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Before Your Time: The Early Menopause Survival Guide
HAS "THE CHANGE" COME TOO SOON ? DON’ T WORRY, YOU’RE NOT ALONE!
Every year more than two million women enter early menopause and find themselves suddenly dealing with a host of unforeseen (and little discussed) issues. In Before Your Time , Evelina Weidman Sterling and Angie Best-Boss provide expert advice and answer all your questions,
Is it safe to start hormone therapy in your thirties rather than in your fifties?
What are your fertility options?
How can you combat the long-term effects of early menopause, such as a greater risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes?
How will early menopause affect your relationships? Your sex life? Your sense of self?
Before Your Time brings you the best-researched, most up-to-date answers to all those tough-to-ask questions. The good there is more research and information available now than ever before to keep you safe and healthy, and it’s all right here!
Every year more than two million women enter early menopause and find themselves suddenly dealing with a host of unforeseen (and little discussed) issues. In Before Your Time , Evelina Weidman Sterling and Angie Best-Boss provide expert advice and answer all your questions,
Is it safe to start hormone therapy in your thirties rather than in your fifties?
What are your fertility options?
How can you combat the long-term effects of early menopause, such as a greater risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes?
How will early menopause affect your relationships? Your sex life? Your sense of self?
Before Your Time brings you the best-researched, most up-to-date answers to all those tough-to-ask questions. The good there is more research and information available now than ever before to keep you safe and healthy, and it’s all right here!
- GenresHealth
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 13, 2023
When hit with an unexpected health diagnosis, the first thing to do is to check out books on the subject from the library, no? This was the only one my library had on "early menopause". I came to it in a confused mental fog because I had so many questions and there were things that I knew I didn't even know to ask. You don't know what you don't know. This book did a great job of organizing my thoughts into categories and answering the questions I didn't even know I had.
It also did a great job of calming me down. Even for someone like me who never saw herself in the mother role or had any particular desire to have kids, a diagnosis like Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is life changing and makes you question your identity as a woman, femininity, sexuality, all of that. I found the topics regarding the emotional effects most helpful, followed by very factual and concise information on hormone therapy (e.g
patches better than oral tablets for reducing side effects) which allowed me to speak to my ob/gyn with confidence and ask for what I wanted.
The information about what potential solutions there are to have kids was also helpful. I liked the step by step approach by the author in outlining the process because it's very easy to freak out and panic and not know what to do or what questions to ask. Individual testimonials from women going through the same thing were reassuring.
This book is from 2010 so I expect that some medical information may be out of date and I skimmed through some of it just to get the gist without getting too bogged down in the details.
I think I would have liked more information and more testimonials on the quality of life type topics and to hear more from those who've been living with the diagnosis for a long time.
It also did a great job of calming me down. Even for someone like me who never saw herself in the mother role or had any particular desire to have kids, a diagnosis like Primary Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) is life changing and makes you question your identity as a woman, femininity, sexuality, all of that. I found the topics regarding the emotional effects most helpful, followed by very factual and concise information on hormone therapy (e.g
patches better than oral tablets for reducing side effects) which allowed me to speak to my ob/gyn with confidence and ask for what I wanted.
The information about what potential solutions there are to have kids was also helpful. I liked the step by step approach by the author in outlining the process because it's very easy to freak out and panic and not know what to do or what questions to ask. Individual testimonials from women going through the same thing were reassuring.
This book is from 2010 so I expect that some medical information may be out of date and I skimmed through some of it just to get the gist without getting too bogged down in the details.
I think I would have liked more information and more testimonials on the quality of life type topics and to hear more from those who've been living with the diagnosis for a long time.
January 12, 2019
Very informative. I skipped chapters that didn’t apply to me, but I think it would be safe to assume they are written in the same tone. Concepts are broken down into understandable chunks. Each section starts with a shared story from someone similarly afflicted. It’s well organized. While I don’t have a medical background, this felt like a good primer on the topic.
April 5, 2012
***Drop in to http://infinitereads.com/ for more reviews and thoughts!***
I loved some aspects of the book and would recommend it to anyone struggling with POI or POF. First, it explains the difference between premature menopause, primary ovarian failure/insufficiency (POF or POI) and secondary ovarian failure/insufficiency. The terms are not interchangeable, and underlying causes may or may not be the same.
The book’s symptom list alone is far more exhaustive than I have found anywhere else and covered symptoms I did not even realize were related to ovarian failure. Those palpitations that I feared were an early manifestation of my family’s terrible cardiac genes? Nope, they’re common in women with ovarian failure. My sudden need to go to the bathroom ALL the time? Probably not a sign of diabetes. Reading the list made me sad and angry (how can one problem cause so many annoying or life-altering symptoms?), but realizing some of my more frightening health bugaboos were just symptoms of my hormonal problems laid some fears to rest.
