Menstrual issues for women with intellectual disability

Abstract

The approach to menstrual management in girls with intellectual disabilities should be the same as it is for other girls. Advice may need to be tailored according to the severity of the disability. Girls who can manage their own toilet hygiene can usually learn to manage their menses independently. They need preparation for the menarche with information appropriate to their level of understanding. When assessing menstrual problems, it may help to chart any symptoms against the menstrual cycle to confirm that they are related. The management options for problems such as dysmenorrhoea or heavy bleeding are the same as they are for other women.