Menopause and Midlife Health

Notelovitz, who established the Climacteric Clinic at the University of Florida at Gainesville, collaborates here with freelance writer Tonnessen to explain the hormonal alterations not only of menopause itself but also those of the years that precede and follow it, with symptoms ranging from PMS to osteoporosis. Writing with clarity and paying close attention to the sorts of details that consumers will care about, the coauthors, who also cowrote Estrogen: Yes or No? , survey dietary considerations, make contraceptive recommendations for midlife users, discuss the option of hysterectomy and look at illnesses that can strike in or after middle age: heart disease, cancer, urinary tract infections and others. They also take a reasoned look at the pros and cons of hormone therapy, and offer counsel on sex. The asset of the book, besides its completeness, is accessibility: seemingly, the authors have left little out, and certainly they've brought complicated information down to earth. (Aug.)