Possible causes are covered to the best of the authors’ ability, though they freely admit that medical research in this subject is still in its infancy, so most women will never know why POF or POI has affected them, and there is no cure. The tone is compassionate but upbeat as the authors discuss both prescription and alternative symptom management options as well as fertility treatment possibilities.
As resources for this problem go, this book is excellent. However, I did have four complaints:
1. The title. Before Your Time? Did I die in a fiery accident and someone forgot to tell me? First of all, there is no set age at which menopause should occur, and ovarian dysfunction can happen to any woman at any age. Experiencing this change before the stereotypical time frame doesn’t mean you’re hitting some cosmic deadline too soon. Your body is unique and runs on its own schedule. Just as you didn’t hit puberty at the same exact second as every other girl you knew, you aren’t necessarily going to hit menopause on your 50th birthday. Second, menopause isn’t a death sentence for young women any more than it is for women in their 50s and 60s. While your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis among other bugaboos (dementia, anyone?) does go up, with management and treatment you can keep living an active, healthy life. Life does not end when fertility is gone.
The subtitle is no better: while this book does touch on early menopause a couple of times, I’d estimate that 95% of it is actually about POF and POI, which again are not exactly the same thing. I suppose the authors used “early menopause” in the title because POF and POI are not well-known terms, but could they not have said “Early Menopause and Ovarian Failure Survival Guide”? Three little extra words to raise awareness and accuracy? I nearly passed this book over because I had other books on menopause already, and I am not IN menopause. If I had not read it, I would not have known it applied to me as well.
2. The cover art. The single, discreet tulip on the cover only adds to the “let’s plan your funeral” design vibe.
3. The attitude (at times). Yes, it’s a crummy situation to find yourself in: You’re 20 or 30, you should be having a great sex life and possibly some kids, but instead you’re having hot flashes, can’t remember your own name half the time, and you’re afraid you’re going to need to steal from Grandma’s stash of Depends, and that’s not even getting started on the osteoporosis risk. I’m sure for many women, it does cause a complete identity crisis. However, some women, including myself, are not going to feel that their entire sense of self has to change because of a POI diagnosis. This book made the self-doubt sound so inevitable that I wondered momentarily if I might be in denial!
4. The sex chapter. Since the authors started off putting so much emphasis on “This is a physical problem with physical symptoms, so don’t let anyone tell you it’s all in your head,” I was extremely disappointed when this chapter suggested that whether or not this problem affects your sex life is indeed all in your head! The authors emphasize the old “the brain is the biggest sexual organ” and “men need a place to have sex, women need a purpose” chestnuts. They even quote an expert who says that some women find their sexual symptoms improve when they get a new partner. Rather than mention the fact that new relationships cause new chemicals to release that do indeed create more lust, the authors go on to say that making sure your relationship is secure and healthy is the most helpful thing you can do, and the rest depends on your attitude. Nowhere does it say what to do if your brain still thinks sex is a great idea but your body is out to lunch. I was so disappointed.
If you or someone you love is struggling with premature menopause, POI, or POF, this book is a must. However, don’t stop with this book. It has some great information, but it’s an incomplete resource.
I loved some aspects of the book and would recommend it to anyone struggling with POI or POF. First, it explains the difference between premature menopause, primary ovarian failure/insufficiency (POF or POI) and secondary ovarian failure/insufficiency. The terms are not interchangeable, and underlying causes may or may not be the same.
The book’s symptom list alone is far more exhaustive than I have found anywhere else and covered symptoms I did not even realize were related to ovarian failure. Those palpitations that I feared were an early manifestation of my family’s terrible cardiac genes? Nope, they’re common in women with ovarian failure. My sudden need to go to the bathroom ALL the time? Probably not a sign of diabetes. Reading the list made me sad and angry (how can one problem cause so many annoying or life-altering symptoms?), but realizing some of my more frightening health bugaboos were just symptoms of my hormonal problems laid some fears to rest.
Possible causes are covered to the best of the authors’ ability, though they freely admit that medical research in this subject is still in its infancy, so most women will never know why POF or POI has affected them, and there is no cure. The tone is compassionate but upbeat as the authors discuss both prescription and alternative symptom management options as well as fertility treatment possibilities.
