Best Books About Perimenopause in 2026
Discover the best books about perimenopause in 2026. From HRT guides to lifestyle science, these are the reads most recommended by women and clinicians.
Why Reading About Perimenopause Matters
For many women, perimenopause arrives without warning and without adequate information from the healthcare system. A GP appointment may last ten minutes, leaving little time to understand the hormonal changes unfolding over years. Books fill this gap, offering depth, nuance, and the kind of context that enables women to ask better questions, make more informed decisions about treatment, and feel less alone in their experience. The best perimenopause books are written by clinicians, researchers, or women with lived experience who bring rigour and accessibility together. Whether your priority is understanding HRT, managing symptoms through lifestyle, or simply feeling less bewildered, there is a book for you.
Oestrogen Matters by Dr Avrum Bluming and Carol Tavris
This book makes a compelling evidence-based case for hormone replacement therapy, challenging many of the fears that arose from the 2002 Women's Health Initiative study. Bluming, an oncologist, and Tavris, a social psychologist, carefully unpick how that study was misinterpreted and how the resulting overcorrection left millions of women without access to effective treatment. It is dense and research-heavy in places, but highly readable for a general audience. It is particularly valuable for women who have been told they cannot or should not use HRT and want to understand the evidence more thoroughly before accepting that advice without question.
The Perimenopause Solution by Dr Shahzadi Harper and Emma Bardwell
Written by a menopause specialist and a registered nutritionist, this book covers both the medical and lifestyle dimensions of perimenopause in practical, accessible terms. It explains the hormonal changes clearly, addresses the full range of symptoms, and provides evidence-based dietary and lifestyle guidance alongside a nuanced discussion of HRT and other medical options. The tone is warm and non-alarmist, and the book does a particularly good job of showing how nutrition, exercise, stress management, and medical treatment can work together rather than in competition. It is one of the most frequently recommended starting points for women newly navigating perimenopause.
Menopause: The Change for the Better by Dr Karen Morton
Karen Morton is a UK-based consultant gynaecologist and menopause specialist whose book is notable for its breadth and medical rigour combined with genuine warmth. It covers perimenopause through to postmenopause, addressing symptoms, investigations, and all forms of hormonal and non-hormonal treatment in detail. The book includes a particularly clear explanation of the different forms of HRT available in the UK, which is useful for women trying to understand their prescribing options. It is a comprehensive reference as much as a cover-to-cover read, and many women keep it as a resource to return to as their symptoms and treatment needs evolve.
Hormone Repair Manual by Dr Lara Briden
Lara Briden is a naturopathic doctor whose work bridges conventional and integrative medicine. Her Hormone Repair Manual is aimed specifically at women over 40 and covers perimenopause through to the transition with a particular focus on the role of progesterone, insulin resistance, and thyroid function. She advocates for bioidentical progesterone and provides detailed guidance on dietary and supplement-based interventions alongside a discussion of HRT. The perspective is more integrative than purely conventional, which appeals to women who want to exhaust lifestyle options before or alongside medication. Her earlier book Period Repair Manual has a strong following among younger women.
Midlife: A Philosophical Guide by Kieran Setiya
Not all perimenopause reading needs to be medical. Setiya, a philosopher at MIT, wrote this book to explore the experience of midlife transition from a philosophical rather than hormonal perspective. He addresses questions of meaning, identity, regret, and purpose in a way that resonates for many women navigating perimenopause alongside a broader sense of change. It is a short, well-argued book that many women describe as unexpectedly comforting. Reading it alongside a more clinical perimenopause book provides a useful complement, addressing the emotional and existential dimensions that medical texts often leave unexplored.
How to Choose the Right Book for You
The right perimenopause book depends on what you need most at any given moment. If you are newly diagnosed or recently started noticing symptoms, a broad introductory text like The Perimenopause Solution gives you a grounded overview. If your priority is understanding HRT, Oestrogen Matters and Menopause: The Change for the Better are the most evidence-dense options. If you prefer an integrative or lifestyle-focused lens, Hormone Repair Manual is well suited. Many women find that reading a couple of books from different perspectives gives the most complete picture. Alongside reading, tracking your own symptoms and patterns in an app like PeriPlan helps you connect what you are learning to your specific experience.
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