Common and unique menopause experiences among autistic and non-autistic people: A qualitative study

Background: Autistic people face both similar challenges to non-autistic people as they navigate menopause and additional unique challenges.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with fifteen autistic and fourteen non-autistic adults (assigned female at birth), explored experiences of menopause. Thematic analysis was carried out for the autistic and non-autistic groups separately.

Results: Analysis yielded four overarching themes: information about menopause, experiences of menopause, medical support for menopause and backdrop to the menopause. Each of these contained subthemes which indicated both shared and unique experiences between the groups. Both groups reported a lack of information about menopause, endured negative psychological changes during menopause and experienced menopause alongside other important life events. Autistic people faced unique challenges during menopause, including medical professionals not accommodating autistic differences, uncertainty-induced anxiety and the lifelong impact of living without an autism diagnosis.

Conclusions: This study highlights the need for tailored care for this group during the menopause transition.