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It's The Menopause
It's the menopause. A reassuring, practical go-to book from trusted author Kaz Cooke in her laugh-out-loud style, informed by menopause doctors & other experts, and the voices of thousands of real women. Here's help for the mental & physical challenges of perimenopause, menopause, 'early' menopause and is-this-even-menopause. Get the lowdown on everything you need to know about menopause. Does it really go on for years? Should you take HRT, and what's MHT? What the hell is happening to your hair? Why do you want to bite everyone? Which medical or 'natural' treatments can you trust? * Hot flushes * Sleep problems * Sneaky wee * Weirdly heavy periods * Anxiety and depression * Brain fog * Bad sex * Dry skin * Weight gain * Confidence crash * Mysteriously Irritable Vulva and more! And lots of positive, happy stuff (yes, really)!
- GenresNonfictionHealthHumor
349 pages, Paperback
First published October 17, 2023
50 people are currently reading
193 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 20, 2023
If knowledge is power then I've just been equipped for this adventure. My generation of women has been very lucky to have Kaz Cooke to help us out with our girl stuff!
September 10, 2024
It feels a little depressing, apparently menopause is not as fun as being up the duff
Good source of information to recognise charlatan behaviour being used by commercial entities and practitioners... using women's aging as a get rich quick money scheme.
Good source of information to recognise charlatan behaviour being used by commercial entities and practitioners... using women's aging as a get rich quick money scheme.
July 31, 2024
Brilliant. It should be mandatory that everyone is given this book on their 40th birthday. Someone call the government to tell them.
Laugh out loud funny, concise, relevant, easy to read, practical and informative. All round five-star brilliance.
Laugh out loud funny, concise, relevant, easy to read, practical and informative. All round five-star brilliance.
May 8, 2024
I usually really like Kaz Cooke style of writing with its relatability however in this book I found there was not enough evidence and information and too much analogies and women's personal accounts
April 23, 2024
Kaz Cooke is the comedic guru for women's health, and we look to her wit and research as we go through the various ages and stages of our lives.
For this book, roughly 8000 women were surveyed about the many hideous and wonderful symptoms they had gone through in perimenopause and menopause.
Using the data collected, Kaz then sought the most up to date, relevant and helpful information about each of these symptoms and how they might be treated. She consulted lots of professionals working in the field of women's health and laid out the facts clearly in sections.
You'd probably cry or go crazy with all the symptoms if the book wasn't such a giggle. I feel much more comfortable and relaxed about getting older now, and, although it will still be one of life's challenges, it is absolutely better than the alternative of not growing old at all.
Oh, and the quotes from ordinary women throughout the book are the highlight!
Thanks, Kaz.
For this book, roughly 8000 women were surveyed about the many hideous and wonderful symptoms they had gone through in perimenopause and menopause.
Using the data collected, Kaz then sought the most up to date, relevant and helpful information about each of these symptoms and how they might be treated. She consulted lots of professionals working in the field of women's health and laid out the facts clearly in sections.
You'd probably cry or go crazy with all the symptoms if the book wasn't such a giggle. I feel much more comfortable and relaxed about getting older now, and, although it will still be one of life's challenges, it is absolutely better than the alternative of not growing old at all.
Oh, and the quotes from ordinary women throughout the book are the highlight!
Thanks, Kaz.
February 28, 2025
Really enjoyed this, unfortunately can relate in many ways. Written with so much realistic intent but a little bit of humour in there as well. A real eye opener.
June 26, 2024
If you're a woman (or a person with a uterus) read this book.
I didn't buy it until I'd been floundering in menopausal symptoms for years (I discovered) and reading it set my mind at ease - I'm not a freak after all!
Literally everything and anything that might occur in our bodies around menopause is discussed in detail in this book. I read about stuff that I've been experiencing for ten years, and have come to the conclusion that I've been going through peri-menopause since I was in my early 40's.
Don't wait until your sanity is dangling by a thread, honestly.
Go buy this book and read up, because knowledge is power, and if you know what's coming, frightening as it might be to consider, you can prepare yourself and those around you.
Thanks Kaz Cooke - I didn't realise I was suffering from so many menopausal symptoms, I just thought I was getting old and falling apart.
