Our understanding of women’s health during midlife is limited. Shifts in Western societies, including delayed childbirth, increased use of IVF and more women working during the menopausal transition may modify the impact of menopausal symptoms on women, their health and families. The presence of a chronic condition such as multiple sclerosis (MS) may add another layer of complexity. MS is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40 years, meaning most women with MS will experience midlife menopausal transition after their diagnosis.
Vasomotor symptoms (VMS), including hot flushes and sweats, are experienced by most women undergoing the menopausal transition. However, women with MS may see VMS as exacerbations of their pre-existing MS symptoms. A key challenge when evaluating the relationship between menopause and MS is the considerable overlap between menopausal symptoms and many of the “invisible symptoms” of MS including mood disorders, sleep disturbance, changes in bladder function and sexual dysfunction. This can make it difficult for women with MS and their neurologists to establish whether new symptoms are related to menopause or MS. Addressing these invisible symptoms of MS is important as many impact the quality of life of women with MS.
Professor Susan Davis and her team are conducting a nationwide survey of Australian women with MS aged 40–69. The study will explore the impact of common midlife circumstances and menopause on their quality of life, comparing their experiences to those of the general population as documented in the Australian Women’s Midlife Years (AMY) Study.
Professor Davis and her team have developed an online survey platform and tested it with women living with MS aged 40-71 to ensure that it was user-friendly.
The team launched their study in July 2025. So far, 355 women have completed the survey, which is nearly 30% of the recruitment target. Recruitment has varied by state and territory, ranging from 5-100% of the team’s target. The Northern Territory was the first region to fully reach the recruitment target.
In February 2026, the team welcomed Dr Jessica Redmond, an MS Neurology Clinical Fellow, who will focus on MS-AMY as her PhD project. Dr Redmond has been awarded a prestigious NHMRC PhD scholarship and an MS Australia PhD scholarship to focus on this work.
Professor Davis and her team look forward to completing their recruitment within the next 12 months, so they can start learning about the health and wellbeing of women aged 40-69 living with MS.
Updated 31 March 2026
MSWA
$249,561
2025
3 years
Current project
