Concerns with menstruation for a child with special needs

Parents of girls with special needs may be fraught with concerns and fears about the hardships associated with her monthly menstrual encounters. 

Following is a Guide on tips for managing periods for your special child. Read this before you consider any other surgical, alternative measures for their well being.

Experiencing natural growth and development is the most basic right for any child. This is also possible for your child with special needs and it is our duty as parents to allow them to experience these natural processes to the extent that is possible. 

What can this process be like?

As with other neurotypical children, children with additional needs may also at times face difficulties managing their periods. It may become difficult physically and mentally.

A common occurrence is the Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) often associated with symptoms such as:

• Abdominal cramps
• Backaches
• Mood swings and 
• Fatigue 

While some may be able to manage it, it may be painful for others. It is important to identify any such concerns in your child. Especially, since they may not be able to communicate their pain and discomfort effectively.

Not manageable: What can we do?

If your child has painful periods or excessive bleeding, do not ignore it. It may need certain lifestyle changes or medical attention. Consult your gynaecologist and test for any underlying medical conditions such as ovarian disorders or endometriosis.  

Understand your options:

Explore simple ways to manage your child’s periods before opting for medical alternatives that may be invasive or risky.

Lifestyle changes:

• Eating right: avoid unhealthy food, salty or processed foods
• Hydrating
• Exercising: having a regular exercise routine helps.

In some children, following these steps diligently may help and reduce pain and discomfort during periods.

In others where symptoms persist, consulting the gynaecologist and seeking additional help may be helpful. 

Depending upon the severity and the child’s condition, they may advise suitable alternatives such as oral medication or hormonal Intra Uterine Devices (IUDs) or proceed with a more permanent solution.

However it is important to remember that a more permanent solution should be looked at, only when other attempts have been made and proven unsuccessful.

Often some physicians might resort to surgical attempts even before the parents get ample time to try to teach their child to manage her periods. 

It is crucial to understand that teaching them to manage their monthly cycles and dealing with pain and discomfort might be difficult and daunting at first. But with continuous efforts, a child might gradually learn to take care of themselves with support from parents. 

This will also be safer for the individual’s health and overall wellbeing as they approach adulthood. 

Make informed decisions

It is very important to understand completely about the child’s condition, ability to handle the different aspects of menstruation. Equally important is to educate yourself as much as possible about the subject and its impact it has on your child’s well being.

Extreme situations that may warrant considering medical/surgical considerations in your special child include:

• Extreme (sometimes self-inflicting) behaviour changes
• Physical inability to manage menstrual self-care
• Cognitive difficulties that make the child completely dependent on the caregiver
• Age and health situation of the primary caregiver who handles menstrual woes
• Socio-economic strata to hire help in difficult situations

Some of these factors often push parents over the edge to consider an alternate course of action to improve their child’s, and their quality of life.

When met with such situations, parents must seek advice and consolation by interacting with parents in their support network and get medical advice from an experienced Gynaecologist before opting for permanent or surgical procedures of eliminating menstruation in their girl child.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can either call or send us a message on  WhatsApp. Our counsellors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide on managing periods for your special child is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.

Menstrual blues are very common, and most women undergo this emotional journey in varying degrees. Learn how you can help your daughter come to terms with it. You might also find this article on Occupational therapy hacks for Menstruation in children with special needs helpful.