« Une tempête parfaite » : expériences de la ménopause et du milieu de la vie chez les personnes autistes

Titre original en anglais : “A perfect storm”: Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife

Brady, M. J., Jenkins, C. A., Gamble-Turner, J., Moseley, R., Rensburg, M. J. v., & Matthews, R. (2024). “A perfect storm”: Autistic experiences of menopause and midlife. Autism, 28(6), 1405-1418. https://doi.org/10.1177/13623613241244548

Date de publication: 15/04/2024 Ajout dans AutiHub: 06/07/2026 Type: Article Langue de l’article: Anglais

Cette publication est intégrée dans AutiHub via :

Auteurs

Auteur·ices des publications
6
Auteur·ices de la publication identifié·es comme autistes
3 / 6 (50,0 %)

Résumé

Des recherches antérieures indiquent que la ménopause peut constituer une transition extrêmement difficile pour certaines personnes autistes. Cette étude examine comment les personnes autistes vivent la ménopause et comment elles peuvent mieux accéder aux services, au soutien et à l'information ; des Community Research Associates autistes ont joué un rôle important à chaque étape de la recherche. Des groupes de discussion en ligne et des entretiens ont été menés auprès de 24 participants autistes vivant au Canada ( n = 13) ou au Royaume-Uni ( n = 11) et ayant vécu la transition ménopausique. Les transcriptions ont été codées et analysées par quatre membres de l'équipe au moyen d'une analyse thématique réflexive. Quatre thèmes et huit sous-thèmes ont été identifiés : (1) Complexité, multiplicité et intensité des symptômes (0 sous-thème) ; (2) Expérience de vie et adversité convergeant au milieu de la vie (trois sous-thèmes) ; (3) L'importance des connaissances et du lien (deux sous-thèmes) ; et (4) Obstacles au soutien et aux soins (trois sous-thèmes). Les limites comprennent un biais potentiel de l'échantillon en faveur d'expériences difficiles de la ménopause. La majorité de notre échantillon avait reçu un diagnostic tardif d'autisme ou avait découvert son autisme tardivement, et leurs expériences pourraient ne pas être généralisables à des populations autistes plus larges. Cette recherche peut aider les personnes autistes à se préparer à la ménopause et à reconnaître les symptômes plus tôt. Entendre parler des expériences d'autres personnes peut permettre aux personnes autistes qui éprouvent des difficultés avec la ménopause de savoir qu'elles ne sont pas seules. Résumé vulgarisé Les études antérieures rapportent que la ménopause peut être une transition très difficile pour certaines personnes autistes. Cette étude porte sur la manière dont les personnes autistes vivent la ménopause et sur le soutien et les informations qui pourraient les aider. Des Community Research Associates autistes ont joué un rôle important dans la recherche et ont cosigné cet article. Nous avons organisé en ligne quatre groupes de discussion et huit entretiens avec 24 participants autistes vivant au Canada ( n = 13) ou au Royaume-Uni ( n = 11). Nous avons analysé les conversations des participants à l'aide d'une méthode appelée analyse thématique réflexive. Les participants ont décrit de nombreux défis intenses durant la ménopause. Quatre thèmes et huit sous-thèmes ont été identifiés dans l'ensemble des groupes de participants : (1) Complexité, multiplicité et intensité des symptômes (0 sous-thème) ; (2) Expérience de vie et adversité convergeant au milieu de la vie (trois sous-thèmes) ; (3) L'importance des connaissances et du lien (deux sous-thèmes) ; et (4) Obstacles au soutien et aux soins (trois sous-thèmes). Les expériences de nos participants pourraient ne pas être les mêmes que celles d'autres personnes autistes, et l'étude aurait pu inclure davantage de groupes autistes diversifiés. Toutefois, entendre parler des expériences d'autres personnes peut rassurer les personnes autistes qui éprouvent des difficultés avec la ménopause et leur faire savoir qu'elles ne sont pas seules.

