Menopausing by Davina McCall & Dr Naomi Potter – Book Review
As you’ll know from my recent blog post on the subject, I’m now in perimenopause. This is the stage before ‘full-blown’ menopause, and there are all kinds of side-effects and symptoms associated with it. As part of my ongoing struggle to cope with this change of life and remain healthy & sane, I’ve been doing some research into peri meno. I bought two books on the subject, The New Hot by Meg Matthews, and the book I’m reviewing here today: Menopausing by Davina McCall (with Dr Naomi Potter).
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This book was published in 2022, and in 2023 it won Book of the Year at the British Book Awards.
Davina McCall & the Menopause
What does Davina McCall know about the menopause? Quite a lot, as it turns out. If you don’t know who Davina McCall is, you mustn’t have watched any British TV for the last few decades – Channel 4, in particular. Even infrequent viewers will recognise the name Davina McCall from the likes of Big Brother and Streetmate. In recent years, Davina has been a major part of popular ITV shows such as The Million Pound Drop, The Masked Singer and Long Lost Family.
Davina McCall is 55 years old at the time of writing, and her menopausal symptoms (perimenopause) began when she was 44 years old.
With regards menopause experience and research, Davina McCall presented two menopause-themed documentaries for Channel 4:
- Davina McCall: Sex, Myths and the Menopause was aired in 2021
- Davina McCall: Sex, Mind and the Menopause was aired in 2022
I watched both documentaries and I was very impressed – not only by the depth of research but also the passion Davina herself showed when talking about this often misunderstood or quickly dismissed topic. She seems to genuinely care about providing up-to-date facts for people affected, and compassionately offers recommendations for reducing symptoms and avoiding long-term negative mental & physiological effects from menopause.
Davina also runs #MenopauseMonday from her Instagram page which provides ongoing support and advice for those affected by menopause & perimenopause. Explore her website at thisisdavina.com.
Medical Expert
Menopausing by Davina McCall benefits from the medical expertise of Dr Naomi Potter, who is a British Menopause Society accredited specialist. She has almost 20 years’ experience as an NHS doctor, with a background in General Practice and Women’s Health.
You can get menopause-related info & advice from Dr Naomi at her website menopausecare.co.uk as well as from her menopause care Instagram page & personal Insta page.
Topics Covered
Menopausing by Davina McCall is subtitled ‘The positive roadmap to your second spring’. It covers a LOT of topics and feels fully comprehensive on the subject of menopause – exactly what you want in a reference book you can turn to time and again for various related issues. I’ll summarise the contents for you below:
- Introduction
- Turbulent moods & brain fog
- The facts about perimenopause & menopause
- Perimeno & menopause symptoms
- Early menopause & premature ovarian insufficiency
- HRT demystified
- Debunking the HRT myths
- How menopause can mimic depression
- Dry vagina – and what to do about it
- Reclaiming your libido & sex life during menopause
- Safeguarding your relationship during menopause
- Dealing with menopause along with breast cancer
- Dealing with menopause along with other health issues
- Positive changes from the menopause
- Menopause positivity & spreading the word
Is It Worth Buying?
YES. That’s the concise answer!
I am absolutely amazed by just how much information is in this book, but more than that, it feels like it comes from a very personal place with various anecdotes from Davina, who has this way of making you feel like she truly cares about you in particular. It’s warm, real, regularly conversational in tone, and supportive – but full to the brim with current guidance and genuinely helpful recommendations with absolutely no trace of negativity or stigma.
This is the book I turn to when I want to get direct facts and professional medical opinion on any menopause-related issues I might be experiencing, or when I want to sit and read others’ experiences to help me feel not quite as alone with my peri-meno struggles.
I absolutely love it. It’s also a total bargain -whether you buy the hard-back, hard copy format as I did, or one of the other formats available.
Which brings me to…
Hard Copy, E-book or Audiobook?
Yes, Menopausing by Davina McCall isn’t only available in the hardback, hard copy format I bought for myself. You might opt to own this impressive and informative book in either e-book format or listen to Michael Douglas (as well as the authors themselves) narrate the contents as an audiobook.
I prefer to have reference books like this in a tangible form that I can have on the bookshelf, to take down and sit with and leaf through whenever I feel the desire or need. However, you may prefer Menopausing as an e-book which could be stored on your PC or mobile device, ready to read through or dip into whenever and wherever you are, with complete discretion.
Audiobooks are fantastic for those who find themselves too busy to sit and read. If you have a daily or weekly activity such as a treadmill workout, a long walk or jog, or even just doing the housework, you could pop Menopausing on as an audiobook and let the narrators guide you through the wealth of information, anecdotes and support contained within.
Testimonials
Winner of The British Book Awards 2023 Overall Book of the Year
Number 1 Sunday Times Hardback Non Fiction bestseller (September 2022)
‘We can’t wait for this.’ -Red
‘Game changing.’ -Guardian Online
‘[This] book is amazing; the way you’ve designed this book, from the colours to the cover to the structure of every page and how engaging and unintimidating it is and accessible it feels.’ -Steven Bartlett, Diary of a CEO
‘An authoritative and useful yet entertaining book about an important and ignored subject.’ -Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel 4 News Anchor
‘Bracing, brutally honest, sisterly and huggy all at the same time.’ –The Bookseller
Buy Your Copy Today
Buy your copy of Menopausing by Davina McCall & Dr Naomi Potter, in your preferred format, from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk through the buttons below:
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This fantastic resource is also available from various other reputable book stores.
I purchased the book reviewed above. This review contains affiliate links.
