Understanding Menopause and Autism: Key Insights from the National Autistic Society's New Guide

The National Autistic Society has released a guide to help raise awareness about menopause for people with autism. The guide explains menopause, how it affects people, the latest research, and tips on managing symptoms.

One part of menopause is called perimenopause, which happens before menopause begins. During perimenopause, hormone levels change, leading to symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and trouble sleeping.

It’s important to know that both perimenopause and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause irregular periods, but they are different. Perimenopause is a natural part of aging and comes with symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. PCOS, on the other hand, is a hormonal condition that can cause extra body hair, acne, and problems with weight or fertility, which you don’t usually see with perimenopause. Understanding these differences is important because it affects how each condition is treated.

As a woman with autism, I found the guide very interesting. I’m still young, and while I do get periods, they are very irregular because I have PCOS. This condition is where hormonal imbalances affect the ovaries, leading to symptoms like irregular periods, extra body hair, acne, and sometimes small cysts on the ovaries. Menopause happens when you haven’t had a period for 12 months. I haven’t reached menopause yet, but I’ve had periods that are 5 months apart due to PCOS.

What I also found very interesting about the guide is how it highlights that menopause can bring out even more characteristics, mainly increased sensory sensitivities and emotional dysregulation. These are areas that people with autism may already experience, so it’s helpful to understand how menopause might make them more intense. For example, many individuals with Autism are sensitive to sensory stimuli like light, sound, or touch, and menopause can make these sensitivities worse. Having experienced heightened sensory sensitivity during my menstrual cycle, I can only imagine how much more challenging it must be to deal with these sensations at an even more intense level during menopause. The hormonal changes and fluctuations during menopause can amplify sensory sensitivities, making everyday experiences more overwhelming.

Similarly, emotional regulation can be more challenging during menopause, which might lead to more intense mood swings or feelings of frustration. Personally, when I’ve been on my menstrual cycle, I find myself feeling more emotional and sad than usual. This guide helps to connect those dots, providing useful insights on managing these changes in a way that respects both the challenges of autism and the effects of menopause.

In conclusion, the National Autistic Society guide offers valuable insights into how menopause can impact those with autism, including how it may increase sensory sensitivities and emotional challenges. It also explains the differences between menopause and conditions like PCOS, helping to clarify how each one affects the body. This guide can be a valuable resource for understanding and managing these changes. For more information, the guide can be found here.