"Life is much more difficult to manage during periods": autistic experiences of menstruation
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Authors
Steward, Robyn
Crane, Laura
Roy, Eilish Mairi
Remington, Anna
Pellicano, Elizabeth
Issue Date
2018-12
Type
Article
Language
en_US
Keywords
Autism , Menarche , Menstruation , Self-Regulation , Sensory Sensitivities , Women’s Health
Alternative Title
Abstract
Although menarche and menstruation are perceived to be overwhelmingly negative events for developmentally-disabled women, women's health issues remain under-researched in autism. Here, we conducted a preliminary investigation of the experiences of post-menarcheal autistic (n = 123) and non-autistic (n = 114) respondents to a brief online survey. Although autistic respondents reported many overlapping issues and experiences with non-autistic respondents, they also highlighted distinct-and sometimes-distressing-issues relating to menstruation, especially a cyclical amplification of autistic-related challenges, including sensory differences and difficulties with regulating emotion and behavior, which had a significant, negative impact on their lives. These initial findings call for systematic research on the potential causes, correlates and consequences of menstrual-related problems in autistic individuals-across the spectrum and the lifespan.
Description
Citation
Steward, R., Crane, L., Mairi Roy, E., Remington, A., & Pellicano, E. (2018). "Life is Much More Difficult to Manage During Periods": Autistic Experiences of Menstruation. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 48(12), 4287–4292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3664-0
Publisher
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders