Book review: The Hormone Survival Guide for Perimenopause by Nisha Jackson

The sub-title of this book, by Nisha Jackson, is Balance Your Hormones Naturally. This is what grabbed my attention, as I am all about making lifestyle changes first, before popping any pills. I did find this advice in the book, but should I ever decide that hormone therapy is an option for me, I now have information on natural hormone options.

What will you find in the Hormone Survival Guide?

This book is quite small, at 145 pages, and a quick read. I read it cover to cover in three days’ worth of bus rides. However, it is chock full of information:

• Why Hormonal Chaos? – what perimenopause is, and what exactly is happening to our hormones during this stage of our life;
• Know Your Hormones in and out of Balance – information on how our hormones get out of whack, and an explanation of the roles estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone play in keeping us healthy;
• Have Your Hormones Tested – why we should have our hormone levels tested, and when best to test them;
• Use Hormones to Treat Hormone Problems – the difference between natural and synthetic hormones and how to use them to balance our hormone levels;
• Fix Your Diet: The Most Powerful Way to Create Hormonal Balance – why we gain weight during perimenopause and a plan for keeping our weight in check;
• Eliminate the Stress Hormone – the effect stress has on our hormones and our health, and tips for reducing stress in our life;
• Get a Grip on PMS – a PMS assessment checklist, and ways to reduce PMS symptoms;
• Turn on Your Sex Drive – why our libido may drop, and how to put the spice back into our love lives;
• The Fatigue Factor: Rejuvenate your Thyroid – symptoms, tests and treatment options for low thyroid;
• Other Hazards of Perimenopause – all those other potential complaints such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and hair loss.

Why this book over other books on perimenopause?

It is evident in this book that Doctor Jackson is passionate about the uniqueness of each woman. Therefore, she places an emphasis on hormone level testing, and individualized holistic treatment plans. A lot of the information in this book is an in depth discussion of the tests available, and the actual dosages of each hormone that should be discussed with your health care provider.

To be honest, I skimmed through the paragraphs on dosages, as they are not meaningful to me at this point in my life. However, I recognize that should I consider hormone replacement treatment, this book is an excellent guide for well informed discussions with my doctor.

Does this book push hormone replacement therapy?

At first I was concerned that was the direction the book was taking. The first several chapters incorporated statements such as the following:

The good news is every woman can benefit from in-depth evaluations, testing, lifestyle changes, supplements, and natural hormonal intervention.

However, I soon realized that Doctor Jackson is passionate about living a vibrant, and healthy life, free from debilitating symptoms associated with perimenopause and menopause, be it with treatments or not. As she says:

I am passionate about helping women understand their options and realize they do not need to live with symptoms of hormonal imbalance. I know that with careful testing and treatment, just about any woman’s symptoms can be relieved safely and effectively.

And she does advocate lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet, over supplements and hormones. But, if you are still suffering symptoms despite an already healthy lifestyle, this book provides you with excellent information on treatment options.