Book Review

Before The Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause

Ann Louise Gittleman, MS, CNS
Harper Collins Publishers Inc.

Excellent resource for perimenopausal patients

Perimenopause is one of the most challenging times in a woman’s life because of all the physical changes she is witnessing and the insecurities she is experiencing. This book is one of the only books written that addresses this critical time. This easy-to-read book, with a foreword by Jonathan V. Wright, MD, empowers perimenopausal women to take charge of their health and manage menopause and its symptoms with a positive outlook. The author explores contradictory data on diet, herbs, minerals, vitamins and hormones, giving clear and concise recommendations. She concentrates on natural therapy options and offers a complete do-it-yourself approach. She has coined the term peri zapper and offers these tools for symptomatic relief of perimenopausal symptoms: (1) flaxseed oil, (2) evening primrose oil, (3) multivitamins and magnesium, (4) zinc, (5) natural progesterone cream, (6) exercise, (7) destressing stress, (8) adrenal refreshers, (9) soy phytoestrogens, and (10) natural estrogen replacement. With regard to HRT, Gittleman mentions the use of compounded progesterone and tri-estrogen therapy and includes a resource section on how to locate a compounding pharmacy. This is a “must read” for all perimenopausal women. Recommend this book to patients.