Previous research indicates that menopause can be an extremely difficult transition for some autistic people. This study asks how autistic people experience menopause and how they can better access services, support and information; autistic Community Research Associates played an important role in each stage of the research. Online focus groups and interviews were conducted with 24 autistic participants who lived in Canada ( n = 13) or the United Kingdom ( n = 11) and had experience with the menopausal transition. Transcripts were coded and analysed by four team members using reflexive thematic analysis. Four themes and eight subthemes were identified: (1) Complexity, multiplicity and intensity of symptoms (0 subthemes); (2) Life experience and adversity converging at midlife (three subthemes); (3) The importance of knowledge and connection (two subthemes); and (4) Barriers to support and care (three subthemes). Limitations include a potential sample bias towards difficult experiences of menopause. The majority of our sample had a late diagnosis or discovery of autism, and their experiences might not generalize to wider autistic populations. This research may help autistic people prepare for menopause and recognize symptoms earlier. Hearing about the experiences of others may let autistic people who struggle with menopause know they are not alone. Lay abstract Previous studies report that menopause can be a very difficult transition for some autistic people. This study focuses on how autistic people experience menopause and what support and information might help them. Autistic Community Research Associates played an important role in the research and co-authored this article. We held four focus groups and eight interviews online with 24 autistic participants who lived in either Canada ( n = 13) or the United Kingdom ( n = 11). We analysed participant conversations using a method called reflexive thematic analysis. Participants described many intense challenges during menopause. Four themes and eight subthemes were identified across participant groups: (1) Complexity, multiplicity and intensity of symptoms (0 subthemes); (2) Life experience and adversity converging at midlife (three subthemes); (3) The importance of knowledge and connection (two subthemes); and (4) Barriers to support and care (three subthemes). The experiences of our participants may not be the same as other autistic people, and the study could have been more inclusive of diverse autistic groups. However, hearing about the experiences of others may provide reassurance to autistic people who struggle with menopause and let them know they are not alone.

Bibliographie citée par cette référence

Les références citées sont importées depuis des sources externes de métadonnées lorsqu’elles sont disponibles. La liste peut être partielle.

Vue d’ensemble de l’inclusion dans la bibliographie

Ces indicateurs décrivent la bibliographie citée importée pour cette publication. Les métriques de références citées utilisent le total des références citées comme dénominateur. Les métriques d’auteurices cité·es indiquent si elles utilisent toutes les occurrences d’auteurices cité·es ou seulement les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices déjà intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Ils utilisent les rattachements mis en cache entre les auteurices cité·es et les auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Dernier calcul : 16/08/2026 11:30.

