Autism and menopause

N

Nic

New member
Hello
I am a late diagnosed woman in my 50’s with Autism and ADHD and menopause. I wanted to start a post to see if others are finding this stage in their life very challenging even with HRT. I haven’t been able to source much support for myself in this area as yet but have read a research paper called
“A perfect storm”: Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife.”
Perhaps this would be helpful for someone else going through this. I would love to connect with others who are going through this stage in life and hear their thoughts and experiences.

Many thanks in advance 😄
 
I am similar - menopause kicked in at 39 after a hysterotomy for endometriosis. About 6 years prior to this I was told, by the psychologist who diagnosed my son, that I was probably autistic but if I was managing ok then a diagnosis wasn't needed. Once menopause kicked in my strategies for managing started failing and I ended up in burnout, so I went to my doctor to discuss a diagnosis as a way of understanding myself better, and managing health things that seemed to be unmanageable in the normal way. The GP was very good and I got referred and a diagnosis within a year.

I'm late 40's now and I'm fortunate to have an excellent women's health nurse at my GP surgery. We've tweaked different HRT and I've been able to try other products to help with symptoms. I still have wobbles when symptoms change, but on the whole I'm doing ok. I try to exercise a little every day, include strength work, tai chi and meditation. All these little things help a bit.

If you are on social media it might be worth looking for Dr Helen Wall, she's been on BBC Breakfast a few times but on social media she is now focusing on menopause for neuro-divergent women. Her posts are quite interesting and have given me a bit to think about. There is limited research out there but I think it's starting to become of interest to researchers now talking about the menopause in general is becoming more acceptable.

I hope you are able to find a bit of balance at this time, there are definitely big ups and downs! It's good to remember that things are always changing, new research is coming out, there are other things to try to support yourself and there is help via the GP too.
 
Autumn said:
I am similar - menopause kicked in at 39 after a hysterotomy for endometriosis. About 6 years prior to this I was told, by the psychologist who diagnosed my son, that I was probably autistic but if I was managing ok then a diagnosis wasn't needed. Once menopause kicked in my strategies for managing started failing and I ended up in burnout, so I went to my doctor to discuss a diagnosis as a way of understanding myself better, and managing health things that seemed to be unmanageable in the normal way. The GP was very good and I got referred and a diagnosis within a year.

I'm late 40's now and I'm fortunate to have an excellent women's health nurse at my GP surgery. We've tweaked different HRT and I've been able to try other products to help with symptoms. I still have wobbles when symptoms change, but on the whole I'm doing ok. I try to exercise a little every day, include strength work, tai chi and meditation. All these little things help a bit.

If you are on social media it might be worth looking for Dr Helen Wall, she's been on BBC Breakfast a few times but on social media she is now focusing on menopause for neuro-divergent women. Her posts are quite interesting and have given me a bit to think about. There is limited research out there but I think it's starting to become of interest to researchers now talking about the menopause in general is becoming more acceptable.

I hope you are able to find a bit of balance at this time, there are definitely big ups and downs! It's good to remember that things are always changing, new research is coming out, there are other things to try to support yourself and there is help via the GP too.
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Hi Autumn, thank you for your response. I’ll have a look at Dr Helen Wall’s posts. I’m glad you’ve got good support and you’re getting through this time. Again thank you for your insights which I’ll take on board moving forward.
 
Hi, im perimenopausal too. I went to a perimenopause workshop the other month. Did you know that the whole of the time that you still are having any kind of bleeding, however irregular is still "perimenopause" and the day 12 months after your last bleed you have hit MENOPAUSE. Its literally the end date of your perimenopause. Its a one day event. Perimenopause is the lead up to that day. Its a misconception to say "im menopausal" or "im going through the menopause" cos we literally cant "go through" it. It happens once. We go *through* perimenopause the whole time.

Anyway im sorry if that sounds like im being a massive boring stickler, English language AND medical terminology and medical facts are kind of special interests and im also perimenopausal 😂😂😂

Ive found it enormously difficult too, Im autistic (diagnosed in 2019) and ADHD (diagnosed a year ago) and Im 44 now and finding that my ADHD traits and symptoms in particular are ramping up a LOT. its very difficult to live with.

