What we know and tips to help you advocate
Parkinson’s often looks different for women than it does for men. For many women, symptoms may appear differently, and the path to diagnosis and treatment can be slower or more confusing.
Knowing what sets women’s experiences apart can help people to recognize patterns, ask the right questions, and ensure your care reflects your individual needs.
Diagnosis and symptoms
Compared to men, women often experience:
• More non-motor symptoms such as anxiety, depression, apathy, pain, and fatigue.
• Less rigidity, fewer cognitive changes, and fewer gut-related symptoms.
Women also experience differences in diagnosis and prognosis, including:
• Delayed or missed diagnosis, as symptoms may be overlooked, downplayed, or attributed to stress.
• Increased likelihood of other health conditions, including osteoporosis, arthritis, hip fractures, and depression.
Hormones and life stages
Hormonal changes over a woman’s lifetime can affect how Parkinson’s symptoms present and fluctuate.
• Many women notice worsening symptoms before their period and fluctuations in symptoms with their menstrual cycle.
• Some menopause symptoms such as sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, can overlap with Parkinson’s symptoms.
• Parkinson’s symptoms may worsen before and after menopause due to shifting estrogen levels.
• Younger women with Parkinson’s may face added challenges related to contraception, pregnancy, and childbirth.
Social and emotional realities
Women often face unique pressures that can shape their Parkinson’s experience and make things more challenging. For instance:
• Caregiving roles: Many women care for family members while managing their own symptoms. Balancing caregiving with work or other responsibilities can increase stress and, for some, worsen symptoms.
• Difficulty seeking help: Some women may find it hard to ask for help, particularly if they have long identified as care givers or worry about being a burden on their family.
• Emotional and mental health: Anxiety and depression are more common in women with Parkinson’s.
• Social stigma: Women with Parkinson’s often describe changes to their self-image and say the condition can interfere with social interactions.
What to do
1) Track your symptoms and medications.
Keep notes on movement, mood, sleep, fatigue, pain, medication timing, and feelings before and after doses, including any changes around menstrual cycle or menopause.
2) Build a team that listens to and respects your experience.
Seek emotional support through counselling, peer groups, or women-specific programs. And consider ways to strengthen care by preparing written concerns, asking for referrals (e.g., to a mental health professional or menopause specialist), and involving a care partner or allied health professional who can
help amplify and advocate.
3) Start conversations about hormones.
Hormonal changes aren’t always discussed in Parkinson’s care. Consider asking how menstrual cycles or menopause may be affecting symptoms and whether treatment adjustments could help.
4) Join advocacy efforts to increase research funding for women-specific research. Visit parkinson.ca/advocacy for effective tools.
5) Participate in research if you’re interested and able—it strengthens the evidence base for women.
Visit parkinson.ca/research to learn about participating in research studies.
“When my anxiety is worse, I avoid social functions at work because they feel overwhelming.”
A mental health professional can work to help you recognize the anxiety triggers early and help you develop a practice of specific relaxation techniques.
“When fatigue hits, I struggle to keep up with daily chores or caregiving responsibilities.”
This is an opportunity to accept support from family or friends, such as creating a shared weekly plan for tasks like meal preparation, laundry, or household clean-up.
Women’s experiences with Parkinson’s are distinct. Empowerment means actively learning – through research, webinars, trusted organizations, and conversations with other women living with Parkinson’s, both locally and globally. By staying informed and speaking up, you and your family can play an active role in shaping care that truly reflects reality and your experiences.
Visit parkinson.ca/women to learn more and access helpful tools to help you feel more confident in your care.
Women are…
– Less often diagnosed and encounter more hurdles.
– Under represented in clinical research despite evidence of unique differences.
– At a higher risk of comorbid conditions that complicate treatment.
– Less likely to be offered Deep Brain Stimulation.
Photo: Jeremy Bishop