As resources for this problem go, this book is excellent. However, I did have four complaints:
1. The title. Before Your Time? Did I die in a fiery accident and someone forgot to tell me? First of all, there is no set age at which menopause should occur, and ovarian dysfunction can happen to any woman at any age. Experiencing this change before the stereotypical time frame doesn’t mean you’re hitting some cosmic deadline too soon. Your body is unique and runs on its own schedule. Just as you didn’t hit puberty at the same exact second as every other girl you knew, you aren’t necessarily going to hit menopause on your 50th birthday. Second, menopause isn’t a death sentence for young women any more than it is for women in their 50s and 60s. While your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis among other bugaboos (dementia, anyone?) does go up, with management and treatment you can keep living an active, healthy life. Life does not end when fertility is gone.
The subtitle is no better: while this book does touch on early menopause a couple of times, I’d estimate that 95% of it is actually about POF and POI, which again are not exactly the same thing. I suppose the authors used “early menopause” in the title because POF and POI are not well-known terms, but could they not have said “Early Menopause and Ovarian Failure Survival Guide”? Three little extra words to raise awareness and accuracy? I nearly passed this book over because I had other books on menopause already, and I am not IN menopause. If I had not read it, I would not have known it applied to me as well.
2. The cover art. The single, discreet tulip on the cover only adds to the “let’s plan your funeral” design vibe.
3. The attitude (at times). Yes, it’s a crummy situation to find yourself in: You’re 20 or 30, you should be having a great sex life and possibly some kids, but instead you’re having hot flashes, can’t remember your own name half the time, and you’re afraid you’re going to need to steal from Grandma’s stash of Depends, and that’s not even getting started on the osteoporosis risk. I’m sure for many women, it does cause a complete identity crisis. However, some women, including myself, are not going to feel that their entire sense of self has to change because of a POI diagnosis. This book made the self-doubt sound so inevitable that I wondered momentarily if I might be in denial!
4. The sex chapter. Since the authors started off putting so much emphasis on “This is a physical problem with physical symptoms, so don’t let anyone tell you it’s all in your head,” I was extremely disappointed when this chapter suggested that whether or not this problem affects your sex life is indeed all in your head! The authors emphasize the old “the brain is the biggest sexual organ” and “men need a place to have sex, women need a purpose” chestnuts. They even quote an expert who says that some women find their sexual symptoms improve when they get a new partner. Rather than mention the fact that new relationships cause new chemicals to release that do indeed create more lust, the authors go on to say that making sure your relationship is secure and healthy is the most helpful thing you can do, and the rest depends on your attitude. Nowhere does it say what to do if your brain still thinks sex is a great idea but your body is out to lunch. I was so disappointed.
If you or someone you love is struggling with premature menopause, POI, or POF, this book is a must. However, don’t stop with this book. It has some great information, but it’s an incomplete resource.
December 3, 2010
I really liked the reassuring tone, thorough research, and many case studies in this book, which was the only one I could find on menopause that didn't have a photo of some happy woman with grey hair and a pastel sweater on the cover. However, this isn't really a book about premature menopause ('normal' menopause that happens a few years earlier than the average), but about premature ovarian insufficiency - and its target audience is young women who are suddenly diagnosed with POI (or who have had menopause forced upon them early by chemo or hysterectomy), particularly young women in their 20s or 30s. I don't quite fit that profile (I'm almost 40 and already have children), so there were a few chapters I skipped reading because they don't apply to my situation. However, most of this book was still very helpful to me in understanding why I have been blindsided by migraines, depression, and mood swings - which I had thought were unrelated medical problems to my irregular periods - and how best to discuss it with my GP, ob/gyn, and whatever other specialists I'll see to ensure I get the treatment I need to feel normal again.
September 24, 2017
There's really not a lot of books about primary ovarian insufficiency (failure) and the result that it causes: early menopause. I found this book extremely helpful in 1) being empathetic and 2) helping me get a correct diagnosis 3) understanding symptoms and treatments. It's a great reference book to keep around.
July 24, 2011
I couldn't even get into this book. They talk about a natural aging process like it's some kind of disease. Talking about coping and not feeling alone, etc. It's NOT FREAKIN' CANCER!!!! I got the book so I would know what to expect and what was normal and what I should see my doc about, not to hear a bunch of boo hooing from women who didn't need to tolerate the painful cramps, bloating, swollen, tender breasts and bleeding every month. Oh, yes, going to miss that terribly. Bunch of crazies. Yes there are downsides to menopause like dry skin, decrease metabolism, etc. but the trade off is so worth it. Sickening display of turning a woman's normal process into someone to be mourned. I only gave it a 2nd star because I was too turned off to continue the book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews