Book Club: Menopausing by Davina McCall

The Book Club’s most recent read was Menopausing by Davina McCall, a book that looks to tackle the perceived taboo subject of menopause, recognising that those who are currently and have been through menopause have been encouraged to keep quiet about its onset, treatment and symptoms. Davina McCall and Dr Naomi Potter look to break the shameful silence over peri-menopause and menopause with the intention to empower and support everyone through their experience.

Initial comments from the book club included ‘life-changing from an awareness point of view’ with the majority of readers admitting their lack of knowledge prior to reading the book.

The book’s main aim is to get people talking and reduce the stigma, which was certainly achieved in our book club. With personal accounts being shared in the book, the range of symptoms and adverse effects of menopause that has impacted so many sparked in depth discussions as well as provided a space for those who attended to open up around personal experience and experiences of partners and mothers with menopause. There was an overarching new found respect and feeling of empathy for what more than half of the population have to go through.

Overall the book educated the book club on the extensive list of symptoms, the positive and sometimes life changing impact of HRT, along with the impact that menopause can have on relationships and work life. The consensus was the book provides comfort and a refreshing perspective for those who are experiencing menopause, reinforcing that you’re not alone in your experience, along with providing a much needed insight into the complex symptoms and effects that women experience.

Overall rating – 7

Readability – 7

Recommend – 9

Recommended resources:

balance – balance app (balance-menopause.com)

Find a BMS-recognised Menopause Specialist – British Menopause Society (thebms.org.uk)

Menopause Support, Advice & Products – Boots

Up next: The Future of the professions by Richard Susskind and Daniel Susskind