This qualitative study explored menopause perceptions, experiences, and knowledge among 13 women (aged >35) with mild or moderate intellectual disabilities, recruited from a single service provider via semi-structured interviews analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis.
Five themes emerged: menopause taking control, difficulty understanding menopause, knowledge as empowering, being dismissed due to intellectual disability, and need for a tailored approach. Women with intellectual disabilities showed marked knowledge gaps about menopause, which negatively shaped symptom severity and reduced help-seeking behavior.
Very small sample (n=13) from a single linked service provider limits generalizability; qualitative design cannot establish prevalence or causality; restricted to mild or moderate intellectual disabilities, excluding those with severe or profound disability.
Clinicians should proactively screen for menopausal symptoms in women with intellectual disabilities, as knowledge gaps and perceived dismissal create barriers to care. Accessible, tailored educational materials and clear care pathways are needed for this underserved group.
