Menopause after brain injury

The number of people surviving brain injury is increasing over time, and that means that more women with brain injury are living to the age when menopause will typically begin.
In this feature, we take a look at menopause and how the experience of it can be impacted by a history of brain injury.
We discuss what menopause is, how it can affect women with brain injury uniquely, and how women with brain injury can cope with their menopausal symptoms. Please note that the information in this article does not replace clinical guidance

What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman’s life when their reproductive cycle comes to an end and their ability to reproduce stops because of natural ageing. It is defined as the point in time 12 months after a woman’s final period. It usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55 years and is often a gradual transition over the course of multiple years.

How does brain injury
affect menopause?

Some of the symptoms of perimenopause are also commonly experienced after brain injury, such as cognitive and mood changes, sleep problems and headaches. Research has found that menopausal women with traumatic brain injury (TBI) can experience these overlapping symptoms to a greater degree than menopausal women without TBI. Menopause may therefore worsen the experience of these issues among women after brain injury, but research in this area is limited at the moment.

Tips for coping with menopause after brain injury

• Speak to your GP or healthcare professional about your symptoms. They may be able to prescribe medication to cope with your menopause symptoms.
• Consider talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This has been shown to effectively reduce the psychological impact of menopausal and brain injury symptoms such as stress and anxiety.
• Visit a menopause specialist recognised by the British Menopause Society. The specialist will be able to offer you individualised support for your menopausal symptoms.
• Learn ways to cope with memory problems, as these are a common complaint after brain injury, and can be worsened by the body’s reduction in estrogen during menopause.
• Be honest with others about how you are feeling. The impact of brain injury can be difficult for others in your life to understand, so being honest about how you are feeling and communicating effectively can be particularly important.
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle, for instance exercising, eating a healthy diet, and giving up smoking. This can help with reducing hot flushes and night sweats, as well as improving the quality of sleep. You should also consider reducing your alcohol intake or stopping drinking alcohol altogether, as alcohol has been found to worsen both menopause and brain injury symptoms.
• Speak to our nurse-led helpline if you have questions about brain injury and menopause, or just need a listening ear to talk to about your experiences.
• Consider your diet and try to make sure you are having enough calcium and Vitamin D to keep your bones healthy, as menopause can affect bone density.
• Try to rest and get good quality sleep. If you have problems with getting to sleep, the quality of sleep or staying asleep due to your brain injury, you may find the information in our publication Sleep problems after brain injury helpful.