Each day, around 6,000 women in the United States enter Menopause, which officially starts 12 months after a woman’s last period. But perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause, can last anywhere from two to 14 years (the average is around four).

“Many women enter into this transition without any information about what may occur,” said Rebecca C. Thurston, a professor of psychiatry and epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. While hot flashes are a well-known hallmark, perimenopause can cause dozens of other symptoms including brain fog, sore breasts, poor sleeping and anxiety. Women often find themselves “distressed and confused by the changes in their bodies and minds,” Dr. Thurston said.

Books can help demystify the experience of perimenopause and menopause, but many titles are rampant with misinformation. Providers sometimes feel they “spend our lives debunking the myths,” said Joyce Harper, a professor of reproductive science at the Institute for Women’s Health at University College London.

To help you sort through the options, The New York Times asked nine experts — gynecologists, endocrinologists, researchers and podcasters — to recommend their favorites.

1. “The Menopause Guidebook,” by The North American Menopause Society

“The Menopause Guidebook” was the most frequently recommended title by the experts. “As a clinician and menopause scientist, I would regard it as the most rigorous, evidence-based information about the menopause and its management,” Dr. Thurston said.

The book, now in its ninth edition, also tops the list of Dr. Cynthia Stuenkel, a clinical professor of medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. The North American Menopause Society uses “experts to write and vet the content and verify that the advice is factual and follows best practice,” she explained.

2. “The Menopause Manifesto: Own Your Health With Facts and Feminism,” by Dr. Jen Gunter

Several experts endorsed “The Menopause Manifesto” by Dr. Gunter, an OB-GYN with more than two decades of experience who has been dubbed “Twitter’s resident gynecologist” and has written about women’s sexual health for The New York Times.

“Dr. Gunter’s claims can be backed up by the science,” said Dr. Nanette Santoro, a menopause researcher and professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She added that the book steers clear of pseudoscience and unproven treatments.

Dr. Mary Jacobson, the chief medical officer for Hello Alpha, a telemedicine service for women, said the book is “very witty, readable, and a great approach” to the subject of perimenopause.

3. “The Natural Menopause Method: A Nutritional Guide Through Perimenopause and Beyond,” by Karen Newby

This book is for anyone interested in adjusting their diet during perimenopause and menopause. “Lifestyle factors are key for all our reproductive health, but especially during perimenopause,” Dr. Harper said. “What we eat and drink can have a profound impact.”

Dr. Jacobson also called this book a good pick, citing the importance of learning about the potential health outcomes of perimenopause, like weight gain and cardiovascular disease.

Hormonal changes can lead to increased fat mass, particularly around the abdomen, and can cause loss of muscle as well, she said. The book can help readers understand how diet can help mitigate these changes, she added.

4. “What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You,” by Heather Corinna

Corinna, who uses the pronouns they and them, has spent their career championing sex and relationship education. They wrote “What Fresh Hell is This?” to help make the literature on perimenopause more inclusive, Dr. Jacobson said.

“A lot of the information, materials that are written for people navigating perimenopause are very gender-specific,” Dr. Jacobson said, “which does not account for the experiences of people who gender identify differently, and that’s a big issue.”

5. “The Complete Guide to the Menopause: Your Tool Kit to Take Control and Achieve Life-Long Health,” by Annice Mukherjee

In “The Complete Guide to the Menopause,” Dr. Mukherjee, an endocrinologist in the United Kingdom, offers a road map for dealing with various aspects of perimenopause including how to handle it at work and when to consider hormone therapy — plus useful information about what happens after menopause.

She will “give you the facts, in easy-to-read language,” Dr. Harper said, adding that readers will be guided through the entire process “in a logical way.”

6. “Magnificent Midlife: Transform Your Middle Years, Menopause and Beyond,” by Rachel Lankester

Ms. Lankester is the founder of Magnificent Midlife, an online hub that helps women navigate their 40s, 50s and 60s. In this book, she blends personal narratives with evidence-based research to help women handle the emotional and physical changes during perimenopause and menopause, as well as how to redefine their priorities.

“There’s too much negativity around menopause,” but this book helps motivate women who are going through it, Dr. Harper said.

7. “Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide to Menopause,” by Kate Codrington

Recommended by both Dr. Harper and Dr. Jacobson, “Second Spring” aims to empower women as they navigate perimenopause. In this book, Ms. Codrington, a self-described “menopause mentor,” offers personal anecdotes and practical exercises, like journal prompts to encourage reflection.

Dr. Jacobson said Ms. Codrington’s “emphasis on the menopause transition as a rite of passage” and “a new beginning rather than an ending,” was particularly resonant. After all, it’s a significant life event that can span decades: People “may spend 40 percent of their lives in the postmenopausal stage,” she pointed out.

Hope Reese is a journalist who writes for Vox, Shondaland, The Atlantic and other publications.