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Practical advice on handling Menstruation in a severely autistic female.

missemma04

Hi,

I'm step mum to Eve, she's 13 and severely autistic with a mental age of 2/3 years.  She had her first period today. She won't allow me to put pads in her pants, tampons not an option.  Any advice?  She's seems generally unaffected, although stood in the bath, naked from the waist down, pointing at the taps after being to the toilet today.  I got a traumatised phone call from her dad - home with her at the time.

She doesn't understand the need for the sanitary pads, or the hygiene required, plus we have the risk of blood smeared walls, door handles, bedding etc since her hands are down there regularly......

Any help gratefully received!

Thanks!

Parents

  • Hi Stuffed,

    Thanks for the comment.  Her parents (my husband and his ex-wife) are in the process of getting consent for contraceptive intervention to stop the periods altogether.  However, because Eve is unable to give consent herself, the consent has to be sought from ALL of her care givers and they all must agree it's in her best interests - so right now that is the school, her GP, Paediatrician, Geneticist, OT and the parents.  The process was started some months ago, and as you can imagine, has not been quick.  Hopefully some momentum will be gained now though, and frustratingly, it's now her mother who's having the wobbly about whether this is the right thing to do due to potential long term health effects of the long term use of contraceptives.

    Re incontinence pants - she won't wear them, or pull up pants.  She still needs nappies at night, but we have to wait until she's asleep before we can put it on.  She's quite independent!

    I'm looking for pants that have an in built 'slot' for a pad rather than it being obvious in the normal gusset of her knickers......

    Emma

Reply

  • Hi Stuffed,

    Thanks for the comment.  Her parents (my husband and his ex-wife) are in the process of getting consent for contraceptive intervention to stop the periods altogether.  However, because Eve is unable to give consent herself, the consent has to be sought from ALL of her care givers and they all must agree it's in her best interests - so right now that is the school, her GP, Paediatrician, Geneticist, OT and the parents.  The process was started some months ago, and as you can imagine, has not been quick.  Hopefully some momentum will be gained now though, and frustratingly, it's now her mother who's having the wobbly about whether this is the right thing to do due to potential long term health effects of the long term use of contraceptives.

    Re incontinence pants - she won't wear them, or pull up pants.  She still needs nappies at night, but we have to wait until she's asleep before we can put it on.  She's quite independent!

    I'm looking for pants that have an in built 'slot' for a pad rather than it being obvious in the normal gusset of her knickers......

    Emma

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