Solid 4.5 stars.

Given that HALF of our aging population experiences an often lengthy perimenopause nearing her midlife, and then undergoes menopause, the dearth of scientific information and medical assistance is actually appalling. (Spell check doesn't even recognize the word perimenopause, which should tell us all we need to know about how well it is understood!!) This makes this book absolutely invaluable.

The author is a medical doctor, long-time specialist and researcher in the field of menopause. This book - the culmination of her life's work thusfar, is a true gift to all those of us who are are trying to navigate these waters - often alone. On the internet, it is so easy to read misinformation or emotional/fear-based personal accounts. Given that each of us with a uterus will experience a somewhat unique and unpredictable form of perimenopause, this book gives us solid, factual, explanations (as far as are possible given the dearth of science in this field), and thankfully, various possible remedies.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THIS BOOK:
* That it exists - full stop!
* Perimenopause and menopause (the day one reaches 12 full months without bleeding), are explained in everyday English. The author explains the limitations with current medical understanding, her lengthy experience treating all different manner of folks undergoing perimenopause, how she has divided up patients into different groups that frame different types of menopause possible, how previous erroneous studies have been over-turned and everything in between.
* That the author provides both pharmaceutical, non-pharmaceutical and lifestyle-change remedies for not only each of the menopausal types that she has identified, but ALSO for each symptom that someone with a utuerus might experience during their lengthy experience of perimenopause. The book is divided up into the beginning that explains the science, the bulk of the book explaining the each of menopausal types and a plethora of remedies, and then a section at the end that gives possible remedies for each symptom of perimenopause.
* I love that this book is quite inclusive. The author gives different remedies for those that have a history of, or are currently suffering from, cancer. She explains the counterindications between certain cancer treatments and pharmaceutical remedies for perimenopause. She also discusses different supplements, diet and lifestyle changes and other non pharmaceutical remedies that may help alleviate certain symptoms of perimenopause. This book fully acknowledges the potentially overwhelming aspects of perimenpause and how an already full plate, work, family responsibilities and symptoms brought on by decreasing estrogen may impact mental health. The author also acknowledges that not all those who undergo perimenopause identify as women. She has done a really great job in holding space for those who will face these changes in their lifetimes.

WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK:
* An ongoing pet-peeve of mine is that American authors seem absolutely blind to the fact that there exists anywhere outside of the US. This author at least acknowledges that certain remedies or research in Europe of Scandinavia is relevant, but the book is still geared 100% towards an American reader. To my mind, with certain tweaks, this book could have easily read as inclusive and welcoming to all those undergoing perimenopause, while still maintaining that the author is American and thus most familiar with American standards of practice. Normally I dock a full star for this, but this book is too important.

All-in-all, *Unlock Your Menopause Type* is an absolute GIFT to those of us undergoing perimenopause now. Given the general lack of medical practitioners who have zero clue what to do with our symptoms, and a complete lack of essential research on the topic, the experiences of this menopause specialist are essential to our well-being (and may even help guide our primary medical providers). I, for one, will be purchasing a hard copy of this book to refer back to each time I need, and then to pass on to friends who are slightly younger than me.

The audiobook is read by the author. I would have preferred that the narration would have been done by someone trained to do so professionally, as it was a bit painful to listen to .... but still makes the book more accessible than not having an audiobook at all.

Huge gratitude to NetGalley, and the publisher for providing me with both an ARC and an Audio ARC copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

It's time to talk about menopause. Women no longer need to suffer in silence when we are told, "It's just a part of getting older." Menopause does not have to be miserable. Dr. Hirsch brings expert knowledge on the subject. I listened to the audiobook, which is a tricky thing to do with so much information. There are so many parts I will refer back to!
I received an advance copy of the audiobook for review (thanks to St Martins Press & Netgalley).

I wasn't able to finish this. It was too bad because I was hoping to find some great information on dealing with my menopause. I wish the author would have used a narrator, the way she read the book was just off putting for me and I struggled to listen to it. It's difficult to explain, but I expected her to break out in full valley girl mode. It was too bad because I'm sure she is an extremely intelligent woman but the way she spoke while reading this book gave the impression that she was not. Also, the information I was getting wasn't helpful for me because she kept giving examples of people she had helped and what their experiences were when they saw physicians. The information was also a bit repetitive with all of these cases. I finally decided that I wasn't getting any helpful information and threw in the towel. Medical advise books can be pretty boring so I'm sure it's difficult to write them in a way that can hold a reader's interest. I appreciate that she gave it a shot. Maybe the book format rather than the audio format would have been more beneficial for me to eliminate the narration issue and I could have skipped over the repetitive information.

This approachable book should be required reading for anyone trying to understand the science behind what happens to women’s bodies during menopause. I had countless “Aha!” moments learning the impact of reduced estrogen on almost everything - not just your mood, weight, and hair, but also your bones, joints, and susceptibility to higher blood pressure and cholesterol.

The audiobook is an easy listen. Dr. Hirsch narrates it herself, and her cheerful intelligence and experience are loud and clear. I switched to the e-book because I learn and retain better that way. However, if you enjoy non-fiction via audiobooks, I can recommend it.

