According to a new survey, women with autism often have trouble understanding their menstrual cycles.
- About 700,000 people live with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in France.
- 8,000 autistic children are born every year.
According to a new survey commissioned by INTIMINA, women with autism have a harder time managing their periods than neurotypical people.
disturbing odors
One in two women with autism said they didn’t understand their periods, and one in three said it took them up to four to five years to learn how to manage their cycles. 39% of respondents also could not correctly identify the cervix on an image of the female reproductive system, and 83% found that sanitary protection was difficult to use.
In addition, 59% of respondents were not comfortable enough to talk openly with loved ones about their periods, and 16% had to find out about their cycles on their own. Due to their hypersensitivity, almost 1 in 3 autistic women (26%) also reported that the smells of menstrual products like tampons, menstrual cups and sanitary napkins bothered them.
Concerns
Finally, more than 1 in 3 autistic women (38%) say pre-period mood swings are among their top three pre-menstrual worries. Besides mood swings, 42% of women with ASD said they were concerned about heavy bleeding during their period, and 42% said they were concerned about menstrual cramps.
“Do not hesitate to consult a doctor if simple measures such as hot water bottles or gentle exercises do not manage menstrual pain”, concludes gynecologist Shree Datta.
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