Références citées
70
Nombre total de références citées intégrées pour cette publication.
Références citées avec un·e auteur·ice identifié·e comme autiste
17 / 70 (24,3 %)
Occurrences d’auteur·ices cité·es identifié·es comme autistes
34 / 317 (10,7 %)
Parmi les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub : 34 / 180 (18,9 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es identifié·es comme autistes : 26 / 264 (9,8 %).
Occurrences citées rattachées à la base AutiHub
180 / 317 (56,8 %)
Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es : 130 / 264 (49,2 %)
Occurrences rattachées, non identifiées comme autistes
146 / 180 (81,1 %)
Parmi les seules occurrences rattachées. Sur l’ensemble des occurrences d’auteurices cité·es : 146 / 317 (46,1 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es, non identifié·es comme autistes : 104 / 130 (80,0 %).
2 entrées de bibliographie citée n’ont pas pu être entièrement enrichies à partir des métadonnées DOI.
Crossref: introuvable (1) · DataCite: introuvable (1)
  1. Autism Network Scotland. (2020). Autism and ageing report summary. http://www.autismnetworkscotland.org.uk/pages/ANS-Reports
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  2. J. Taffe , L. Dennerstein (2000). Retrospective self-report compared with menstrual diary data prospectively kept during the menopausal transition . Climacteric, 3(3), 183-191. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  3. Sheena K. Au‐Yeung , Louise Bradley , Ashley Robertson , Rebecca Shaw , Simon Baron-Cohen , Sarah Cassidy (2019). Experience of mental health diagnosis and perceived misdiagnosis in autistic, possibly autistic and non-autistic adults . Autism, 23(6), 1508-1518. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  4. Tatja Hirvikoski , M. Boman , Q. Chen , B. M. D'Onofrio , E. Mittendorfer-Rutz , P. Lichtenstein et al. (2020). Individual risk and familial liability for suicide attempt and suicide in autism: a population-based study . Psychological Medicine, 50(9), 1463-1474. Cambridge University Press (CUP).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  5. Meng-Chuan Lai , Simon Baron-Cohen (2015). Identifying the lost generation of adults with autism spectrum conditions . The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(11), 1013-1027. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  6. Melissa Maye , Brian A. Boyd , Frances Martínez-Pedraza , Alycia Halladay , Audrey Thurm , David S. Mandell (2022). Biases, Barriers, and Possible Solutions: Steps Towards Addressing Autism Researchers Under-Engagement with Racially, Ethnically, and Socioeconomically Diverse Communities . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(9), 4206-4211. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  7. Laura Foran Lewis (2016). Realizing a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder as an adult . International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 25(4), 346-354. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  8. Matthew de Broize , Kiah Evans , Andrew Whitehouse , John Wray , Valsamma Eapen , Anna Urbanowicz (2022). Exploring the Experience of Seeking an Autism Diagnosis as an Adult . Autism in Adulthood, 4(2), 130-140. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  9. Laura Foran Lewis (2016). Exploring the Experience of Self-Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Adults . Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(5), 575-580. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  10. Virginia Braun , Victoria Clarke (2022). Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide . QMiP Bulletin, 1(33), 46-50. British Psychological Society.
    Crossref OpenAlex
  11. Elizabeth O’Nions , Irene Petersen , Joshua E.J. Buckman , Rebecca A. Charlton , Claudia Cooper , Anne Corbett et al. (2023). Autism in England: assessing underdiagnosis in a population-based cohort study of prospectively collected primary care data . The Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 29, 100626. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  12. Cos Michael (2016). Why we need research about autism and ageing . Autism, 20(5), 515-516. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  13. Eilidh Cage , Zoe Troxell-Whitman (2019). Understanding the Reasons, Contexts and Costs of Camouflaging for Autistic Adults . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49(5), 1899-1911. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  14. Elizabeth Pellicano , Melanie Heyworth *Auteur·ice autiste. En savoir plus… (2023). The Foundations of Autistic Flourishing . Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(9), 419-427. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
