwards begging you to not be offended by any of its content, to the point it is giving you paragraphs of information every chapter warning you that a chapter on sex will have content about sex or a chapter on genitals will have information on genital and if you find this triggering you should skip the chapters. I'm all for content warnings but there is a point at which you should trust your reader to know what they're getting into.
In addition to this, the author mentions that certain hormone treatments aren't regulated by the FDA and that the reader should consult with their doctor before undergoing them, but then multiple times throughout the book advocates for supplement use. Supplements are also not regulated by the FDA and without any guidance from a doctor (which they notably never mention when pitching the supplements) can lead to poisonings and overdoses both from people not knowing how much to take and the wildly variable amount of active ingredients in the supplements due to how they're not regulated. Rubs me the wrong way. Didn't like it.
I would still recommend the book overall I think it's a good resource, just with some caveats.
The few problems I did have with this are relatively minor. It falls into a trap many queer centered books do where it is bending over backwards begging you to not be offended by any of its content, to the point it is giving you paragraphs of information every chapter warning you that a chapter on sex will have content about sex or a chapter on genitals will have information on genital and if you find this triggering you should skip the chapters. I'm all for content warnings but there is a point at which you should trust your reader to know what they're getting into.
In addition to this, the author mentions that certain hormone treatments aren't regulated by the FDA and that the reader should consult with their doctor before undergoing them, but then multiple times throughout the book advocates for supplement use. Supplements are also not regulated by the FDA and without any guidance from a doctor (which they notably never mention when pitching the supplements) can lead to poisonings and overdoses both from people not knowing how much to take and the wildly variable amount of active ingredients in the supplements due to how they're not regulated. Rubs me the wrong way. Didn't like it.
I would still recommend the book overall I think it's a good resource, just with some caveats.
September 2, 2025
ARC Review
*Genderqueer Menopause* by LaSara FireFox, is a truly powerful and affirming resource that I think fills a big gap in health and wellness literature. Menopause is so often written about from a very narrow, cis-centered perspective, and what LaSara FireFox does here is open the conversation up in ways that feel inclusive, validating, and much needed.
The book explores menopause as both a physical and emotional experience—acknowledging that for many gender-expansive folks it can bring up feelings of grief, dysphoria, and frustration, but also joy, empowerment, and even moments of gender euphoria. That balance between recognizing the challenges while also celebrating the possibilities really stood out to me.
I especially appreciated how the book encourages readers to advocate for their healthcare and offers practical tools and insights for navigating this transition. While not every piece of advice will resonate with everyone (and that’s okay), there’s still so much here to learn from. For me, it broadened my perspective and helped me better understand the diverse ways menopause can be experienced.
Overall, this is a book I would recommend not just to those directly going through menopause, but also to anyone who wants to expand their awareness and approach the subject with more inclusivity. It’s informative, supportive, and compassionate—a resource I’m glad I took the time to read.
*Genderqueer Menopause* by LaSara FireFox, is a truly powerful and affirming resource that I think fills a big gap in health and wellness literature. Menopause is so often written about from a very narrow, cis-centered perspective, and what LaSara FireFox does here is open the conversation up in ways that feel inclusive, validating, and much needed.
The book explores menopause as both a physical and emotional experience—acknowledging that for many gender-expansive folks it can bring up feelings of grief, dysphoria, and frustration, but also joy, empowerment, and even moments of gender euphoria. That balance between recognizing the challenges while also celebrating the possibilities really stood out to me.
I especially appreciated how the book encourages readers to advocate for their healthcare and offers practical tools and insights for navigating this transition. While not every piece of advice will resonate with everyone (and that’s okay), there’s still so much here to learn from. For me, it broadened my perspective and helped me better understand the diverse ways menopause can be experienced.
Overall, this is a book I would recommend not just to those directly going through menopause, but also to anyone who wants to expand their awareness and approach the subject with more inclusivity. It’s informative, supportive, and compassionate—a resource I’m glad I took the time to read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Genderqueer Menopause by Lasara Firefox Allen is a much needed book in a world where there is a serious lack of menopause related resources for trans, non-binary, and other queerbodied folx. Allen's book lays out different tools and practices for the reader to utilize to help them through the process of menopause. Throughout, there is a mixture of personal anecdotes, writing prompts/opportunities for self reflection, and medical information.
