# Experiences of autistic women in menopause: brief review and recommendations for practice and research

## TL;DR

Autistic women face unique challenges during menopause due to interoceptive issues and systemic barriers, requiring better research and support.

## Contribution

Highlights the understudied intersection of autism and menopause, emphasizing interoceptive awareness and systemic healthcare barriers.

## Key findings

- Dysregulated interoception in autistic women may worsen menopausal symptoms and mental health.
- Healthcare access is hindered by communication challenges and lack of provider knowledge.
- Autism-informed interventions and research are needed to improve midlife care for autistic women.

## Abstract

Autistic women navigating the menopause transition face a constellation of challenges that remain critically understudied. This paper explores the intersection of autism-specific traits and menopausal symptoms, with a focus on interoceptive awareness (IA)—the ability to perceive internal bodily signals—which is frequently dysregulated in autistic individuals. Dysregulated IA may contribute to misinterpretation of menopausal symptoms, which in turn amplifies vasomotor severity, anxiety, depression, and distress during this life stage. Systemic barriers further complicate care access. Autistic women often encounter communication challenges with healthcare providers, limited provider knowledge of autism and menopause, and reduced social support. Addressing these gaps requires interdisciplinary approaches, including autism-informed health education, clinician training, IA-targeted interventions, and peer support networks. This paper calls for expanded research into the relationship between autism, interoception, and menopause to inform clinical practice and improve quality of life for autistic women during midlife transitions.