Table of Contents for Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause

Preface
Introduction

APPROACHING MENOPAUSE
 
1: Understanding Our Menopause Experiences
Ageism and Sexism – Medicalization – The Role of Hormones – Racial and Ethnic Differences – Midlife Transitions – Finding Our Balance
     
2: Making Health Care Decisions
Facing Menopause – Menopause as a Normal Life Event – It May Not Be Menopause – Ageism and Medicalization – Interventions and Their Consequences – Gathering Information – Evaluating Information – Understanding Research Results – Can We Trust the Evidence in Evidence-Based Medicine?  - Making Decisions – Evaluating Drugs – Barriers to Receiving Medical Care - Racism and Discrimination – Language Barriers - Choosing a Provider – Considerations in Choosing a Provider or Clinic – When You See Your Provider: What to Ask and Whom to Bring - Conclusions

A TRANSITION AND ITS CHALLENGES
 
3: What’s Happening in Our Bodies
The Transition Years – Menstrual Calendars – Changing Hormones – Follicle-Stimulation Hormone – Estradiol – Inhibins – Progesterone – Androgens – Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin – Estrone – Other Hormones – Ethnic Differences – Signs of the Menopause Transition – Hot Flashes – Sleep Problems – Sexual Concerns – Depression – Memory – Other Concerns – Physiologic Changes of The Menopause Transition – Weight and Fat Distribution – Insulin – Bone Mass – Other Concerns – Learning More

4: Sudden and Early Menopause
What Causes Early Menopause  - Surgical Menopause – Treatment Induced Menopause – Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) – What is Unique About Early Menopause – Signs of Early Menopause – Is It Really Early Menopause – Temporary Conditions That Are Not Early Menopause  - Menopause Concerns for Young Women – Medical Issues – Psychological Concerns – Social Differences - Treatment and Support – Hormonal Treatments – Counseling Therapy – Support Groups - Resolution

5: Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, and Sleep Disturbances
The Heat Spectrum – Who Experiences Hot Flashes? – What Can I Do About Hot Flashes? – Lifestyle Changes – Paced Respiration – Complementary Health Practices – Prescription Medications – Insomnia and Other Sleep Disturbances – What is Insomnia? – Improving Your Sleep – Diagnosis Sleep Disorders – Sleep Remedies and Medications

6: Vulvovaginal Changes
Causes of Itching, Burning and Pain – Infection – Vaginal Atrophy  - The Vulva – The Vagina – Treatment of Atrophy of the Vulva and Vagina – Lichen Sclerosus – Appearance – Evaluation – Treatment – Lichen Simplex Chronicus – Appearance – Evaluation – Treatment – Vulvar Lichen Planus – Appearance – Evaluation and Treatment – Vulvodynia – Evaluation – Treatment – Care for Your Vulva and Vagina

7: Hormone Treatment
A Brief History of Hormone Treatment  – Understanding the WHI Results – Hormone Treatment Today – Proven Claims – Unproven Claims – Different Kinds of Hormone Treatment  - Estrogen-Only and Estrogen Plus Progestogen Combinations – How Much and How Long? – Delivery Methods – Adding Testosterone to the Mix – Natural Products: Phytoestrogens and Bioidentical Hormones – Other Treatments for Healthy Bones and Hot Flashes- Health Bones – Hot Flashes – Surgically and Medically Induced Menopause – Hormone Treatment After Surgical Menopause – Early Natural Menopause  - Hormones and Transgendered Health – Should I or Shouldn't I?

CHANGING SELVES, CHANGING RELATIONSHIPS

8: Body Image
Effects of Low Self-Esteem – Attitudes Towards Aging – Sudden and Early Menopause – Social and Media Influences – Cosmetic Surgery – Midlife Women and Breast Implants  – Real Changes to Expect as We Age – Thinning Hair – Skin Changes – Weight Gain – Celebrating Us

9: Sexuality
Physical Changes and Emotional Reactions – Body Image – Changing Relationships – The Importance of Communication – Range of Sexual Expression – Birth Control – Unexpected Pregnancy – Abortion – Placing a Child for Adoption – Motherhood - Sexually Transmitted Infections - Changing Desire – The Medicalization of Female Sexual Desire – Illness, Disabilities and Sexuality – Strategies and Approaches

10: Family Life and the Workplace
The Family: A Club-Sandwich Generation – Becoming a Mother – Launching Children – Caring for Aging Parents – The Workplace – Finding or Changing Jobs – Work-Family Balance – Planning for Retirement – New Visions for Life After Menopause

TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES

11: Emotional Well-Being and Managing Stress
Stress – The Stress Response – Stress and Health  -- The Fine Art of Effective Coping – Acknowledging Our Feelings – Problem Solving – Rethinking Our Thoughts – The Relaxation Response – Contemplation – Spirituality – Moving to Acceptance – Social Connections  - Emotional Well-Being and Social Change

12: Eating Well
What is a Healthy Diet? – Eat Whole Grains – Eat Plenty of Vegetables and Fruits – Choose Healthy Fats – Choose Healthy Protein Sources – Cut Down on "Empty Calories" – Remember that Size Matters – Reducing Health Risks – Heart Disease and Stroke – Diabetes – Cancer – Osteoporosis – Relief for Menopause Related Problems  - Challenges to Eating Well – Eating Well on a Limited Budget – A Healthy Weight – Weight Gain in the Menopausal Transition – Our Body Weight, Ourselves

13: Staying Active
It's Never Too Late – Making the Commitment – Access Your Activity Level – Are You Ready for Change – The Top Five Excuses Not to Exercise – Setting Goals – The Prescription for Fitness – The First Step – Step Two – Step Three – Keep Moving

HEALTH CONCERNS

14: Uterine and Bladder Health
Uterine Health – Uterine Bleeding – Uterine Prolapse – Bladder Health – Self-Care for Treatment or Prevention – Pelvic Floor Muscle Training – How to Exercise Your Pelvic Floor  -- Behavior Changes that Benefit Bladder Health – Bladder Training – Medication and Surgery

15: Memory and Mood
Memory and Menopause  – Our Brain, Thinking and Memory – Midlife and Memory – Who Has Memory Problems at Midlife? -  Mood and Menopause – Mood Problems and Depression – Causes for Mood Problems and Depression During the Menopause Transition – Antidepressant Medications -- Women and Stress – Who Experiences Mood Problems at Menopause? -- Treatments

16: Bone Health
Redefining Osteoporosis – Symptoms – How Common is Osteoporosis? – Who is at Risk of Bone Fractures? – What Can I Do? – Exercise to Strengthen Muscles and Bones – Get Enough Calcium – Get Enough Vitamin D – Get Enough Vitamin A, But Not Too Much – Avoid Excessive Caffeine – Decrease Risks for Falls – Estrogen-Progestin Treatment – Age for Bone Density Testing

17: Heart Health
Taking Care of Ourselves  - Cholesterol Levels with Menopause – Blood Pressure With Menopause – Weight Change with Menopause – Cardiovascular Disease Prevention – Prevention – Treating Risk Factors to Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke – Treatment of Hypertension – Treatment of High Cholesterol – Questioning the Role of Cholesterol -- Treatment of Diabetes – Postmenopausal Hormone Treatment – How Heart Disease Develops – Cerebrovascular Disease – Peripheral Arterial Disease – When to Suspect Cardiovascular Disease – Signs of Stroke – Signs of Peripheral Arterial Disease – Testing for Heart Disease – Tests to Evaluate Chest Discomfort – Other Testing -  Treatments for Heart Disease – Lifestyle – Herbs and Vitamins – Protective and Nonprotective Drugs

18: Cancers
Screening for Early Detection  - Treatments and Effects – Breast Cancer – Demographics, Risk Factors and Screening – Diagnosis and Treatment – Ovarian Cancer – Demographics, Risk Factors and Screening – Diagnosis and Treatment – Endometrial / Uterine Cancer – Demographics, Risk Factors and Screening – Diagnosis and Treatment – Cervical Cancer – Demographics, Risk Factors and Screening – Diagnosis and Treatments – Vaginal / Vulvar Cancer – Lung Cancer  - Colorectal Cancer

19: Other Health Concerns
Tobacco – Health Effects – Quitting Smoking – Alcohol – Health Effects – Recognizing a Problem – Finding Help – Self-Help Groups – Managing Withdrawal – Type 2 Diabetes – Diagnosis – Who Gets Type 2 Diabetes? – Diabetes Treatment and Management – Migraine Headaches – Triggers – Early Warning Symptoms – Migraine Treatments – Joint Health – Dry Eye and Vision Changes – Hearing Loss – Gum and Dental Problems – Thyroid Conditions

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

20: The Politics of Women’s Health
Barriers to Getting Good Health Care – Medicalization and Marketing – Discrimination and Health Disparities – Low Income and Lack of Insurance – The U.S. Health Care System – Government Insurance: Medicare and Medicaid  - Supporting Women's Health Through Menopause and Beyond – Reforming the Health Care System – Economic Security: End Gender Discrimination – Family-Friendly Workplace Policies – Retirement Security

21: Finding Our Power, Organizing for Change
Building Community – Making Healthy Decisions – Implementing Our Plan – Organizing for Social Change – Taking Political Action – Examples of Grassroots Organizations -  Moving Forward

Resources
Authorship and Acknowledgment
About the Contributors
Disclosures
Index