How do women with disability and LGBTQIA+ people experience menopause?

After hearing about the experiences of the diverse spectrum of people across Australia, the Senate inquiry into issues relating to menopause and perimenopause has released its final report with 25 recommendations. The first recommendation is to establish a comprehensive evidence base to better understand the experiences of under-served groups, including LGBTQIA+ people and women with disability. Gaps in knowledge of menopause can be significant barriers to diagnosis and treatment .

More than 85% of people with distressing menopause symptoms do not receive appropriate care. These barriers can be compounded for people, women and those presumed female at birth who have a disability and/or are LGBTQIA+. Here’s what we know so far about how people from diverse groups experience menopause and the health-care gaps they face.

Remind me, what is menopause? Generally menopause is experienced across three phases . Perimenopause (meaning around menopause) starts when hormones, particularly oestrogen, fluctuate. Menopause occurs when a person has their final menstrual period.

These stop because the person’s ovaries no longer release eggs. This definition reflects the different ways menopause can occur (natural menopause, premature ovarian insufficiency, surgery or cancer treatment). Post-menopause is the stage after menopause marking the end of the reproductive stage.

We experience it differently Everyone’s experience of menopause is different. People living with disability can expe.