A signposting resource to support Autistic people experiencing menopause/ perimenopause.
What else would you recommend?
Any other research/books/ blogs / YouTube/ Podcasts, or other websites?
How do you think being monotropic may affect Autistic/ ADHD/ AuDHD people experiencing menopause/ perimenopause?
Websites and Resources
Autism Menstruation To Menopause
Christine Jenkins Linktree Resources
Hormones On The Blink
Rose Matthews: Padlet of Autistic experiences of menopause: ‘Curated Collection of Curiosities’ – A creative exploration of my journey through menopause
Podcasts & Videos
Uniquely Human: (Christine Jenkins), Aging and Autism: A Discussion with Christine Jenkins, Autistic Advocate (Podcast, episode 89)
Beyond Chronic Burnout (2023) Hosted by Carole Jean Whittington Autistic Menopause & Aging with Christine Jenkins (YouTube Video, episode 12)
Aide Canada (2025), Shared Stories, Shared Experiences: International Research on Autism and Menopause (webinar by Christine Jenkins)
The French subtitled version of AIDE (2025) webinar: Histoires partagées, luttes partagées : Séminaire en ligne consacré à l’étude internationale de l’autisme et de la ménopause.
Autistic Girls Network. (2024, November 14). Autism & Menopause with Dr Aimee Grant [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc7iZJL0e0E
Sam Galloway The Auti Peri Q&A Series Substack blogs and Podcasts
Dr Aimee Grant: Autism and the Menopause – what does the research say?
https://youtu.be/QzeS3RjKLqA?si=By2-3vxNXbwmNXAs
Dr Joanna Grace
Neurodivergent people have been told their reactions are wrong.
Naturally these narratives are internalised, so when it comes to menopause many neurodivergent women dismiss themselves as “making a fuss” and are dismissed by others as making a fuss.
Emergent research in this field confirms that the menopause is experienced differently by neurodivergent women.
For tiny chats about this look at the playlist:
Autistic Neurodivergent Menopause on Joanna Grace’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLVUGsTlzTEBE
Research and Reading
Brady, M. J., Jenkins, C. A., Gamble-Turner, J. M., Moseley, R. L., Van Rensburg, M. J., & Matthews, R. J. (2024). “A perfect storm”: Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife. Autism, 28(6), 1405–1418. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241244548
Cook, B., & Garnett, M.(eds). (2018).Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism. Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Barb Cook and 14 other autistic women describe life from a female autistic perspective, and present empowering, helpful and supportive insights from their personal experience for fellow autistic women.
Autistic advocates including, Liane Holliday Willey, Anita Lesko, Jeanette Purkis, Christine Jenkins, Artemisia and Samantha Craft offer their personal guidance on significant issues that particularly affect women, as well as those that are more general to autism.
Cusano, J. L., Erwin, V., Miller, D., & Rothman, E. F. (2025). The transition to menopause for autistic individuals in the US: a qualitative study of health care challenges and support needs. Menopause the Journal of the North American Menopause Society. https://doi.org/10.1097/gme.0000000000002520
Dawes, V. (2025a, February 8). Menopause and burnout in ND people. Viv Dawes Autistic Advocate.
Ellis, R., Williams, G., Caemawr, S., Craine, M., Holloway, W., Williams, K., Shaw, S. C., & Grant, A. (2025). Menstruation and Autism: A Qualitative Systematic Review. Autism in Adulthood. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0307
Gamble-Turner, J & Moseley, R. (2026) Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them”
https://uk.jkp.com/products/autistic-menopause
Grant, A. (2025). The Autism-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and the Fourth Trimester. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Grant et al (2025) Autism and the Menopause Transition: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. Autism in Adulthood: https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/25739581251369452
Groenman, A. P., Torenvliet, C., Radhoe, T. A., Van Rentergem, J. a. A., & Geurts, H. M. (2021). Menstruation and menopause in autistic adults: Periods of importance? Autism, 26(6), 1563–1572. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613211059721
Grove, R., Clapham, H., Moodie, T., Gurrin, S., & Hall, G. (2023). ‘Living in a world that’s not about us’: The impact of everyday life on the health and wellbeing of autistic women and gender diverse people. Women S Health, 19. https://doi.org/10.1177/17455057231189542
Jack, C., PhD. (2024, March 8). Autism can impact women’s experience of menopause in challenging ways. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/women-with-autism-spectrum-disorder/202403/why-autistic-womens-experience-of-menopause-is
Jakobsdóttir Smári U, Valdimarsdottir UA, Wynchank D, de Jong M, Aspelund T, Hauksdottir A, Thordardottir EB, Tomasson G, Jakobsdottir J, Lu D, Nevriana A, Larsson H, Kooij S, Zoega H. Perimenopausal symptoms in women with and without ADHD: A population-based cohort study. Eur Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 4;68(1):e133. doi: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10101. PMID: 40903825; PMCID: PMC12538516.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40903825/
Conclusion: Women with ADHD have higher prevalence of severe perimenopausal symptoms. These symptoms present at an earlier age than among women without ADHD, indicating an earlier onset age of perimenopause in ADHD.
Jenkins, C. A., Moseley, R. L., Matthews, R. J., Van Rensburg, M. J., Gamble-Turner, J. M., & Brady, M. J. (2024). “Struggling for Years”: An international survey on Autistic experiences of menopause. Neurodiversity, 2. https://doi.org/10.1177/27546330241299366
Free PDF Download: “Struggling for Years”: An international survey on Autistic experiences of menopause.
Moseley, R. L., Druce, T., & Turner‐Cobb, J. M. (2020). Autism research is ‘all about the blokes and the kids’: Autistic women breaking the silence on menopause. British Journal of Health Psychology, 26(3), 709–726. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjhp.12477
Reed-Roberts, M. (2024, February 23). Menopause and ADHD | Real life story | Balance. Balance Menopause. https://www.balance-menopause.com/menopause-library/menopause-and-adhd/
Reynolds, E. (2025, March 19). Autistic people face additional menopause challenges. BPS. https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/autistic-people-face-additional-menopause-challenges
Skommer, J., & Gunesh, K. (2025). Autism, menstruation and mental health- a scoping review and a call to action. Frontiers in Global Women S Health, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fgwh.2025.1531934
Stewart, G. (2024). Ageing on the autism spectrum, British Psychological Society.
Walker, A. (2025, May 27). Autism, menopause, and reaching breaking point: a hidden crisis. Altogether Autism. https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/autism-menopause-and-reaching-breaking-point-a-hidden-crisis
The Women’s Organisation. (2025, February 4). Neurodivergence and Menopause in the Workplace – with Professor Amanda Kirby. https://www.thewomensorganisation.org.uk/neurodivergence-and-menopause-in-the-workplace-with-professor-amanda-kirby/