Book outline

Life begins at menopause?
A guide to the changes at midlifeand menopause for women and their partners

Chapter 1

The individual experience of meopause

There is so much written and spoken about menopause, it is hard to know where to start. We know that hot flushes and vaginal changes can be directly linked to the hormonal changes of menopause, but what about everything else? What about things like depression, mood swings, libido, relationship changes, body image and role changes? What about the women who find that menopause is a really positive time in their lives? What about women who say ‘I decided to start living my life after menopause?’

Maybe life can begin at menopause?

Chapter 2

What does menopause mean physically?

Provides a basic understanding of menopause.

Chapter 3

Mood, memory and psychology

The transition through menopause can play havoc with your feelings and thoughts, making you feel you are sad more of the time, grumpy more of the time and even ‘loopy’ some of the time.

Chapter 4

Menopause: A sense of meaning, transitions and loss

Every day we understand more and more about the psychological changes that women experience around the time of menopause.

Chapter 5

Roles and purpose in life

The roles that we occupy give purpose to our life, are important to how we feel about ourselves and our overall satisfaction with life.

Chapter 6

Menopause and partners

The kind of relationship you have with your partner is important to your emotional and physical wellbeing.

Chapter 7

Menopause, midlife and sex

Many misconceptions about sex abound throughout our lives, but never more than at midlife and as we age.

Chapter 8

Menopause, children, family and friends

Many women define themselves by their interpersonal relationships: the relationships they have with their partner, family, children and friends.

Chapter 9

Body image

What seems to happen with age is that we continue to be dissatisfied with our bodies, but our acceptance of them actually
increases.

Chapter 10

What does it all mean

There is an abundance of information about the symptoms and treatments of menopause out there... How do we know if we are doing the right thing by our bodies or our emotional wellbeing?

Chapter 11

Menopause explained for men

So your partner is going through menopause, or at least that’s what you think is the cause of all her distress.

Appendix

• Diary of symptoms
• Diary of thoughts and feeling
• Chapter Notes