I would have loved a bit more clinical based information/tools to support the meditative/mindfulness approaches suggested. However, I recognize that this is likely due to the lack of research on menopause and genderqueer folx. I would also like to note that as a cis woman in my mid 30s, I am not the target audience for this book but I believe those who are will benefit much more from the prompts than I possibly could. Reading this book was a great way for me to learn and gain understanding of what the experience of menopause can be like for those who are queerbodied.
I loved that it ended on a very positive note, encouraging the reader to embrace this next part of their life. That menopause doesn't have to be bad or scary and can actually be a exciting new stage of life. Overall, an empowering, affirmative resource for a demographic that has been historically overlooked/ignored.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, North Atlantic Books, for early access.
I would have loved a bit more clinical based information/tools to support the meditative/mindfulness approaches suggested. However, I recognize that this is likely due to the lack of research on menopause and genderqueer folx. I would also like to note that as a cis woman in my mid 30s, I am not the target audience for this book but I believe those who are will benefit much more from the prompts than I possibly could. Reading this book was a great way for me to learn and gain understanding of what the experience of menopause can be like for those who are queerbodied.
I loved that it ended on a very positive note, encouraging the reader to embrace this next part of their life. That menopause doesn't have to be bad or scary and can actually be a exciting new stage of life. Overall, an empowering, affirmative resource for a demographic that has been historically overlooked/ignored.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher, North Atlantic Books, for early access.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Nobody wants to talk about menopause, even though we really should.
It's a confusing topic, even without the added circumstances of not being cisgender. Information is hard to find, and for many of us it also comes with a dose of dysphoria. That's why a self-help book like this can be exactly what someone needs.
This book *isn't* medical advice, nor should you take it as medical information (even the author says so, multiple times). It's more like an individualized approach to going through the process, based on anecdotal experience that the author had pulled from research participants in the queer community. They talk about some methodological details, though I don't know if the bulk data is available anywhere.
I personally found the start of the book really interesting, and I learned a lot about menopause in general. I went into it with more of a medical mindset, and the book sets out to guide a lot more than it tries to inform. That is a choice, and it's absolutely fine. I can see where it's coming from. I'm sure a lot of people will find this book a good companion on their journey. Just know that this isn't so much a popular science book as it is a self-help book, and you'll be fine.
Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
It's a confusing topic, even without the added circumstances of not being cisgender. Information is hard to find, and for many of us it also comes with a dose of dysphoria. That's why a self-help book like this can be exactly what someone needs.
This book *isn't* medical advice, nor should you take it as medical information (even the author says so, multiple times). It's more like an individualized approach to going through the process, based on anecdotal experience that the author had pulled from research participants in the queer community. They talk about some methodological details, though I don't know if the bulk data is available anywhere.
I personally found the start of the book really interesting, and I learned a lot about menopause in general. I went into it with more of a medical mindset, and the book sets out to guide a lot more than it tries to inform. That is a choice, and it's absolutely fine. I can see where it's coming from. I'm sure a lot of people will find this book a good companion on their journey. Just know that this isn't so much a popular science book as it is a self-help book, and you'll be fine.
Thank you to North Atlantic Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and North Atlantic Books for the free e-ARC.
I don't like assigning star ratings to nonfiction books, so feel free to ignore whatever rating I chose.
I want to preface this review with two facts about me: 1) I am a cis woman, though I do identify as queer, and 2) I am currently 35 years old and still a ways away from entering menopause. Am I the target audience of this book? Not exactly, but I still found it to be a valuable resource.
I picked this book up because my autistic brain wants to know all about menopause before I get there. And, though I'm not genderqueer, this book sounded like a much more appealing place to start than something that treats partnered, cishet women who want children as the default.
This is not a medical text. Physical symptoms and possible medical treatments are briefly discussed, but by and large this is a book about the varied psychological effects of menopause, how to cope with those emotions, and how to find strength and empowerment in the midst of everything.
Overall, this is a great resource for anyone who will go through menopause at some point - but especially for those looking for a non-cishet perspective.
I don't like assigning star ratings to nonfiction books, so feel free to ignore whatever rating I chose.
I want to preface this review with two facts about me: 1) I am a cis woman, though I do identify as queer, and 2) I am currently 35 years old and still a ways away from entering menopause. Am I the target audience of this book? Not exactly, but I still found it to be a valuable resource.
I picked this book up because my autistic brain wants to know all about menopause before I get there. And, though I'm not genderqueer, this book sounded like a much more appealing place to start than something that treats partnered, cishet women who want children as the default.
