Objective: This study aimed to gain insight into changes in parkinson (PD) symptoms experienced by women after menopause.

Background: Although most people are diagnosed with PD later in life, it also occurs in young people. About 5-10% of all people with PD are diagnosed under the age of 50 and almost half of these people are women. Although women with PD in the outpatient clinic often report changes of their PD symptoms after menopause, literature on this topic is scarce.

Method: This sub-study was  part of a larger survey study about women-specific issues and the impact of hormonal fluctuations on PD symptoms. This study was carried out in the Netherlands among 110 women aged 21 to 60 who had been diagnosed by a neurologist. 31 women matched the criteria of this sub-study. These women were post-menopausal and had been pre- or peri-menopausal at the time of their first PD symptoms. Women answered the question: ‘Did your PD symptoms change after menopause and how?’.

Results: 68% (N=21) of the women reported an increase in severity of one or more of their symptoms after menopause. They most frequently reported an increase in fatigue (45%; N=14), transpiration (42%; N=13) and urinary tract issues (42%; N=13). Although these symptoms may not be PD specific, women also reported an increase in PD specific symptoms, such as bradykinesia (23%; N=7) and tremor (19%; N=6). Moreover, women reported changes in the effect of their medication, such as an increase in dyskinesias (35%; N=11) and wearing off (29%; N=9). Only 1 out of 21 women reported that a health care professional had addressed the topic of possible changes in PD symptoms after menopause.

Conclusion: Two-thirds of women in our study reported an increase in severity of symptoms after menopause. Some of these symptoms, such as fatigue, transpiration and urinary tract issues, are not PD specific, whilst others such as bradykinesia and tremor are. Many symptoms related to menopause are hard to distinguish from PD symptoms. Therefore women may have trouble to identify their issues and discuss them with their health care professionals. It is important to change the current lack of engagement of neurologists regarding this topic. Adjusting treatment or referring women to a gynecologist to consider hormonal treatment options as well as creating awareness among women with PD could help to improve their treatment.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/women-and-pd-experienced-changes-in-parkinson-symptoms-after-menopause/