How to help

PATIENTS WITH NEURODIVERGENCE

In the interview study undertaken by Moseley and colleagues in autistic individuals, menopausal awareness was described as variable, with inadequate support being experienced by many participants. It is important to try and improve this, and some ways that might help include:

• Improving awareness regarding neurodiversity and menopause by openingly talking about it and initiating conversations in non-judgemental ways.
• Providing safe spaces for women to open up about their symptoms or concerns.
• Giving women time to process information.
• Signposting women to resources that can be referred to or read in their own time and environment.
• Creating sensory sensitive environments.
• Including the topic of neurodiversity regularly at educational events, such as at conferences and speaker events, to improve clinical awareness.

PATIENTS WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES:

Women with learning disabilities represent a vulnerable group because they are less likely to seek help. Things that might help include:

• Scheduling regular reviews to proactively discuss menopausal symptoms. If the patient is registered on the GP learning disabilities register, the annual review can be a good opportunity to do this.
• Publically funded online training for carers looking after people with intellectual disabilities would help them to recognise signs and symptoms of menopause.