Lucy x
 
I was perimenopausal when I had to have a surgical intervention that shoved me into menopause overnight aged 50. Couldn't have HRT for medical reasons and was denied it when I requested it after ten years had passed - given antidepressants instead. Three years later they finally tested my thyroid function and it turned out I had an underactive thyroid. Off the antidepressants and much better now. Began to realise I was autistic around the same time as the operation and finally requested assessment in my late 50s - waited five years for that to take place and was finally diagnosed aged 63. Suspect there's some ADHD mixed in there but cannot be arsed to go through another assessment.

We must do better...but all the signs are that we are still failing children.
 
I am also perimenopausal the wheels finally fell off at the start of this year, when the perfect storm hit with work pushing for return to the office. Got diagnosed with depression, anxiety & PTSD. I had no idea I was autistic until psychiatrist said there was a high likelihood, then I had all the classic "oh" moments. Had an assessment and diagnosed a month ago, so all very new to me.

In the middle of my burnout GP put my Estrogel pumps up to 4, a few months later my periods become extremely heavy and I was bleeding every other week. Turns out my Utrogestan tablets should have also been increased to keep the right balance of estrogen vs progesterone. I am normally all over this but I had gone to the GP for a referral to a psychiatrist (which I did get). I have dropped back to 3 pumps while wait to see a gynaecologist, but am 100% confident I need the higher dose of Estrogel just need to figure out how I want the progesterone tablets (Utrogestan) or Hormone coil, as with everything there are pros and cons to both.

I am still recovering from burnout, my emotions are all over the place especially since dropping back to 3 pumps. Focusing on diet, fitness & being my own best friend, I have not done a good job with these until now!
 
Hello everyone, these posts are really resonating with me. Diagnosed this year with autism and then feel like everything became too much and realized I was also in perimenopause. Have started HRT and like I’m on the right track, but felt completely blindsided by how hard things felt once I had confirmation I was autistic. The start of HRT was a huge challenge, but starting to feel like myself again and wondering if I might need a bit more than 2 pumps of gel. Anyway s, thank you all for helping me feel less alone.
 
Hi folks

Does anyone see the recurring theme of doctors failing women about menopause and failing women re autism?

No doctor has ever suggested I'm autistic, despite all the 'normal' clues. I had to tell my doctor to prescribe HRT (I have a pharmacist in the family, so was able to get the right medication name having researched the matter) after five years happily on HRT, my body chemistry/hormone balance has changed, but there is no one with any training in women’s health at my GP practice (only 50% of your clientele!), one of the doctors claims to have consulted a menopause specialist (I was not allowed to be referred to this specialist) and I was told that there is no way my hormones will have changed and no further action was needed.

Bearing in mind this is the same practice that told me my pelvic pain required no further treatment, forcing me to spend some of my life savings to go private, to find out that I actually needed a hysterectomy due to various problems I’m not going to bore you with here.

I have no faith in GP’s, they seem to know nothing, but refuse to refer patients to specialists, I think it’s an ego thing (poor little lambs).
 
Hi everyone,it seems a lot of us have at least two things going on the menopause in all its guises and being diagnosed as autistic.I read my assessment and decided it was just two peoples opinions in relation to the current guidelines of what autism could present like.It used words like monotonous tone and difficulty with eye contact.I could get touchy about it but decide if that’s been masked all these years,59 yrs now,well done me and know wonder,I’m exhausted.Yeah Jm autistic ,so it’s now my turn to be me,what ever that is,just going to go with it,eat what I like wear what makes me comfortable and take more naps!
 
Hi I'm 40 and I suspect peri menopausal, tbh I would rather start as early as possible but I've read a lot of books/research that say it makes sensory overwhelm a lot harder to manage due to our ridiculous hormones!
 
bluelyn said:
I think this is true in my case, my sensories have been sky high for over a year, I've just started HRT to see if makes a difference
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Hey blue. I hope you get on ok with it. As if life isn't already hard enough we have to go into puberty backwards, after suffering for so long going forwards. I thought I had increased super powers but these new found powers are absolutely debilitating at times.