'Struggling for Years': An international survey on Autistic experiences of menopause

Added on 11/01/2025

Type de contenu

Journal article of the type Scientific research ( ; english)

Christine Jenkins * , Rachel Moseley * , Rose Matthews * , Margaret Janse van Rensburg , Julie Gamble-Turner , Miranda Brady
'Struggling for Years': An international survey on Autistic experiences of menopause published in the journal "Neurodiversity" n°2, 16 pages , doi: 10.1177/27546330241299366

*Three co-authors had publicly identified as autistic. [Learn more about this mention]

- 6% of authors cited in the bibliography of this resource have publicly identified as autistic (20 out of 319 authors).
- 27% of references cited in this resource contain at least one author who has publicly identified as autistic (15 out of 55 references).

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Summary/Presentation

Emerging research suggests that menopause can be a difficult transition for some Autistic people. This international co-produced survey explored factors that might make menopause harder for Autistic people, such as lack of menopause and autism awareness; moreover, we aimed to explore what support Autistic people needed and what could help them cope and even flourish during this time. We employed a mixed-methods approach to analyze quantitative and qualitative responses from 508 Autistic participants. Both the quantitative and qualitative data supported relationships between lack of menopause and autism awareness and overall difficulties during menopause. Autistic participants wanted more appropriate and Autistic-specific information about menopause, and perceived lack of clinician awareness about both menopause and autism as barriers to care and support. Finally, participants reported discovery of ways to cope and even flourish during menopause through self-awareness and self-acceptance. Better awareness of autism and access to Autistic-specific menopause information is important in helping Autistic people transition through menopause.

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(1) References in blue are resources listed on our site.

(2) Authors listed in this bibliography whose names are in color have published other resources referenced on the site. Clicking on the name allows you to see the list of resources they have published and shared on the site.

(3) Authors whose names are followed by an asterisk have publicly disclosed being autistic.

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