What No One Told Us

For too long, Black women have been left out of the menopause conversation. Dismissed as too young. Told their symptoms were stress. Handed a pamphlet when they deserved real answers.

What No One Told Us: The Black Woman's Guide to Menopause was written to close that gap.

Dr. Michelle Cooke — board-certified family medicine physician, certified menopause practitioner, and founder of Sol Direct Primary Care in Atlanta — brings together clinical expertise and a deep understanding of the unique challenges Black women face during midlife. Drawing on years of practice and the latest research, she delivers a warm, direct, and comprehensive guide to navigating every stage of the menopausal transition.

Inside, you will learn:

What perimenopause actually is — and why normal labs don't rule it out

Why Black women experience menopause earlier, longer, and more severely

The truth about hormone therapy and what the 2002 WHI study got wrong

How estrogen protects your heart, bones, and brain — and what happens when it declines

What fibroids have to do with menopause, and what you can do about it

How to treat vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, and recurrent UTIs

How to walk into any exam room and advocate for the care you deserve

This is not a book about surviving menopause. It is a book about thriving through it.