Bring on life after menopause! I hear it's fantastic!
I didn't buy it until I'd been floundering in menopausal symptoms for years (I discovered) and reading it set my mind at ease - I'm not a freak after all!
Literally everything and anything that might occur in our bodies around menopause is discussed in detail in this book. I read about stuff that I've been experiencing for ten years, and have come to the conclusion that I've been going through peri-menopause since I was in my early 40's.
Don't wait until your sanity is dangling by a thread, honestly.
Go buy this book and read up, because knowledge is power, and if you know what's coming, frightening as it might be to consider, you can prepare yourself and those around you.
Thanks Kaz Cooke - I didn't realise I was suffering from so many menopausal symptoms, I just thought I was getting old and falling apart.
Bring on life after menopause! I hear it's fantastic!
July 11, 2024
I love the humour Kaz puts in her books.
This is a second book I've read, I enjoyed "Up the Duff" when I was pregnant with my eldest, and I have a third book waiting to be started ASAP.
I will say there were a couple issues I didn't particularly like about this book, but it was more about delivery than content. She did oodles of research, thousands of women participated in her survey, and she provided lots of information for people who need or want further assistance beyond what she offers in the book. We need to talk about ALL aspects of reproductive health and perimenopause and menopause ARE part of that discussion and NEED to be normalised. This book is a GREAT way to start, what for most people, is a difficult conversation.
I highly recommend this book to all my friends and fully recognise that IF my American friends can find the book they WILL be shelling out extra bucks.
This is a second book I've read, I enjoyed "Up the Duff" when I was pregnant with my eldest, and I have a third book waiting to be started ASAP.
I will say there were a couple issues I didn't particularly like about this book, but it was more about delivery than content. She did oodles of research, thousands of women participated in her survey, and she provided lots of information for people who need or want further assistance beyond what she offers in the book. We need to talk about ALL aspects of reproductive health and perimenopause and menopause ARE part of that discussion and NEED to be normalised. This book is a GREAT way to start, what for most people, is a difficult conversation.
I highly recommend this book to all my friends and fully recognise that IF my American friends can find the book they WILL be shelling out extra bucks.
March 16, 2024
I agree: if menopause was a male condition there would be a clinic on every corner, & huge amounts of time, money & effort would have been ploughed into researching how it affects over half the human population, & how symptoms can be tended. Men certainly wouldn't have been told to 'suck it up, sweetheart' or 'stop being hysterical'. It's rather frightening just how much it affects us: from nails, hair & skin, to mental health, brain & cardiac function, not to mention our poor old porous bones. There's stuff here that I would have liked to have known quite some time ago. Thanks to Kaz & all the thousands of women who responded to the survey.
December 18, 2023
Kaz Cooke has provided an informative and humorous book on Menopause. This includes current knowledge, treatments, and solutions. Though one of the key take-away’s from the book is no menopause experience is the same, and reliable, peer-reviewed research into the area is extraordinarily limited.
Use this book as a place to start and where to look for more information to your individual circumstances.
Use this book as a place to start and where to look for more information to your individual circumstances.
September 2, 2024
Nice to have a 'local' guide (Australian author).
Didn't read the whole book, as not all relevant (hysterectomy with ovaries left) however there are definitely some useful bits - eg the questions to ask your GP; and the claims of some 'helpful' things which aren't really. Good to get focussed.
The sense of humour is ok, starts to grate. The spelling thing I didn't get, it's an Australian book.
Didn't read the whole book, as not all relevant (hysterectomy with ovaries left) however there are definitely some useful bits - eg the questions to ask your GP; and the claims of some 'helpful' things which aren't really. Good to get focussed.
The sense of humour is ok, starts to grate. The spelling thing I didn't get, it's an Australian book.
March 9, 2024
This is a simple outstanding tome and it's a shame I can't give it more than 5 stars. Kaz Cooke again brings us her wit and wisdom and unbelievably excellent skills as a researcher to a topic that *still* (grrr!) doesn't have enough research and funding around it. Give this book to your women friends, family, and spread the word far and wide.
January 17, 2024
Every woman should receive a copy of this for their 40th birthday! So much information based on detailed research - with some wonderful humour thrown in. I'm post-menopausal, but this book answered so many questions I had over the years.
