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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 there,

    Thanks for your message. After posting this last year, and following the round robin request for consent, her Endocrinologist, along with her mother decided it was not in her best interests to intervene at this stage.  They cited potential long term health problems - osteoporosis in the main- with such early and prolonged use of contraceptives.  He stated we should carry on as long as it is manageable and practicable to do so before considering contraceptive intervention.  So, we've been managing with pads, which she eventually got used to and is happy to wear (that surprised me). When she has her period, it does not put her up nor down, however, they are erratic and she had one last month for the first time in about 4 months.  It was particularly heavy, lasted the full week, required changing of pads every couple of hours and affected her sleep.  If this is the norm going forward, as far as I am concerned it's no longer manageable.  However, and unfortunately, I have no say. As a step parent, with only part time care responsibilities, those decisions fall to her parents.  I can influence her dad, but her mum has no interest in anything I have to say.  So, my hands are frustratingly tied.  

    Where are you by the way?  

    Emma x

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  • Hi there,

    Thanks for your message. After posting this last year, and following the round robin request for consent, her Endocrinologist, along with her mother decided it was not in her best interests to intervene at this stage.  They cited potential long term health problems - osteoporosis in the main- with such early and prolonged use of contraceptives.  He stated we should carry on as long as it is manageable and practicable to do so before considering contraceptive intervention.  So, we've been managing with pads, which she eventually got used to and is happy to wear (that surprised me). When she has her period, it does not put her up nor down, however, they are erratic and she had one last month for the first time in about 4 months.  It was particularly heavy, lasted the full week, required changing of pads every couple of hours and affected her sleep.  If this is the norm going forward, as far as I am concerned it's no longer manageable.  However, and unfortunately, I have no say. As a step parent, with only part time care responsibilities, those decisions fall to her parents.  I can influence her dad, but her mum has no interest in anything I have to say.  So, my hands are frustratingly tied.  

    Where are you by the way?  

    Emma x

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