Vermilion The Perimenopause Solution: Take control of your hormones before they take control of you

Whilst there are some excellent parts to this book, there are two major concerns I have. Firstly that they refer to the decline in oestrogen as a ‘deficiency’ which is incorrect, it is a completely natural progression when going through the peri menopause and menopausal transition.Secondly they go on about the drop in oestrogen as being a main issue, to take HRT due to the ‘oestrogen deficiency’ etc when actually, during peri menopause, it’s the progesterone that takes the huge hit, declining way more than oestrogen, at a time when oestrogen not only fluctuates but can be severely higher ‘because’ of the reduction or complete lack of progesterone (so why add more oestrogen to peri menopause state when it’ll already be too high?!) - peri menopause is not the same, therefore often does not require both oestrogen AND progesterone for peri menopausal symptoms. I wish the UK would catch up on this, check endocrinologist studies on peri menopause, they’re not wrong.

I bought this book in light of all the glowing reviews on amazon and I couldn't wait to get it so I could start to feel enlightened and empowered about all the changes I have started to go through. Well, how dissappointing, this book is nothing but patronising twaddle, I can't believe it's been written by women for women! It starts by saying(and it does go on) that you should be positive about this stage of your life, just after it lists all the depressing things that will happen to your body. It is a very negative recount of the perimenopause and it fixates on the way women look, which is not helpful at all, because it very early on mentions how women going through the peri will look old.At some point it offers the "helpful advice" that (quote) 'simply smiling will give you a more youthful appearance'. All the while advocating cosmetic surgery.It asks women (quote) 'Are you really-honestly- wearing the right size dress?'It advises to get your boobs measured for a good bra, to get your brows tinted or microbladed and to get a good haircut.The only sound advice is to stop drinking and smoking (but I already knew that, for anyone who doesn't, this is great advice).Episode 7, 'get your mojo back' woman, you will feel much better if you do the following:- have a beauty treatment- wear no underwear, go on, be naughty and tell your partner- indulge in some retail therapy- wear bright coloured lipstick, be brave- spend some time in the kitchen baking a cake.This books absolutely reads as a manual on how to be a woman in the 1970s, according to men.On the same chapter it connects lack of sexual activity to vaginal atrophy, in their own words 'use it or lose it'.The authors advice women to watch porn but not the misogynistic type (is there any other type?, I ask myself) well, according to this book there's ethical porn. Really?? Yes, I am sure the women taking part feel super empowered.It also mentions transwomen go through menopause.All this gems can be found in the first part of the book, I just could not carry on reading, I felt thoroughly put in my place as a woman, so thank you Dr Harper and Ms Bardwell.

After what has been a truly difficult couple of years, the loss of both parents, living through lock down, my children ‘flying’ the nest and me in perimenopause, I had begun to feel helpless and hopeless at what way to turn. I’ve followed Emma Bardwell and other menopause experts on Instagram, but this book really spoke to me. There is so much information to help you understand what is going on with your body, most importantly for me my hormones, and to help make an informed decision on what route you chose. The advice is impartial whether you decide to follow a holistic path or if you decide to opt for HRT to support you or both!Before buying this book, I just didn’t know which way to go and who to turn to.Now I’m feeling empowered and ready to embrace this next chapter in my life! I’m sure there will be ups and downs along the way, but that is life! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to all women.

This book has really helped me to understand the changes happening in my body. It’s helped me to feel ‘normal’, recognise and monitor my perimenopausal symptoms and gives practical information about treatments, talking to your GP etc. Reading this is self love and care for women in their 40s/50s who are finding their body’s changes challenging and in my case, at times crippling. I feel far more empowered, knowledgeable and confident to take next steps to improve my symptoms.

This book will be an amazing source of information for so many women. I love that it’s based on science and how there are so many actionable practical tips. Well worth a read by every woman in their thirties and forties.