While I wasn’t able to narrow in on my specific “Type,” detailed information about every symptom and possible treatment (from hormonal and non-hormonal meds and lifestyle adjustments) definitely helped me “cut through the informational noise” to take charge of managing my symptoms.

This is a well-researched and credible resource! (The last 40% of the book is definitions and references.) Stop trying to piece together information via random “experts” online and read this. I want to press the book into the hands of every woman I know.

Thanks, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the ALC and DRC.

Thank you @stmartinspress @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book and audiobook!

Even though I am 23 (eh hmm) I found this to be very helpful information! No one wants to live their life miserable for 10+ years 🫠

I am so thankful to know there are doctors out there trying to help other women find their menopause type. It seems after reading this book that it’s such a blip on most doctors training radars and not anything that is truly focused on. This book helps guide women to find their menopause type (because we are all certainly way different) and helps give more guidance and suggestions to help them with their symptoms which include lifestyle changes. In addition, this book will arm you with more resources and ideas to talk further with your own doctors about.

Most women know the idea of menopause, but after reading this book it seems way more information and support are needed for women. I understand now that you may not even be remotely close to how your mothers symptoms are and to be quite frank I am thankful for people like Dr. Hirsch so that if this book helps just 1 person not suffer silently it will have been worth it. This isn’t a glamorous topic by any means but thankful I now know more!

Last thought: I did have an audio copy of this book and I would suggest a physical copy or for you to pair a physical copy with the audiobook. There is so much information in it I found myself wanting and needing to refer to the hard copy. Plus, I would like to refer back to it visually in the future when I’m not 23 any longer. 😉

This book is a comprehensive guide that covers everything from the science of menopause to practical advice on how to manage symptoms.

The authors provide a throrough explanation of the hormonal changes and symptoms that occur during menopause and how they can affect a woman's body. The book also addresses the emotional and psychological aspects of menopause.

The authors addresses with variety of menopause types and how no two experiences are the same and offers advice on how to manage each menopause type.

I believe the print version of this book is bound to be a fantastic reference for all women. While I did absorb a lot of helpful information, I would not recommend the audio version. It is difficult to go back and reference the advice.

This book provides a wealth of information and advice that can help women manage their symptoms and maintain their health and well-being.

This book is a great guide to taming the tumult of menopause, written by a doctor whose recognition of types is at the core of her work at the Menopause and Midlife Clinic at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
This is chock full of amazing information, from helping you to identify your menopause type ( Premature, Sudden, Full-Throttle, Mind Altering, Seemingly Never Ending, and Silent; you can get one or multiple types), what the different types mean, how to manage the onset and the symptoms. It was super interesting, but after listening to the audio book, I think I will get a physical copy (I'm not sure the audio format is appropriate for such an information heavy topic, I will want to reference back to it at a later date and maybe take notes). Also, on the narration side, I felt like the tone used by the narrator may have been too much on the upbeat side for such a serious subject, but at the same time, I think it made it more palatable.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Aw, it pains me to leave a so-so review on a non-fiction book affecting half the population, but Unlock Your Menopause Type as an audio book just does not work.

I am 58 and have been in perimenopause for 11 years. I have still not reached menopause and want to shout from the rooftop to all women that you are not alone. Our society should do better to normalize this life changing, health challenging passage for women. There should be no shame. There should be greater information available. Doctors should take seriously the complaints we raise. Honest books should be written. I eagerly requested Unlock Your Menopause Type hoping to gain some insight into my own situation, but, audio is wrong for this one. It is too hard to navigate to the parts of the book which would have been helpful. You cannot peruse and jump to info you need, which is always a plus with non-fiction.

Having earned my hard knocks PhD in this subject as I navigate the journey in year 11, I found much of the information to be repetitious and introductory. That said, this is a great book if you are at the beginning of your transition. If you have no foundational life experience, start here and learn from Dr. Hirsch as she explains what's coming down the pike.

Finally, as a 40 year listener to audio books, allow me to paraphrase Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart - I cannot describe what makes someone a good audio narrator, but I know a bad one when I hear it. The author read this book and it was not good. I found the delivery to be annoying and distracting from the important material. Frequently the tone and cadence were jarring, and I had to work to stay invested. A good narrator does not get in the way of the story and while Dr. Hirsch is likely very talented in many fields, audio narration is not one of them.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook for review (thanks St Martins Press & Netgalley). I’m giving it 3 stars because it didn’t really work in this format for two reasons. First, there are sections and lists that don’t necessarily apply to each person listening to the book but there’s no easy way to navigate or fast forward to the next item on the list, etc. If you listen to the entire book, it is repetitive from section to section. Second, the narration didn’t work at all. Sorry, Dr Hirsch. I don’t want to sound harsh, but the exaggerated inflections made the book disconcerting at times. It’s a serious medical issue but the tone of the narration often made it sound like it was some kind of upbeat buzzfeed listicle.
I definitely think this should be read in ebook format. I would have given at least 4 stars if I’d been reviewing the ebook.