  15. Louise Camm-Crosbie , Louise Bradley , Rebecca Shaw , Simon Baron-Cohen , Sarah Cassidy (2019). ‘People like me don’t get support’: Autistic adults’ experiences of support and treatment for mental health difficulties, self-injury and suicidality . Autism, 23(6), 1431-1441. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  16. Sari L. Reisner , Renee K. Randazzo , Jaclyn M. White Hughto , Sarah Peitzmeier , L. Zachary DuBois , Dana J. Pardee et al. (2018). Sensitive Health Topics With Underserved Patient Populations: Methodological Considerations for Online Focus Group Discussions . Qualitative Health Research, 28(10), 1658-1673. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  17. M. Ariel Cascio , Jonathan A. Weiss , Éric Racine (2021). Making Autism Research Inclusive by Attending to Intersectionality: a Review of the Research Ethics Literature . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 8(1), 22-36. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  18. Laura Crane , Abby Sesterka , Jacquiline den Houting *Auteur·ice autiste. En savoir plus… (2021). Inclusion and Rigor in Qualitative Autism Research: A Response to Van Schalkwyk and Dewinter (2020) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(5), 1802-1804. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    AutiHub · Chercheur·euses autistes Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  19. Silvana Unigwe , Carole Buckley , Laura Crane , Lorcan Kenny , Anna Remington , Elizabeth Pellicano (2017). GPs’ confidence in caring for their patients on the autism spectrum: an online self-report study . British Journal of General Practice, 67(659), e445-e452. Royal College of General Practitioners.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  20. Sarah Cassidy , Louise Bradley , Heather Cogger-Ward , Jacqui Rodgers (2021). Development and validation of the suicidal behaviours questionnaire - autism spectrum conditions in a community sample of autistic, possibly autistic and non-autistic adults . Molecular Autism, 12(1), 46. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  21. Isobel Moore , Gareth Morgan , Alice Welham , Ginny Russell (2022). The intersection of autism and gender in the negotiation of identity: A systematic review and metasynthesis . Feminism & Psychology, 32(4), 421-442. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  22. S. M. J. Heijnen-Kohl , R. M. Kok , R. M. H. J. Wilting , G. Rossi , S. P. J. van Alphen (2017). Screening of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Geriatric Psychiatry . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(9), 2679-2689. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  23. Kirsten Corden , Rebecca Brewer , Eilidh Cage (2022). A Systematic Review of Healthcare Professionals’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Attitudes Towards Working with Autistic People . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9(3), 386-399. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  24. Will Mandy (2019). Social camouflaging in autism: Is it time to lose the mask? Autism, 23(8), 1879-1881. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  25. Brenna B. Maddox , Valerie L. Gaus (2019). Community Mental Health Services for Autistic Adults: Good News and Bad News . Autism in Adulthood, 1(1), 15-19. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  26. Ousseny Zerbo , Yinge Qian , Thomas Ray , Steve Sidney , Steve Rich , Maria L Massolo et al. (2019). Health Care Service Utilization and Cost Among Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a U.S. Integrated Health Care System . Autism in Adulthood, 1(1), 27-36. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  27. Eya‐Mist Rødgaard , Kristian Jensen , Kamilla Woznica Miskowiak , Laurent Mottron (2022). Representativeness of autistic samples in studies recruiting through social media . Autism Research, 15(8), 1447-1456. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2777 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4284991023
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  28. Clare Harrop , Brianne Tomaszewski , Orla Putnam , Claire Klein , Elena Lamarche , Laura G. Klinger (2024). Are the diagnostic rates of autistic females increasing? An examination of state‐wide trends . Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(7), 973-983. Wiley.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  29. Georgia Lockwood Estrin , Victoria Milner , Debbie Spain , Francesca Happé , Emma Colvert (2021). Barriers to Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis for Young Women and Girls: a Systematic Review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 8(4), 454-470. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  30. Hannah Gellini , Magda Marczak (2024). “I Always Knew I Was Different”: Experiences of Receiving a Diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Adulthood—a Meta-Ethnographic Systematic Review . Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11(3), 620-639. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  31. Anne V. Kirby , Amanda V. Bakian , Yue Zhang , Deborah A. Bilder , Brooks R. Keeshin , Hilary Coon (2019). A 20‐year study of suicide death in a statewide autism population . Autism Research, 12(4), 658-666. Wiley.
    Type: Article DOI: 10.1002/aur.2076 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2911505910
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  32. Gould J. (2011). bibr18-13623613241244548 Good Autism Practice (GAP), 12(1), 34.
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  33. Ashleigh Hillier , Nicholas Gallop , Eva Mendes , Dylan Tellez , Abigail Buckingham , Afreen Nizami et al. (2020). LGBTQ + and autism spectrum disorder: Experiences and challenges . International Journal of Transgender Health, 21(1), 98-110. Informa UK Limited.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  34. Gowen E. (2019). bibr19-13623613241244548 Autism Policy & Practice, 2(1), 29.
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  35. Gary Yu Hin Lam , Sujay Sabnis , Maria Migueliz Valcarlos , Jennifer R. Wolgemuth (2021). A Critical Review of Academic Literature Constructing Well-Being in Autistic Adults . Autism in Adulthood, 3(1), 61-71. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  36. Alexandra Leedham , Andrew R. Thompson , Richard Smith , Megan Freeth (2020). ‘I was exhausted trying to figure it out’: The experiences of females receiving an autism diagnosis in middle to late adulthood . Autism, 24(1), 135-146. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  37. Annabeth P Groenman , Carolien Torenvliet , Tulsi A Radhoe , Joost A Agelink van Rentergem , Hilde M. Geurts (2022). Menstruation and menopause in autistic adults: Periods of importance? Autism, 26(6), 1563-1572. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  38. Miriam Harmens , Felicity Sedgewick , Hannah Hobson (2022). Autistic women’s diagnostic experiences: Interactions with identity and impacts on well-being . Women's Health, 18, 17455057221137477-17455057221137477. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  39. Sarah Murphy , Rebecca L. Flower , Rachel Jellett (2023). Women seeking an autism diagnosis in Australia: A qualitative exploration of factors that help and hinder . Autism, 27(3), 808-821. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  40. Emma Gowen , Rachel Taylor , Thomas Bleazard , Anat Greenstein , Peter Baimbridge , Daniel Poole (2019). Guidelines for conducting research studies with the autism community. Autism Policy & Practice, 2(1), 29.
    Type: Article OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W2987130266
    OpenAlex
  41. Jane Ussher , Alexandra Hawkey , Janette Perz (2021). Myths and Misconceptions: . Dans Musings on Perimenopause and Menopause (pp. 39-54). Demeter Press.
    Type: Chapitre de livre DOI: 10.2307/j.ctv1kz4g9t.7 OpenAlex: https://openalex.org/W4240823324
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  42. Yunhe Huang , Samuel R. C. Arnold , Kitty‐Rose Foley , Julian N Trollor (2022). Choose your Own Adventure: Pathways to Adulthood Autism Diagnosis in Australia . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(7), 2984-2996. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  43. Marianna Karavidas , Richard de Visser (2022). “It's Not Just in My Head, and It's Not Just Irrelevant”: Autistic Negotiations of Menopausal Transitions . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52(3), 1143-1155. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  44. Eric Rubenstein , Sarah Furnier (2021). #Bias: The Opportunities and Challenges of Surveys That Recruit and Collect Data of Autistic Adults Online . Autism in Adulthood, 3(2), 120-128. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  45. Priscilla Samuel , Rui Ying Yew , Merrilyn Hooley , Martha Hickey , Mark A. Stokes (2022). Sensory challenges experienced by autistic women during pregnancy and childbirth: a systematic review . Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 305(2), 299-311. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  46. David Mason , Barry Ingham , Heather Birtles , Cos Michael , Clare Scarlett , Ian A. James et al. (2021). How to improve healthcare for autistic people: A qualitative study of the views of autistic people and clinicians . Autism, 25(3), 774-785. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  47. Cameron A Maitland , Sinéad Rhodes , Anne O’Hare , Mary E. Stewart (2021). Social identities and mental well-being in autistic adults . Autism, 25(6), 1771-1783. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  48. Ged Williams , Anastasia Gunn , Amy Sweeny (2021). Nursing in the time of COVID-19: exploring nurse preparedness early in a global pandemic . Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 38(3). Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  49. Kayla M. Malone , Jamie N. Pearson , Kayla N. Palazzo , Lonnie D. Manns , Amelia Q. Rivera , DeVoshia L. Mason Martin (2022). The Scholarly Neglect of Black Autistic Adults in Autism Research . Autism in Adulthood, 4(4), 271-280. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  50. Miriam I. Martini , Ralf Kuja-Halkola , Agnieszka Butwicka , Ebba Du Rietz , Brian M. D’Onofrio , Francesca Happé et al. (2022). Sex Differences in Mental Health Problems and Psychiatric Hospitalization in Autistic Young Adults . JAMA Psychiatry, 79(12), 1188. American Medical Association (AMA).
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  51. David Mason , Gavin R. Stewart , Simone Josephine Capp , Francesca Happé (2022). Older Age Autism Research: A Rapidly Growing Field, but Still a Long Way to Go . Autism in Adulthood, 4(2), 164-172. SAGE Publications.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations
  52. (s. d.). National Health Service. (2017, October 23). Hormone replacement therapy (HRT). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  53. (s. d.). National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2015, 12 November). Menopause: Diagnosis and Management. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23
    Type: Autre
    Crossref
  54. Natalie Yau , Sonia Anderson , Ian C. Smith (2023). How is psychological wellbeing experienced by autistic women? Challenges and protective factors: A meta-synthesis . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 102, 102101. Elsevier BV.
    Crossref OpenAlex OpenCitations