A Woman's Guide to Menopause and Hormone Replacement Therapy [Hardcover]

Lorraine Dennerstein (Author, Editor), Julia Shelley (Author, Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0880487828 | ISBN-13: 978-0880487825 | Edition: 1

Every woman, as she gets older, must face the onset of menopause-either naturally occurring or brought on surgically. As we learn more about menopause and the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), a number of questions arise. The most hotly debated of them all: should women receive HRT? This book grew out of the need for a balanced examination of all the relevant issues-not for medical practitioners but for women of all ages-and is written in the context of how women experience the transition of menopause. Drawing on a number of population studies and their own research, contributors from different fields take on subjects ranging from HRT as a social issue and the psychosocial aspects of menopause to the role of diet and exercise in midlife health and what natural therapies may have to offer women. Other chapters thoroughly discuss the pros and cons of HRT and explain what hormones are and what they do. Readers will find the latest facts and medical opinions on how HRT can affect the likelihood of developing osteoporosis and bone fractures, breast and gynecological cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, urinary problems, and vaginal thinning. For the millions of women who fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum of menopausal symptoms-and those at either end of the continuum-this easy-to-understand guide blends thought-provoking opinion with facts into one clear, concise source.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"As baby boomers move into the menopause, they increasingly question medical advice for hormone therapy. Fears of breast cancer, dislike of vaginal withdrawal bleeding, and conflicting information about midlife health risks leave many women in a quandary. This guide provides a view of menopause from a multidisciplinary perspective that should help to demystify the process for many women. A range of experts from epidemiology, psychiatry, endocrinology, physiology, sociology, gynecology, naturopathy, and journalism present multifaceted opinions about menopause and hormone therapy.... This book is written in a clear, concise, easily understandable fashion that will appeal to educated women who want to understand more about the physiology, psychology, and sociology, as well as the medical aspects, of the climacteric. As an advocate of informed medical decision making by women, I strongly endorse books such as this one, which facilitates women's increasing role in their health care."-- "

About the Author

Lorraine Dennerstein is Director of the Office for Gender and Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. Julia Shelley is affiliated with the Centre for the Study of Mothers' and Children's Health, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 136 pages
• Publisher: Amer Psychiatric Pub; 1 edition (May 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880487828
• ISBN-13: 978-0880487825
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,841,272 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)