Making Friends with the Menopause: A clear and comforting guide to support you as your body changes, 2018 edition

by Sarah Rayner, Dr Patrick Fitzgerald

From bestselling author of Making Friends with Anxiety and One Moment, One Morning comes a clear and comforting little book to guide you as your body changes through the menopause.

Written with Sarah Rayner's trademark warmth and humour, this new edition of Making Friends with the Menopause has been updated to reflect the latest National Institute for Health and Care guidelines on diagnosis and management of the menopause. Together with Dr Patrick Fitzgerald, she explores why stopping menstruating causes such profound chemical changes in the body, leading us to react in a myriad of ways physically and mentally.

There is practical advice on hot flushes and night sweats, anxiety and mood swings, muscular aches and loss of libido, early-onset menopause, hysterectomy and more, plus a simple explanation of each stage of the menopause so you'll know what to expect in the years before, during and after. You'll find details of the treatment options available and their pros and cons, together with tips and insights from women keen to share their wisdom on a subject many still find hard to talk about. Whether you're worried about feeling invisible, weight gain or loss of fertility, or simply want to take care of yourself well, knowledge is power, and Making Friends with the Menopause will give you a greater understanding of the process, so you can enjoy your body and your sexuality as you age.

* From the author of the international bestselling novel One Moment, One Morning

* And the word-of-mouth success Making Friends with Anxiety, a warm, supportive book to ease worry and panic

* Includes advice on all the major health issues that can arise as a result of hormone change

* Thoroughly researched and bang-up-to-date

* Includes traditional and complementary medicine

* Gives guidance on how to get the most from your GP appointments and finding good alternative practitioners

* Useful links throughout, plus details of helplines and recommended reads * Fully illustrated with photographs by the author

* Ongoing online support group available

PRAISE FOR MAKING FRIENDS WITH ANXIETY 'Simple, lucid advice on how to accept your anxiety' Matt Haig, bestselling author of Reasons to Stay Alive 'Reads like chatting with an old friend; one with wit, wisdom and experience' Brighton and Hove Independent

PRAISE FOR SARAH RAYNER:

'Explores an emotive subject with great sensitivity' Sunday Express

'Brilliant... Warm and approachable' Essentials

'Carefully crafted and empathetic' The Sunday Times

Genres: Nonfiction, Health

188 pages, Paperback

First published March 7, 2015

About the author

"Reading a Sarah Rayner book is like having a no-holds-barred chat with a close friend..."

Sarah Rayner writes both fiction and non-fiction and has sold over 750,000 books worldwide. She is the author of six novels - including 'Searching for Mr. Yesterday', published in February 2023. Her novel, the international bestseller, 'One Moment, One Morning' has two follow-ups, 'The Two Week Wait' and 'Another Night, Another Day', which feature the same Brighton-based characters.

She is also the author/publisher of the 'Making Friends' series of non-fiction self-help books. 'Making Friends with Anxiety: a warm, supportive little book to help ease worry and panic', 'Making Friends with the Menopause' and 'Making Peace with Depression' were published in 2022 by Thread, the non-fiction imprint of Bookouture. They were fully revised and edited for republication.

In 2021, Sarah published 'No More Tigers', her mother's childhood memoir, through her independent imprint, Creative Pumpkin Publishing. Mary Rayner grew up in Burma and when she was eight years old, in 1942, Mary and her family fled from Burma to India on foot to escape the invading Japanese. Mary Rayner is now 89, and is the author/illustrator of the 'Pig Books'. Sarah has written both a Foreword and Afterword for the memoir which is available on Amazon.

To find out more about Sarah or get in touch, please visit her website, www.sarah-rayner.com - it always makes her day to hear to hear from her readers. She is also on Facebook, Instagram and TicToc (search for Creative Pumpkin) and regularly posts about her life in Brighton, England, where she lives with her husband, Tom.

Reviews

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’m sat listening to this in hospital in the middle of a tropical heatwave (hot flush to me and you) thinking 42 is far too young for the menopause but judging by some of the other symptoms I have I think I’m going through the perimenopause so far (what fun lol). This audio book is very informative and interesting and makes you feel less alone and less stupid and yes it is ok to need a kip in the afternoon.

[Tina Milledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed that. Comforting to know that every awful thing I'm going through is 'normal'.

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very helpful guide and one I wish I'd had 11 years ago. Yes I'm that far down the line and thought I'd read up everything there was to read but there were still a lot of helpful tips in this book. I thought the little personal accounts from other women were incredibly helpful. It made me feel like I was sitting with a group of like-minded friends having a cup of tea rather than listening to a self-help guide. A really useful book that I have no doubt I will be dipping into on numerous occasions in the future. Now if only I can get my husband to listen rather than saying, "yes, it is a bit warm in here", which makes me want to kill him!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook review

Informative and interesting. There are some really good snippets in here that just back up what I’ve googled! You never know if that stuff is true or far fetched. So to hear that yes it is but did you also know...then you get more facts and information.
Well read & with extras from other women & a Dr, you know you’re not alone and its ok.

[WendyLikesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Menopause is a topic that is not talked about enough. I didn't really want to even think about it until I actually went through peri-menopause and surgery-induced menopause. I think it's a topic not discussed, in part, because it puts us one step closer to mortality.

While there are a lot of downsides to menopause, there are actually almost as many upsides. MAKING FRIENDS WITH MENOPAUSE discusses why certain things happen and how to cope. It lists alternative therapy, as well as more common tools such as hormone replacement therapy.

A doctor co-wrote the book with author, Sarah Rayner. The book gives a nice overview of various aspects of menopause. The medical terminology is easy to comprehend.

I thought the chapter regarding weight gain was helpful. I think that's a major issue for most menopausal women. I will definitely use some of the tips given. I also thought the section about anxiety was useful..

I think this book could be an excellent tool for women in peri-menopause looking for information on what to expect with menopause.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thread Books for an e-copy to review. I believe the edition I read is an updated one.

I rate MAKING FRIENDS WITH MENOPAUSE four out of five stars.

[mrs a w reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous! A must read for every woman 40+

Sensible, comprehensive, factual, positive, giving lots of great information and advice. I really liked the tone of ' this could suck but here's you choices of how you can make it batter's tempered with 'this could be a great new chapter in you life's. I'm left feeling much more positive about my refurbished and feel I have something to refer back to if anything new comes up!

[TAF22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook in one go. Really accessible and useful information. As others have said, much of the information will be familiar, but there is also much that I didn't know- or didn't know why. I am in the seemingly endless perimenopause stage, so it's useful to know what to expect and also what can be done to alleviate some of the symptoms. And that there is light at the end of the tunnel!

[Miss PaulaE · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Breathe of fresh air

I was so frustrated with my perimenopausal self that I needed some help in understanding what I was experiencing. This book gave me the confidence to breath again. Thank you Sarah xXx

[Cath Deacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Sarah for a no nonsense,straightforward guide to the menopause. Having been diagnosed with early menopause, I needed answers and reassurance where my doctor said little to explain what was happening to me.

[Bridget McKeown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an audio book and have just ordered a paperback copy. That’s how useful it is and I will be sharing it with my (similar aged) colleagues and friends. I’ve discovered new things happening to me that are all to do with this wonderful time of life!

[Sheila Lofthouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful, informative and easy to read.

[Sadie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Factual. Does what it says on the tin. It's that stage of my life, and it's all going on.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very informative and helpful My only wish is that I had listened to it years ago. I strongly recommend the book to “middle aged” women.

[Joanne Nock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A handy guide.

[Ann McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrible title. But a lot of useful info.

[Marian Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful book on understanding menopause!

This book answers a lot of the questions of menopause! It also helps you know you are not losing your mind and body!

[Dawnie Temple · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fantastic read. Just knowing your not alone. Definitely helps to know all the ins and outs of the menopause and some really good advice.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started 2019 with a total hysterectomy as treatment for ovarian cancer. Knowing I was about to have an abrupt early menopause was one of many, many worries and this book was a good one for me to get an understanding of what might happen physically and emotionally. It is a sensible, supportive and comprehensive guide.

[Kimberley Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book so much! It can be hard for those of us going through the transition to figure out what’s what. Add in that our doctors tend to dismiss individual symptoms instead of thinking about how they add up together and books like these are even more important. I liked the experience of the authors— a woman who has gone through the transition herself and a family practitioner. I especially loved all the personal anecdotes interspersed throughout the book. It helped reading about the experiences of so many other women. I also loved the format of the book— each chapter started with a letter/theme that spelled out the word “Menopause”. Very cute!!
*Thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Brandi D'Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's no right or wrong way to make this journey. It's about finding your own route through the menopause and however that is, it being OK."

Some of this book's advice will be repeats from other books on health- eat fruits and vegetables, exercise, meditate, take your vitamins, etc. However, there were some real valuable chapters towards the end that addressed issues not often talked about, or at least not in public; things like changes in sexuality and shifts in goals and desires, depression, and more. I would recommend for any woman entering into perimenopause or menopause. There is also a facebook group: Making Friends with the Menopause

[Colette Kebell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the audiobook of this and found it interesting, accurate and a fountain of useful information. Highly recommended for any woman who considers she might be pre or peri-menopausal as it covers the early stages right through to post-menopause. It was well narrated by the author and her counter-part, as well as those who were narrating for the interviewees :) A must read/listen.

[Elizabeth Dettrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informed read!

Takes you from young and fertile to when hormonal levels drop and the symptoms you may experience. Following on different approaches you may take. Websites to check out and so much more.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, I think it would be much more helpful for the woman just starting this next phase of life. I am in the thick of it and it just confirms things. We are not crazy, well some of us anyways.

[Rachel Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply helpful !

This book was really easy to read, no medical jargon to filter through just condensed explanations.

Really helpful for all women going through this transition, with lots of additional sources of support to access.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A realistic read about the problems associated with the menopause

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read to try & understand the mine field of the menopause.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wise, chatty, informative

[Seawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because forewarned is forearmed, of course. Good, brisk, useful guide.

[Julie Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully helpful book

Really well written with just enough technical information. Sarah has done it again! I would recommend this book to any one going through this challenging life stage.