The nature and extent of help given to women with intellectual disabilities to manage menstruation

Abstract

Background Menstruation has been shown to be problematic for many women with intellectual disabilities. There has been a greater focus on menstrual suppression or elimination than on help and training to manage menstrual care successfully. Method A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in England to investigate the help and training currently given to women with intellectual disabilities. Results Twenty-nine percent of the women had never been given the opportunity to learn how to manage their own menstrual care. Where someone had tried to teach the woman, this was most often her mother. Carers were giving considerable amounts of assistance with menstrual care, although some of the women with more profound disabilities were able to manage menstrual care independently.Conclusions The authors argue that all women with intellectual disabilities should have the chance to manage or assist with their own menstrual care, backed by a strategic approach to menstrual education and support.

Sexual health care in persons with intellectual disabilities

“…Research indicates that education and supports are effective in promoting menstrual self-care among women with ID, even those with severe ID, but many are not provided the opportunity to learn this skill [Rodgers and Lipscombe, 2005]. Grover [2002] indicates that menstrual management in women with ID is similar to peers without disabilities and surgical intervention is seldom required.…”

Health and Safety Adaptive Skill Area

“…Few people with disabilities or other challenges are given the instruction necessary to manage all aspects of their development through puberty and into adulthood (Rodgers & Lipscombe, 2005). This topic can be attended to both conceptually and in a more functional context.…”

Teaching menstrual care skills to intellectually disabled female students

“…, Epps et al . , Rodgers & Lipscombe ). While training educable IDAs, there should be clear explanations regarding acceptable behaviours and such explanations should be at a level that they can understand.…”

“…Failure in performing menstrual and perineal hygiene in an adequate and correct way can lead to the development of infections (Özvarış & Akın , Sezgin & Akın ). One of the factors causing many IDAs to experience menstrual negativity is their immature feelings of shame and privacy (Rodgers , Rodgers & Lipscombe ).…”

“…We should provide information to every adolescent regarding menstruation and give them the opportunity to learn menstruation care and management (Rodgers ,b, Rodgers & Lipscombe ). Training plays a major role for IDAs to be aware of their menstruation periods and to gain relevant cleaning habits (Richman et al .…”