Parent Perspectives: Menstruation and Menstrual Hygiene Management for Autistic Daughters

Parents of autistic daughters may be able to provide insight into how to address menstruation and menstrual hygiene management from their lived experiences. Menstrual hygiene management is considered an activity of daily living that is within the scope of occupational therapy practice.

To investigate the perspectives of parents of autistic daughters and their firsthand experiences of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management.

This was a qualitative, phenomenological study that used convenience and snowball sampling and an inductive thematic analysis of transcripts of virtual semistructured interviews. Trustworthiness was established through audit trails, member checking, and the use of an interview guide.

Interviews were conducted through Zoom at the participants' preferred time and location.

Parents of autistic daughters (N = 8): seven biological mothers and one adoptive father.

Seven themes emerged from the interviews: (1) inadequate expertise in women's health for autistic individuals among medical professionals, (2) parental dependency, (3) intensified sensory experiences before and during menstruation, (4) limited menstrual awareness and understanding in individuals with ASD, (5) menstrual product preferences, (6) parental feelings about managing menstruation, and (7) strategies that worked for managing menstruation.

The findings suggest that parents face significant challenges when caring for autistic daughters during their menstrual cycles. Occupational therapy practitioners may support autistic individuals as well as their parents and caregivers in this process by having a deeper understanding of their experiences. Plain-Language Summary: This study sheds light on the perspectives of parents of autistic daughters on the topic of menstruation and menstrual hygiene management, which are considered activities of daily living. Occupational therapy practitioners may gain knowledge from these firsthand perspectives to inform future occupational therapy practice. Menstruation and menstrual hygiene management are important activities of daily living that are not addressed well for individuals living with autism. Occupational therapy practitioners can support autistic individuals and their caregivers in improving the participation and performance in menstruation and menstrual hygiene management.