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AUTHOR'S NAME: Dr. Margaret Aranda
TITLE OF MANUSCRIPT: From Menses to Menarche: A Journey through Time
GENRE: Adult Non-Fiction
WORD COUNT: 120.000
Query:
Femininity is equated with passages through the pagan symbolism of the Three Goddesses: The Maiden, The Mother, and The Crone. At Menarche, we had our First Talk. At Motherhood, we didn't really need a formal 'talk'; it just happened over the course of months and years. At Menopause, we had...we had our...we had our well, nothing. We never had The Second Talk. So many of us Baby Boomers are peri-menopausal, and what is a woman to do? First, estrogens cause uterine cancer and breast cancer, then progesterone makes it better. And what about testosterone for women?
From Menses to Menopause starts with menstruation; its history, culture, and conceptions since the time of Aristotle. Then it accompanies today's Spirited, Fit and Forty Woman's speedy life, fast-forwarded to the here and now. Let's give you that Second Talk, ripe for today. You do remember where you were when you started your first period, don't you? You do remember who gave you The First Talk. Well, sit right down and get the kids in another room. Your journey through The Second Talk is about to begin.
First 150 Words:
My "First Talk" wasn't actually a "talk" talk. I was 13 years old, and my Mother handed me a red hardcover book. The Red Book. I was told to turn to say, the seventh Chapter. Okay, basic Anatomy. The vagina was depicted in a large color illustration of the uterus and Fallopian tubes, and there was a small illustration of the penis.
No preamble, no introduction, no warning. Initially it was pretty boring. A couple was sitting on the couch. A married couple. They made a big deal about that part. Horrified, my eyes widened as the penis was inserted into the vagina. What? I had to read it over again. How did that happen so fast? What? How did that happen so fast? How could that happen with their clothes on? I read it again. They definitely still had their clothes on.
Yes, there needs to be better communication about the whole process-at every age. My mother had surgical menopause--so all of sudden-one day-she has hot flashes and all that. I am hoping to not take after her-but then it is hard to know what to expect in the whole process some day. This sounds like a fabulous and necessary book.
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you, TerriKRowe, your comments are so appreciated! Surgical menopause occurs when both ovaries are removed (usually the uterus is taken out, too; this would be a 'hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy' if the ovaries and Fallopian tubes are also taken out). Most women with surgical menopause are younger and experience more intense symptoms than their counterparts with natural menopause. As you can imagine, menopause occurs just postoperatively in one case, and over the course of years in the other. This is a big difference. One issue with surgical menopause has to do with hormone therapy afterward; this is an individual decision based on lifestyle, family history, diet, and medical history.
ReplyDeleteI am devoting some attention to Surgical Menopause in this book, and thank you for your perspective. I'm hoping that this book will fill a real need, and I'll be posting the first Chapter just as soon as I submit the book to my Publisher! On that note...I'm back to writing the hormone chapter....:-)! Stay tuned!
I need this book! When will it be available?
DeleteThe book is a WIP (Work in Progress); I am scheduled to finish it in a month or so. After that, it needs to be accepted for Publication, then go through the process: Production, Formatting, Editing, Cover, Promotional Copy, Pictures, Final Layout, then WaLa! At best, it should take about 6 months after completion. Stay tuned for updates, and watch along as the final Chapters are written. Looking at availability in April, 2013. Want to be included in my research for the book? I'm interviewing women on the First Period, and on Menopause. You can email me at drmargaretaranda@yahoo.com and I will personally contact you! Let's continue to move Onward & Forward in 2012!
ReplyDeleteDr Margaret Aranda, Author
www.drmargaretaranda.blogspot.com is my Author Website ;-)