- A new study has found that autistic women may experience menopause symptoms differently.
- This, in turn, can have a significant impact on their mental health and well-being.
- Experts suggest that women should track their menopause symptoms in order to open a dialogue with their healthcare provider.
- Working with a healthcare provider to create a tailored menopause care plan can help ease the mental and emotional impact.
- Locating a healthcare professional who additionally understands autism can also be helpful.
Menopause is a major life transition in which the menstrual cycle ceases, and pregnancy is no longer possible.
On average, it occurs around age 51, according to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, although perimenopausal changes can begin in one’s 30s or 40s.
Common symptoms of menopause can include, but are not limited to, hot flashes, irregular periods, moodiness, night sweats, and vaginal dryness.
However, research indicates that for people with autism, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, behave, and interact with others, menopause may feel very different and be more challenging than it is for people without this condition.
A new study published in the journal Autism in Adulthood, looked at how autistic and neurotypical individuals think and feel about menopause, and how their experiences might affect their menopause symptoms, mental health, and quality of life.
The researchers wanted to find out if the way individuals understand and feel about menopause — referred to as “menopause representations” in the study — could help explain why autistic people often report more severe symptoms and poorer well-being during this time.
How does menopause affect autistic women?
The study involved 901 participants aged 40 to 60 years.
Among them, 476 were autistic, including those formally diagnosed and those self-identifying as autistic, and 425 were neurotypical.
All participants were either going through menopause (perimenopausal) or had finished menopause (postmenopausal). During the study, they answered online questionnaires once a week for 5 weeks.
The researchers used several self-report questionnaires to measure different aspects:
- Menopause Representations: This questionnaire looked at how participants thought and felt about menopause. Questions included whether they felt in control of their symptoms, how well they understood menopause, and their emotional reactions to it.
- Menopause Symptom Severity: Participants rated how severe or bothersome their menopause symptoms were, including physical, psychological, and other types of symptoms.
- Mental Health: The study measured symptoms of depression and anxiety using standard questionnaires.
- Quality of Life: Participants rated how they felt about their overall well-being and life satisfaction.
The autistic advisory panel, which included two of the authors as well as an anonymous autistic advisor, helped review the study materials to make sure they were clear and suitable for autistic participants.
The researchers also collected information about participants’ age, education, employment, and health behaviors to control for factors that might affect the results.
Data were analyzed using statistical methods to compare the two groups over time and to see if menopause representations explained differences in symptoms and well-being.
Autism linked to more severe menopause symptoms, worse mental health
The study found that autistic participants consistently reported more severe menopause symptoms than non-autistic participants throughout the five weeks.
They also showed higher levels of depression and anxiety and reported lower quality of life.
Among the different types of menopause symptoms, psychological symptoms — such as mood changes or emotional distress — were especially more severe in autistic people, both during and after menopause.
When looking at menopause representations, autistic people felt less in control of their menopause symptoms and had a less clear understanding of what was happening to their bodies.
These experiences could help explain why autistic participants experienced worse menopause symptoms and poorer mental health and quality of life, according to the authors.
Statistical analyzes found that lower perceived control and a weaker sense of understanding menopause — known as “coherence” — partly explained the link between autism and more severe symptoms and poorer mental health.
The researchers found that these links were consistent over the 5 weeks and were not fully explained by other factors like age or lifestyle.
The study also supported earlier reports that autistic people often feel unprepared during menopause, which might make the experience harder.
The researchers noted that issues common in autism, such as difficulties with change, sensory sensitivities, and challenges in recognizing internal body signals, could add to feeling out of control and confused about their symptoms.
Overall, this study highlights that autistic people may have unique challenges during menopause, especially related to how they think and feel about this life stage, which can affect their symptoms and overall health.
The findings suggest that giving autistic individuals better information and support about menopause might help improve their experiences and well-being.
What people with autism should know as they navigate menopause
Linda Dolin, MD, Medical Director of The Sylvia Brafman Mental Health Center, who was involved in the study, told Medical News Today that women with autism should understand that they don’t have to simply endure their menopause symptoms.
Dolin advised:
“(B)y tracking (ie, documenting) changes in your sleep patterns, moods, sensory sensitivities, and energy levels, you may be able to recognize patterns. Once you’ve documented your findings, sharing them with your healthcare provider could provide an opportunity for a much more productive discussion regarding treatments and supports.”
Dolin added that individuals and their doctors can then come up with a menopause care plan based on individual needs.
“For example, creating predictable routines and using sensory-friendly environments in conjunction with either medical or mental health support, etc., can greatly ease the transition into menopause,” she said.
Shannon Franklin, PsyD, a licensed psychologist at Element Q Healing, who was also not involved in the research, agreed with Dolin, noting that making small modifications in one’s daily routine may also help people better manage their symptoms.
“Finding healthcare providers who understand both menopause and autism is equally as important,” Franklin added.
“As women, they need to have an opportunity to explain what will affect their well-being and ask about treatment options and support,” she told us. “(A woman) does not want to try to adapt to all of the changes in her life; she wants to learn ways to manage them on her own terms.”
With support and understanding, autistic women can learn to manage their menopause symptoms in a way that works for them.
