Family Practice Vol. 21, No. 5 © Oxford University Press 2004, all rights reserved.
Book Review |
Women's health in mid-life—a primary care guide. Jo Ann Rosenfeld (ed.). (374 pages, £35.) Cambridge University Press, 2004. ISBN 0-521-82340-4
GP Principal at The Cloisters Medical Practice, Lichfield, Staffs and Clinical Research Fellow at The Department of Primary Care and General Practice, University of Birmingham
"The middle ages of women are an often forgotten time ... No longer in their childbearing and birth control years, and not yet geriatric, the women are frequently ignored or their needs and wishes combined into one homogeneous group."
Captivated by the introductory paragraph, I found this book a fascinating read; a highly evidence-based review of many issues concerning women's health, it is a resource to be valued. Jo Ann Rosenfeld's writing style is a pleasure to read and, although only seven of the 21 chapters are written by her, the whole book flows comfortably, benefiting from each chapter being written to a clear formula: clinical case(s), introduction, main text, summary, further resources and references. It is divided into four main sections (health promotion, hormonal changes, disease prevention and cancer prevention), providing a helpful framework for those wishing to dip into it.
‘Benefits of exercise’ was an outstanding chapter, which I plan to use in clinical practice on a daily basis. The table summarizing exercise recommendations for selected disease populations was one of many helpful tables throughout the book, collating the sort of information all GPs require.
I also particularly liked the chapter entitled ‘Spiritual and psychological aspects of menopause’. A constructive consideration of this sensitive subject, it included advice on how to take a spiritual history, the ethics of spiritual counselling, ‘mood and menopause’, ‘social changes and context of menopause’, without being patronizing or dogmatic.
However, the chapter on contraception and fertility was a little disappointing, perhaps exacerbated by the differences between US and UK drug names; also the low emphasis on the progesterone-containing intrauterine system was unfortunate in view of the increasing popularity of this method in the UK.
The section on cancer screening was interesting and very easy to read, but, again, differences between the UK and USA, this time with respect to screening, were highly evident and slightly distracting from the constructive evidence-based discussion.
In conclusion, a superb reference book of relevance to every doctor, it was not a ‘light bedtime’ read but a thorough evidence-based review of a neglected area—I'm just hoping a male-orientated version is in the pipeline.
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