This is not a medical text. Physical symptoms and possible medical treatments are briefly discussed, but by and large this is a book about the varied psychological effects of menopause, how to cope with those emotions, and how to find strength and empowerment in the midst of everything.
Overall, this is a great resource for anyone who will go through menopause at some point - but especially for those looking for a non-cishet perspective.
Read
January 5, 2026Thank you Charlie for letting me read and review this ARC of Gender Queer Menopause by Lasara. As a trans non-binary person I'm grateful I got to read this.
This book is "a queer, gender-affirming guide to navigating menopause—find gender euphoria, learn how to advocate for your healthcare, and empower yourself. Prompts, tools, and expert wisdom for living well through menopause and beyond."
I found this book very informative and helpful. There are exercises, terminology, advice and how-to's, reading list recommendations, and more. One of my favorite parts was the section on advocating for yourself at work. Especially since I know how difficult that is for so many of us, as it is for me. I need to be better at advocating for myself and making sure people at work respect me and my pronouns, and this book gave me some great advice.
Everyone should read this book, whether you are trans, nonbinary, gender fluid, cis, or gender queer. It's informative and helpful for everyone. The book is out soon, on January 13th!
This book is "a queer, gender-affirming guide to navigating menopause—find gender euphoria, learn how to advocate for your healthcare, and empower yourself. Prompts, tools, and expert wisdom for living well through menopause and beyond."
I found this book very informative and helpful. There are exercises, terminology, advice and how-to's, reading list recommendations, and more. One of my favorite parts was the section on advocating for yourself at work. Especially since I know how difficult that is for so many of us, as it is for me. I need to be better at advocating for myself and making sure people at work respect me and my pronouns, and this book gave me some great advice.
Everyone should read this book, whether you are trans, nonbinary, gender fluid, cis, or gender queer. It's informative and helpful for everyone. The book is out soon, on January 13th!
January 17, 2026
It turns out you can never really know what to expect from menopause, but this author does a pretty good job of laying out all the possible effects and a multitude of ways a person can manage them. For a short text, it's quite expansive - it also covers how genderqueer people might feel about this time in their lives, ways to reframe unhelpful feelings about the menopause transition into empowering sentiments, and a little guide in the back for medical providers looking to be more gender-inclusive in their practice. If you can handle some general spirituality and a few goofy mentions of "yeeting" your uterus, this is a great gender-inclusive menopause text for anyone looking to learn more about what they're going through (or will eventually go through) without a bunch of lady-talk and sisterhood language.
Netgalley gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CWs - Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Outing, Ableism, Cancer, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Dementia, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic
Netgalley gave me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
CWs - Chronic illness, Death, Infertility, Mental illness, Transphobia, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Outing, Ableism, Cancer, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual content, Abortion, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Miscarriage, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Dementia, Gaslighting, Pandemic/Epidemic
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Disclosure: I am a cisgender female. I read this to gain understanding of issues my trans & nonbinary friends and family may experience. As someone who is likely entering perimenopause, I found this book to be a wealth of knowledge that otherwise may have not been on my radar. The book dives deep into several different aspects of the lifespan of genderqueer folks, with special interest in sexual & reproductive health. I am a nurse, and I think that this is also a great recourse as a healthcare professional. It provides insight that we otherwise may not encounter until we have a genderqueer patient in front of us. Having some understanding allows us to provide the best care possible.
September 4, 2025
A much needed take on menopause for those not fitting into the binary boxes. Full of useful into for those experiencing it, and those supporting them (be it partners or medical teams) .
There's plenty to sit a read cover to cover, or to dip into as/when needed. Backed up by a multitude of notes and an extensive biography
Highly recommended
I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.
There's plenty to sit a read cover to cover, or to dip into as/when needed. Backed up by a multitude of notes and an extensive biography
Highly recommended
I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review.
September 9, 2025
This is an incredibly thoughtful and valuable resource. It guides and scaffolds, rather than simply dispensing information. The thought exercises and questions are wide-ranging. In this time of change, I found this author's content and tone to be the most hopeful book on perimenopause and menopause I've read so far. I especially appreciated the last chapter "Welcome to the Rest of Your Life!" Thanks for writing it!
eARC from Netgalley
eARC from Netgalley
July 30, 2025
This text is a radical and necessary collection of research finally queered and affirming for trans and GNC folks navigating menopause. This is a gift to GNC folks who can read through for life affirming health information and care, without cringing in discomfort feeling the indignity of gender dysphoria. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews