Autistic girls face a host of daily challenges, but periods can send sensory sensitivity into overdrive – and that’s a huge problem at school. But one brand is trying to change that, one period pant at a time.
Periods can be tricky for teens to navigate at the best of times. Between mortifying leaks, inappropriate PE uniforms and awkward acne, menstruating girls have a lot to contend with. But those who have autism face period challenges that go beyond the embarrassing or inconvenient, with new research finding that many are missing weeks of school to deal with the sensory overwhelm and lack of support offered for periods.
The paper, commissioned by the Autistic Girls Network and period-proof underwear company Wuka, found that heightened sensory sensitivity was the primary challenge these girls face every month – from struggling with the texture of period products to the smell of blood. For 87% of girls, that leads to increased anxiety or emotional overwhelm and challenges with self-regulation (68%). It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that over half (57%) have missed school or taken days off, with one in five parents reporting that their children had missed over two weeks of school in the past year. Over the course of their high school life, that might mean missing three months’ worth of teaching – and that’s assuming that they never take a sick day for any other reason. That’s a huge amount of school to miss out on, especially when autistic children might already face additional educational challenges.
Beyond school, 36% of parents reported their teens being put on the pill or other hormonal contraceptives like the coil, injection or implant as a way of dealing with monthly fluctuations. And when at the GP, some autistic girls are accused of being ‘dramatic’ or ‘overreacting’ by healthcare professionals when they seek medical help for problem periods. “It’s not just that I’m being dramatic,” says one teen, “I have the same difficulties as everyone else with it, but I find it so much harder to cope – especially with the changes in my body and my feelings. I don’t always understand it and feel like I am ill.”
Cathy Wassell, CEO at Autistic Girls Network, said: “There’s a serious lack of mainstream education around autistic young people’s experiences with periods, and this data reinforces the need to address that. Autistic young people need tailored resources and stronger community support.
It’s not just that I’m being dramatic
“Support and empowerment are key to our mission, but our research shows there’s still a long way to go as autistic young people are struggling in school and feeling dismissed by the medical professionals who are meant to help them. We need more inclusive, accessible and accepting practices in schools and healthcare that acknowledge the varying experiences of autistic people managing their period, including a better understanding of the sensory struggles and perception of pain.”
But things are changing. Around 70% of parents are actively seeking out alternatives to pads, cups and tampons, all of which were found to be challenging. Many girls found internal products ‘terrifying’ and the idea of insertion ‘disgusting’ or ‘horrible’ – exacerbated, no doubt, by experiencing pain when trying or worrying about issues like toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Many worried about leaking, and the most common difficulty related to pads feeling noisy, scratchy or bulky.
Credit: Getty; Adobe
Period pants, on the other hand, were repeatedly cited as being a ‘game changer’, especially during school hours. As such, Wuka has created a period starter kit, which includes 12-hour leakproof period pants, hygiene wipes, a heat patch for cramps, a changing bag and a copy of The Autism-Friendly Guide To Periods by Robyn Steward.
“We’re on a mission to ensure all girls have a positive period and feel empowered to care for themselves with period products that work with their body, not against it,” says Ruby Raut, CEO and founder of Wuka. “This data shows that for autistic young people, the sensory sensitivities and increased anxiety make their periods an especially difficult time, which is why Wuka’s sensory-friendly pants aim to minimise discomfort, removing triggers around the feel and sound of traditional period pads, to reduce overwhelm and increase confidence during this vital time.”
