Books on menopause aren't the sort of thing one considers to be a "fun" read, but Corinna manages to entertain and educate in this insightful book. The wry sense of humor is evident from the title alone. The book addresses the history of menopause and, really, how people with gestational potential have been treated in medical research, and goes on to examine different symptoms and what might be helpful to get through, with an eye on the prize on the other side of the hey-I-stopped-bleeding landmark.

I've read a couple other books on the topic. I think this one is especially good at exploring the psychological complications around perimenopause, as some people will rejoice at the freedom from periods while others will grieve. The language throughout is incredibly inclusive; the author is nonbinary. There's even a chapter at the end that directly addresses the needs of trans individuals going through perimenopause. This is a book that acts as a good reminder that society tends to sneer in disgust or make a mockery of perimenopause, but it is nothing to be ashamed of and we are definitely not alone in what we're enduring. The author is a sex educator and quite blunt about their own experiences. Some of the lines are laugh out loud funny, like: "For the bulk of the time I’ve had them, my periods have, like Republican administrations, been painful and disruptive to my life and well-being." ( )

This is a book about perimenopause and menopause: a history of thought on the subject (this part doubles as a horror story of how medicine has been consistently shitty to women from Day One), a crash course in the biology behind the phenomenon, and a self-help guide to the options out there now to get you through it.
There were some helpful nuggets in here, but I admit to skimming large chunks, mostly because the author's tone and sense of humor were super nerve-grating. ( )

Perimenopause - that transition time before official menopause, when a person has been without a period for a full year - is a time we often dread, fear, ridicule, or just plain don't understand. It doesn't help when one lives in a world where women are second-class citizens and much of the time the medical advice has less to do with self-care of the person experiencing menopause than with managing symptoms for the benefit of everyone around her.

Enter Heather Corinna and their no-nonsense, validating and affirming approach to perimenopause. They address basic care that will help those experiencing symptoms, the things we all know are "good for us" like exercising and quitting smoking. They discuss questions for health care providers, the pros and cons of hormone replacement therapy. But most of all, they advocate for taking care of yourself and embracing positive aspects of menopause in the midst of a culture that doesn't value women after childbirth. This is also one of the most inclusive books I've ever read, as you might expect from a non-binary sex education author. Heather comes alongside as someone still experiencing perimenopause, and having a rough time with it. They're not afraid to acknowledge the rough parts of perimenopause, yet do it in a way that I was laughing and enjoying myself reading about hot flashes and nominal aphasia. This gave me the confidence that I do know my body and I am experiencing perimenopause, as well as the language to ask my doctors questions at my next appointments. ( )

Ok, I wish this book had been available BEFORE I hit perimenopause. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to be prepared for what you have to go through with perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. Author Heather Corinna is hilarious, and she infuses humor throughout this very informative and fact-based book. I also like that the book is gender-inclusive; it's not just cis women who have to go through this.

I had read a review of this book, and that is what convinced me to read it. First of all, the title is hilarious and spot on. Second, here's the title of the first chapter: And In the Beginning Was the Word, and the Word Was "Dammit." Hahahaha. I laughed out loud and knew that this book was for me. From details of the female anatomy, to explanations of how hormones work, to physical and mental repercussions of the menopausal process, to what to do to make things a little better during the process...this book covers the entire gamut.

I not only found this book eye-opening but also entertaining, thanks to Corinna's humor. And it was nice to know that all the weird stuff that I'm going through is not specific to just me. ( )

No one prepares you for perimenopause. I mean, sort of. You hear tales of hot flashes, mood swings, brain fog, and maybe you have someone in your life, a friend who is a few years ahead of you, or your mother’s “change” was discussed in hushed whispers. But there are still many mysteries about perimenopause and the mystery can disarm you like puberty, except at least with puberty you had a Judy Blume book and a public education class. And the pain of it is that everyone’s experience is slightly different. I had thought I was fairly done with it until I had what I know now is referred to as flooding. It is exactly what it sounds like.

What is this? Do fibroids burst? Do I have cancer? I called my OB/GYN and went in. She ran some tests and it wasn’t cancer, and while this doctor knew everything about my reproductive system and birthing, I didn’t feel the same level of competence with this new situation. She put me on birth control for a few months to see if it would straighten out. I didn’t even find much on the Internet, except for advice to give myself the excuse to stay on the couch a few days.

So I turned to What Fresh Hell is This? Perimenopause, menopause, other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna a new book coming out this June. The author, while not a doctor, does have street cred having been an educator in the field of sexuality. There were parts of the book I felt were useful, a section on flooding was included, and there were some questions I had answered. Sometimes I had to pass through a lot of content to get my particular questions answered. The book tries to be all things to all people—there is a fair amount dedicated to the trans experience and a lot on the history of menopausal malpractice by the patriarchy. There isn’t a lot out there, but my hormones have made my patience thin and I want answers to MY questions. Some of the solutions also seem “in the now”, but that may be because this field is rapidly changing.

Again, my experience will be different from yours, so you may find answers to your particular situation with this book.

BTW—an excellent title for the book, because with each new experience of perimenopause, you will be asking yourself exactly What Fresh Hell is This? ( )