Menstruation among autistic adults: An occupational perspective.

Abstract

Introduction: Menstruation is known to have potentially adverse impacts at multiple levels of occupational performance. However, little research has directly investigated the everyday menstruation experiences of autistic individuals, for whom menses and menarche are widely thought to be particularly occupationally disruptive.

Method: A qualitative research design was employed to address the lived experiences of menstruation among N = 6 autistic adults living in the United Kingdom. With institutional ethical approval, in-depth online interviews were conducted, yielding 34,734 words of transcript. Thematic analysis of these revealed interconnected global themes.

Findings: The global themes identified were: (1) 'Sense of self', addressing participants' sensory overload and experiences of anxiety, 'brain fog' and concern with cleanliness. (2) 'Attributional work', addressing events and contexts which were taken to trigger and/or exacerbate key problems (such as the need to use public restrooms). (3) 'Reclaiming orderliness', addressing participants' pragmatic strategies for overcoming increased unpredictability in their lives during periods.

Conclusion: Menstruation poses specific, significant challenges for autistic individuals that require autism-specific solutions. These challenges impact individuals' ability to perform occupations of self-care, productivity and leisure. As such, Occupational Therapists have a key role in the provision of support to address the impact of menstruation on occupational engagement and participation.