How does the Menopause impact autistic people?
A Bournemouth University research project & a joint project between the UK & Canada are finding out how different things can be for those who are neurodiverse.
Menopause can have a far greater impact for autistic people for whom the changes in mood, physical symptoms & cognitive ability can be nothing short of terrifying.
A three year project funded by Henpicked: Menopause in the workplace in the form of a PhD student began in June 2023.
Professor Julie Gamble Turner & Dr Rachel Moseley lead a team at Bournemouth University to research the effects within the menopause & the affects it has on autistic people. The research is comparing the experiences of neurotypical people at different stages of the menopause cycle.
The research involves 500 people both autistic & non-autistic aged between 40-60 to cover the age bracket of the perimenopause & through past menopause. The aim is to try to unpick which factors are responsible for driving the differences in menopause experiences between autistic & non-autistic people.
One of the researchers stated how “they (autistic people) often struggle communicating with medical professionals, leaving then less able to access the healthcare they need. By understanding how & why menopause affects autistic people more keenly, we can help avoid them by having a negative experience, improve their quality of life & achieve a greater sense of wellbeing.”
The research found four themes & eight further subthemes within these:
1. Complexity, multiplicity & intensity of symptoms.
2. Life experience & adversity converging midlife:
- Social isolation & past trauma.
- Communication gaps & disconnection.
- Intersections with Other Life transitions, responsibilities & successors.
3. The importance of knowledge & connection.
- Expectations & preparedness for menopause.
- Importance of human connection.
4. Barriers to Support & Care.
- Pre-emptive factors.
- The struggle to access initial healthcare, services & support.
- Issues during consultation & follow-up with healthcare professionals.
For more information on these findings, click here.
