Premenstrual changes in physical and mental state experienced by women with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their impact on daily living activities

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by social communication difficulties, as well as restricted, repetitive behaviors and interests including those resulting from hyper- or hypoactive sensory input. The characteristics of the symptoms of females with ASD are not well-studied since the previous studies were conducted mainly on males with ASD. In particular, it is unclear how women’s menstruation and psychosomatic symptoms may influence the daily living activities of females with ASD, when they co-occur with their ASD symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ASD symptoms and premenstrual symptoms on daily living activities in women with ASD based on the patients’ own experience.

[Methods] We conducted semi-structured interviews on seven women with ASD and analyzed the changes in psychosomatic symptoms experienced before menstruation and their effects on daily living activities using a qualitative descriptive research method.

[Results] Based on the analysis, the following three categories were elucidated: “premenstrual symptoms that become more severe due to the enhancement and appearance of hyperesthesia,” “difficulty in daily living caused by worsening of premenstrual symptoms,” and “self-management ability in symptomatic treatment and life improvement.”

[Conclusion] Before menstruation, women with ASD experienced a unique physical disorder due to hyperesthesia, a characteristic of disability. These affected daily and social activities, causing difficulty in their lives. It was revealed that the subjects had created a way of dealing with premenstrual symptoms by their own ingenuity and advancing their self-understanding; however, they wanted to be better understood by people around them.