February 4, 2024
A must read for all women over the age of 35 and the men who love us, work with us, know us.
If you have questions about menopause, or are going through it an confused, this will help you gain clarity AND have a laugh at the same time.
Another winner from Kaz Cooke.
If you have questions about menopause, or are going through it an confused, this will help you gain clarity AND have a laugh at the same time.
Another winner from Kaz Cooke.
December 7, 2023
Lots of information, some relevant to me some not. I got bored quickly unfortunately, but good to have as a reference guide to check back on.
February 26, 2024
Highly recommend for any lady going through perimenopause or menopause
Laughed and got some fabulous tip, so relatable 😊
Laughed and got some fabulous tip, so relatable 😊
April 13, 2024
Ahhh - so much great information in one space. And I love the mantra - there needs to more money spent on women and ageing.
November 16, 2024
A good, comforting read but Kaz does waffle on a bit, sometimes incoherently (although that might be a part of menopause 😆 ?)
January 20, 2025
This is an absolute must read for those who want broad range information and a big sister hug
April 29, 2025
Great and enlightening must read of both facts and women’s own experiences. So accessible and fills a missing gap of limited information in public domain and lifts the taboo of not talking about it.
February 23, 2024
This is a good read and thoroughly researched. It makes a very frustrating, non understandable (is that a word) condition a bit more understandable and with all the quotes you feel part of a big community and you read thru the chapters. Come on! Let’s put some research behind this weird, annoying condition that half the population on Earth experience!!!
September 10, 2024
I have always loved the humour and fun approach of Kaz Cooke, and really wanted to like this book, given this period in my life with peri-menopause. But I was a tad disappointed.
Given that I am looking down the barrel of a hysterectomy, I thought I’d find some helpful & sympathetic advice and support in Kaz’s book. After all, it’s not an uncommon procedure for women my age and in this stage of life. I have a few women in my immediate circle having recently experienced it. But I found the section far too brief and dismissive. I understand it’s “not a book about hysterectomies”, but they are indeed related to this stage of life, so I was surprised there was not more information. It could have at least been a few more pages. What was covered was far too brief, not very informative and the tone was terribly unsympathetic. The sign off for the section was also odd, and Kaz only cited one possible reason why women may find it emotional. It’s far more complex. The section was then quickly and coldly dismissed. That really surprised me. I found it oddly ostracising. So, sadly that’s impacted my take on the book.
Given that I am looking down the barrel of a hysterectomy, I thought I’d find some helpful & sympathetic advice and support in Kaz’s book. After all, it’s not an uncommon procedure for women my age and in this stage of life. I have a few women in my immediate circle having recently experienced it. But I found the section far too brief and dismissive. I understand it’s “not a book about hysterectomies”, but they are indeed related to this stage of life, so I was surprised there was not more information. It could have at least been a few more pages. What was covered was far too brief, not very informative and the tone was terribly unsympathetic. The sign off for the section was also odd, and Kaz only cited one possible reason why women may find it emotional. It’s far more complex. The section was then quickly and coldly dismissed. That really surprised me. I found it oddly ostracising. So, sadly that’s impacted my take on the book.
July 3, 2024
Like ‘Up the Duff’, ‘It’s the Menopause’ was an entertaining take on an overlooked part of womens’ lives. It doesn’t need to be read cover to cover and is a handy reference for dipping into as topics come of interest. The quotes from hundreds of women about their experiences really added to the book.
December 20, 2023
No reviews for this book yet?
It definitely deserves one.
Have followed Kaz Cooke's writings through pregnancy, child rearing & now menopause.
Have loved & snorted unbecomingly through them all & this one was just as good.
The only thing is that you might be a little gobsmacked by how little is medically understood about menopause.
Also, this is the only book in which I've ever been quoted (yes, I responded to the survey & yes, a quote ended up in the book!)
It definitely deserves one.
Have followed Kaz Cooke's writings through pregnancy, child rearing & now menopause.
Have loved & snorted unbecomingly through them all & this one was just as good.
The only thing is that you might be a little gobsmacked by how little is medically understood about menopause.
Also, this is the only book in which I've ever been quoted (yes, I responded to the survey & yes, a quote ended up in the book!)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews