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Topic

A Narrative Inquiry into the Menopause Experiences of Women with Spinal Cord Injury

School of Nursing

Date & location

• Friday, August 8, 2025
• 2:00 P.M.
• Virtual Defence

Examining Committee

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Vera Caine, School of Nursing, ßÉßɱ¬ÁÏ (Supervisor)
• Dr. Katelin Albert, Department of Sociology, UVic (Co-Supervisor)

External Examiner

• Dr. Thea Cacchioni, Department of Gender Studies, UVic

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Tara Troy, Department of Civil Engineering, UVic

Abstract

Menopause presents distinct medical and social challenges for women with spinal cord injury (SCI), yet research on this topic remains limited. In this narrative inquiry I explore how disability, gender, and aging intersect to shape the menopausal experiences of women with SCI. Through four in-depth conversations with each of two participants, Kim and Nadine, I examined how they navigated menopause in the context of living with SCI. Conversations were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed alongside field notes to develop narrative accounts. Two key narrative threads emerged: The Liminality of Menopause and Questioning of Self. Both women’s stories revealed how silence, uncertainty, and discrimination influenced their understanding and experience of menopause. In clinical encounters, disability was frequently treated as the primary focus, which eclipsed other important aspects of health and social experience. These findings highlight significant gaps in care and the need for healthcare providers to engage in early, inclusive, and validating conversations about menopause with women living with SCI.