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iheartmegahitt
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29 May 2011, 4:46 pm

I was just wondering if any autistic women go through them. I've always been told that mine are due to my constant stress and anxiety. So I could go more than one month without one and then have one after a few months or so. I mean sometimes the littlest bit of stress is a big deal because of my autism as well. I don't mind not having them either because for me, it causes a huge change in my body. Like, hormonal changes that make me well... a bit... horny. It also causes me to feel more irritable and anxious and sometimes I want to die rather than being on it.

I just want to know, what have you gone through with your period as an autistic woman? For me, I never had problems without when I first had it but growing older, I feel that my period makes me more stressed and also triggers my anxiety; as well as dealing with the bodies changes in hormones... so its somewhat stressful.


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crouton
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30 May 2011, 3:37 pm

For me, the main problem with menstruating is the sensation of the blood on my skin, as well as that of various forms of sanitary protection. I know that many NT women find these sensations to be very uncomfortable, and I suspect that my heightened sensory sensitivity is what raises these issues from 'an annoyance' to 'meltdown-inducing'. I've even been known to go as far as taking a contraceptive pill in order to lighten the flow, though I had to stop taking it for some time due to even greater sensory issues with regular blood pressure testing. :roll:

Luckily, I have no issues with irregularity in my cycle, and mood swings resulting from hormonal changes are present, but mild compared to some examples that I know of.



Ai_Ling
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30 May 2011, 4:10 pm

I think thats normal, many women get bad PMS. Ive had NT friends who admit that 1, 2nd day of period, is like hell. I would guess how much hell would vary based on the person with autistic or NT not really playing a role. For me, I don't get too emotionally affected by my period, much less then other women. My emotions are heightened to a very small degree, to a degree where I was never able to notice even if I tried to. Sometimes, I dont know my period is coming and Ive gotten it unexpectedly.



PinkRangerV
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30 May 2011, 4:33 pm

I get heavy, irregular periods and weird PMS. I don't mind, though--it feels like energy is moving through my body, and I love energy work. :) I do mind the cramps, but ibuprofen helps a lot.

Stress can make me skip, though. I hate that. I nearly skipped because of graduation, and it was driving me nuts. I felt awful until my period actually made its appearance. *glares* Stupid graduation...


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mb1984
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30 May 2011, 4:42 pm

Mine is weird...I can be regular for a few months, and then suddenly my "regular" will be every two months. Then it might switch to every three weeks. It is very unpredictable. I was like clockwork before my pregnancy, but the last three years are very irregular.

The day I get my period is usually a terrible day. I have many issues with it, mainly stemming from my gender issues. I don't care as much about the pain, and blood doesn't bother me, but what DOES bother me is putting up with getting it when I don't feel like I should even have a vagina.
I also used contraceptive pills to control it but had to stop for health reasons.


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YoshiPikachu
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31 May 2011, 3:16 pm

I take a pill so it is not as heavy as it would be other wise, and the same with the pain. Which is am good thing becuase the pain is soooo horrible.


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keira
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31 May 2011, 3:33 pm

I used to get heavy, irregular and painful periods. I got tested and was diagnosed with PCOS. Now I'm on a pill (to treat PCOS) so my periods are more bearable. I still get irritable and moody though.



tomboy4good
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31 May 2011, 3:44 pm

My periods have been bad for years. Very heavy bleeding & cramping, & stress just made my moods worse because I couldn't handle all the stuff at once along with trying to make a living. I was supposed to have an ablation procedure to burn off the lining of my uterus. However, I had only half a uterus & the tool wouldn't operate. So I had to have a D&C. It helped with all the stuff I hated about my period but threw me into full-blown menopausal symptoms including mega hot flashes that also affected my quality of life. Now I am on HRT & though it's helped with menopause, I am back to having periods. I so can't win. :wall:


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slovaksiren
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31 May 2011, 4:03 pm

They haven't been too bad really... though it took me a bit of getting used to as far as routine goes. I remember when I was 12 I really didn't use any pads or anything and when my seventh grad English teacher pulled me out of class and told me to turn around, she was suprised that I didn't tell that this was my first period it was mostly because I was like "Well, it's natural so I'm sure everyone will be nice and accepting and understanding, right?"

Yeah... Of course, now I am a little bit better as far as taking care of myself, but my mother still wishes that I shave and brush my hair more often...

As long as I take pain medicine usually I'm fine...



ShutUpMeg
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01 Jun 2011, 12:30 am

I had to go on the pill to regulate mine. I'd go months without one, then suddenly get it and have to adjust since they'd be light then heavy then stop then come back unexpectedly. PMS and the pain whilst menstruating was very bad too (still is). I was really bad at having them though; took me forever to figure out how to insert a tampon...[the whole thing goes in? whaaat?!?]

But with birth control it regulates the cycle and some also help a lot with skin problems and PMS.



iheartmegahitt
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01 Jun 2011, 12:57 am

I've always thought of taking birth control but then I wonder if its worth it. I mean it would throw off my routine if I had to take another pill with my concerta.


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identity
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01 Jun 2011, 1:28 pm

Mine have always been quite irregular although lately they seem to be a bit better. I can sympathise about them being heavy though and really painful. I have to take ibuprofen for pretty much the whole week which I hate doing but sometimes I've got ill with the pain so I try and do anything to avoid that. I sometimes find that I feel more anxious and emotional before one and it's only when it starts a few days later that I realise why that was. That's really annoying. Personally I can't bear to use tampons and I hate how towels make me feel too hot sometimes.
Did anyone else have real problems when they started because I completely freaked out. I knew what they were so it wasn't really a shock but I just couldn't deal with it. They started at the age of 10 which seems to be quite young so I guess I felt an injustice about it. Took me several years to get use to them though after trying to stop them by taking the pill all month round but that just meant I ended up with bleeding most of the time. :x



wefunction
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01 Jun 2011, 4:30 pm

All autistic women go through periods while being autistic. I don't think autism affects the menstrual cycle. Every woman is different and I think this is true regardless of whether or not that woman has a psychological condition.



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01 Jun 2011, 4:32 pm

ShutUpMeg wrote:
I had to go on the pill to regulate mine. I'd go months without one, then suddenly get it and have to adjust since they'd be light then heavy then stop then come back unexpectedly. PMS and the pain whilst menstruating was very bad too (still is). I was really bad at having them though; took me forever to figure out how to insert a tampon...[the whole thing goes in? whaaat?!?]

But with birth control it regulates the cycle and some also help a lot with skin problems and PMS.


The pill doesn't regulate menstruation - that's a myth.

The pill works by preventing ovulation - no ovulation means no menstruation, thus the menstrual cycle is suppressed not regulated. Bleeding women get on the pill is withdrawal bleeding caused by the drop in hormones during the placebo or week break that mimics the natural hormonal drop that induces menstruation. This bleeding only occurs on a regular basis because of the order you take the pill, not because it's regulating anything.

It doesn't cure the underlying cause of irregularity, PMS, cramps, etc. but at best may hide them to some extent, depending on the cause, also depending on the cause of the problem the pill may be of little help comparatively speaking (compared to various treatment options) or the problems may return once you come off the pill.

If a person wants to use menstrual management then that's fine, but it's important for women to understand what this is so they can make an educated choice - particularly considering side-effects and potential long-term effects on the body, impact on the body as a whole and sexual health, and women should be made aware of other treatment and management options.


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OneStepBeyond
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01 Jun 2011, 4:42 pm

Bloodheart wrote:
women should be made aware of other treatment and management options.


examples?



Bloodheart
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01 Jun 2011, 4:54 pm

I've never had much of an anxiety problem with my periods.

I 'suffer' from hyper-menorrhagia - my periods can last up to 14 days and are up to 380ml (the average for most is 35-80ml).
When I was younger this meant I couldn't leave the house many days, at school or in public I had multiple experiences with leaking so badly it'd run down my legs and leak right through all my clothing, and nothing better than waking up first thing in the morning with a room looking like the set of a bad slasher movie then having to spend most of the day sitting in a bath. This was a little anxiety-inducing. Now I use a menstrual cup, tranexamic acid, coffee, multivitamins and chaste tree tincture so it's no longer a big issue, all this also means I don't ever get PMS or cramps.

I do get more sensory issues during my period - hyper-sensitive to touch, which makes sleeping a little tough.

Attitude affects menstruation and vice-versa - stress and anxiety can have a massive effect on menstruation, and if you feel negatively about menstruation or suffer problems like cramps or PMS then it just turns into a viscous cycle - deal with any menstrual problems, feel more positively about menstruation, and menstruation will become easier. If irregularity is a problem, have you confirmed with a doctor that anxiety is the problem? Have you also tried anything to regulate periods such as chaste tree or evening primrose oil?

I'd also suggest two things you might find helpful;

1. Fertility Awareness Method - tracking your cycles may not only let you know when your periods are due and if there are any problems, so cutting out any anxiety about when your period will come, but also understanding your body a bit better will allow you to identify when in your cycle you may feel horny, when you may feel moody, and so-on, with that information you may then be able to do something about this or at least have more of a feeling of control as you'll know when to expect the hormonal and mood changes.

2. Optimised Woman - learning to take advantage of the mental and emotional changes you go through at certain points in your cycles, as well as better understanding of these it'll allow you to use them to your advantage so give you more control.


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