This Menopause Awareness Month, the National Autistic Society has published a free menopause guide for autistic women which details what to expect during the menopause, tips to make it easier, and which treatment options are available.
The guidance has been produced following a thorough review of the best and most up-to-date evidence from research, professional practice and lived experience, including insight from an autistic person’s menopause journey.
The menopause can bring many challenges for both autistic and non-autistic women. However, research suggests an autistic person’s traits may become more noticeable during this time; for example, intensified sensory sensitivities and difficulty with emotional regulation.
Carol was diagnosed as autistic in her late 50s. She said she didn’t realise what was happening when she started experiencing brain fog, hot flushes and ‘uncontrollable’ emotions.
“I was tired, aching all the time, and extra stressed. I realised I also had memory and attention problems when I started missing meetings at work and forgetting what people had told me. I also had uncontrollable emotions, and though I’ve always been anxious, for the time I experienced panic attacks” she said.
However, these are not the only challenges autistic women may face during the menopause. While research on autistic people’s experience of the menopause is limited, the available research showed that menopausal autistic women may experience:
Thankfully, the guide lists various tips to make menopause easier, including being prepared, being kind to yourself, knowing that the menopause is different for everyone and talking to your support network, particularly if they are also autistic and are of a similar age.
Finally, the guide discusses treatment options for menopause and perimenopause symptoms, this includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as well as non-hormonal treatments.
Dr Sarah Lister Brook, Clinical Director at the National Autistic Society, says she hopes the guide will help those approaching and going through the menopause.
She said: “Being autistic doesn’t mean you bypass the experience of menopause. In fact, perimenopause and menopause symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings and sensory sensitivities may be intensified.
“Some autistic people have even reported that their menopause played a role in discovering that they are autistic, because their autistic differences and needs became more apparent during this time.
“We know there is a need for autism-specific resources and support for menopause, so we hope our guide, created for World Menopause Day, will help some of the 700,000-autistic people in the UK.”
