Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40635787›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in global women's health2025

Autism, menstruation and mental health- a scoping review and a call to action.

Joanna Skommer, Krish Gunesh

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in global women's health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Rethinking Clinical Visibility in Autistic Females: Autistic Camouflaging and Menstrual Cycle Variability.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Joanna SkommerDepartment of Psychiatry, Central Adelaide Health Network, SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.
Krish GuneshDepartment of Psychiatry, Central Adelaide Health Network, SA Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: There is increasing evidence regarding the mental health implications of cyclical hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation, as well as of key reproductive transitions (menarche and menopause), in typically developing individuals. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex neurodevelopmental condition, may predispose individuals to maladaptive responses to life changes such as menstruation. Despite the importance of this topic, research relating to menstrual experiences across the lifespan of autistic adults remains scarce, largely due to the intersecting effects of multiple marginalizing characteristics experienced by this population. This research gap significantly limits our understanding of how menstruation impacts the mental health of autistic individuals. Objectives: The purpose of this scoping review was to examine existing evidence about menstrual experiences, including menarche and menopause, and their impact on mental health among autistic individuals, and propose a biopsychosocial framework for the complex interplay of individual, healthcare, and societal vulnerabilities that predispose autistic individuals to negative menstrual experiences. Methods: A scoping review of original articles, quantitative and qualitative, published in English from 1980 onwards, identified through search of online databases and reference lists, using PRISMA extension for scoping reviews. Results: A total of 45 studies were identified to meet the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. The key emerging themes were the mental health impact of menstruation, the occurrence and experience of menstrual disorders among autistic individuals, as well as support strategies and healthcare utilization by that population. Conclusions: Although our current knowledge on menstrual health specific to autistic individuals is still scant, it nevertheless raises significant concerns regarding potential challenges. The findings of this study have been placed within the bio-psycho-socio-cultural framework to emphasize that menstrual experiences occur within the context of person-environment transactions, and that autistic individuals are vulnerable to negative menstrual experiences because of adverse or non-facilitative societal and healthcare environments. Further large-scale studies addressing identified gaps (e.g., influence of gender diversity, impact of medical comorbidities, trauma and stigma) is warranted. Systematic Review Registration: https://osf.io/gxurq.

Indexed as

autism spectrum disorderautistic individualsmenarchemenopausemenstruationsexspecific medicine

Identifiers

PMID40635787
PMCPMC12237902

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.