RebeccasReads.com reviews The Midlife Bible

The Midlife Bible: A Woman's Survival Guide

Michael P. Goodman, M.D.
Robert D. Reed Publishers (2007)
ISBN 9781931741828
Reviewed by Allison King for RebeccasReads (5/08)

As I began reading “The Midlife Bible: A Woman’s Survival Guide,” I felt as though Dr. Goodman was reading my mind. Menopause had always been a ‘hushed’ topic that you didn’t discuss as I was growing up. Dr. Goodman discusses alternatives to normal drug options for menopause and other health issues that arise in midlife for women. As a woman about to go through ‘the change’ myself, it scares me that I might not be aware of all of the options for health issues that may arise. This book has given me a step forward in being more informed and confident when going in to a doctor’s office.

Dr. Goodman writes in a simple language that makes it easy to understand the abundance of information he gives out in this book. He covers many health topics that a ‘midlife’ woman might go through from the different phrases of menopause to sexuality, bone density and insomnia. He talks about not only the drug options available to assist in getting through different medical conditions, but notes how much a change of lifestyle (food and exercise) can be beneficial too. I liked how Dr. Goodman was very open to referencing and referring to other doctor’s theories, books and websites to go to for more information on specific topics.

I would recommend this book for all women and even men to read to get a better understanding of how this midlife event can change the lives of everyone around you. Dr. Goodman has even written a book for men on the topic called “MEN-opause: The Book for MEN.”

“The Midlife Bible: A Woman’s Survival Guide” has given me hope that there are doctors still out there that are willing to listen to their patients and give alternative treatment options. The author ‘gets it’ that not all women (or men) are alike and should not be given a standard treatment, but look at options that may be best for that individual person. As a woman in the society we live in now, we need to be informed and prepared to put our foot down when it comes to our own health decisions.

Recent Professional Activities:

Publication of Dr. Goodman's research paper "Female Genital Plastic Surgery: a Large National Multi-Centered Outcome Study", the largest study yet published worldwide on female genital plastic surgery, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Attendance at a training course for the new Pelleve Radiofrequency Procedure for noninvasive treatment of facial and neck wrinkles, skin tightening and toning in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Goodman was asked to be on the speaker's bureau of Boeringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, speaking and educating on female sexual dysfunction, and Novogyne Pharmaceuticals, United States, speaking and educating on hormone therapy for peri- and post-menopause.

Presentation of endocrine grand rounds at Stanford University in March of 2010 on transdermal versus oral estrogen replacement for post-menopausal women.

Faculty member of the first Global Conference on Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery at the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery meeting, Orlando, Florida, January 25, 2010. Dr. Goodman contributed to presentations and moderated discussion groups on ethical and patient protection issues in female genital plastic surgery as well as sexual issues in vaginal tightening procedures.

Attendance at and faculty member of the 30th annual North American Menopause Society meeting n San Diego, California in October of 2009. Dr. Goodman presented his poster presentation on the use of oral versus transdermal hormone therapy.

Faculty member at the annual International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, participating in the "Great Debate" on female sexual dysfunction and presenting a paper on his large nationwide female genital plastic surgery study.

Dr. Goodman was invited to give Grand Rounds at Sutter Hospital in Davis, Ca in October. His topic was "Transdermal (Bioidentical) Hormone Therapy".

Dr. Goodman was quoted in "Endocrine Today". http://www.endocrinetoday.com/view.aspx?rid=44251

Dr. Goodman was the senior author of two recently published peer-reviewed medical journal articles, "Is Elective Plastic Surgery Ever Warranted, and What Screening Should be Conducted Preoperatively," published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, (2007;4:269-276) and "Female Cosmetic Genital Surgery," published in the journal, Obstetrics and Gynecology (2009;113: 156-159).

The first chapter in a U. S. textbook on female genital aesthetic surgery, "Female Genital Plastic Surgery" authored by Dr. Goodman, will be published in the new text, "Female Reproductive and Sexual Medicine" due out Fall, 2009.

News: RebeccasReads.com reviews The Midlife Bible 09-01-2008; More news…