Thread by @TaniaAMarshall

Autistic Women & medical conditions thread 🧵 RE: Common #Medical symptoms and conditions in #autisticgirls #autisticwomen
By @sbaroncohen et. al I feel this research study has implication on #autisticgirls #gender #ROGD #trans #detrans In my #Autism clinic it has

been common to hear about #puberty #Dysphoria
Menstrual problems, #PMDD #PCOS & #endometriosis What is really nice for clinicians is when we see research that backs up our clinical work. In consideration Of #gender distress #dysphoria #ROGD we should be considering this research

In making clinical decisions that impact #autisticgirls #autisticwomen with #ROGD #trans #detrans This July 2021 study looked at common medical conditions in #autistic females.
For some time, researchers have been investigating #sexbias in #autism diagnosis. #Medical

We have known about the involvement of sex-specific endocrine mechanisms during #prenatal development. Previously a #testosterone wash of the brain has been discussed. How do #hormones affect health throughout #autistic women’s lives, across the lifespan?

This study examined the association of #autism and #autistic traits with conditions and symptoms
Related to the sex-steroid system in adult women. 1230 women (361 autistic), aged 15–77years, reported on #autistic traits and their own #medical history.

Their Medical diagnoses and symptoms were grouped by unsupervised factor analysis, and associations with autism diagnosis and autistic traits were explored. This study found conditions related to #steroid #hormones function are more frequent in #autistic women. #critical

and that they correlate with #autistic traits were largely con- firmed. 1. They found that BMI, reproductive system diagnoses, prediabetes symptoms, irregular #puberty onset, and #menstrual irregularities were significantly more frequent in #autisticwomen This is meaningful

2. #autism in women may be part of a wider syndrome of #endocrine dysfunction that specifically includes imbalances in the sex-steroid system. In addition, reproductive system diagnoses, prediabetes symptoms, menstrual length, and irregular #puberty onset

were more predictive of #autistic traits than excessive menstrua- tion symptoms.
Common Reproductive system diagnoses include: PCOS, PMS, anovulation, ovarian cancer & uterine cancer) were found to be significant predictors of both having an #autism diagnosis & autistic traits

The clinical implications impact both #autistic individuals and #healthcare providers. Evidence suggests evidence #women with conditions linked to sex-steroids may be more likely to have #autism #aspergers

Physicians should consider associations between sex-steroid-related health conditions and #autism when performing #healthcare maintenance checks and/or screenings for autism. Also #autistic females should also be made aware of the possibility of accompanying #medical conditions,

This allows for #autisticgirls #autisticwomen to recognize symptoms of sex-steroid imbalance and #prediabetes and to then be able to better advocate for themselves during healthcare visits. This is critical for the healthcare needs of #autisticgirls and woman.

The results suggest heightened vulnerability, and lower access to medical care. We find that conditions related to steroid hormones function are more frequent in autistic women and that they correlate with autistic traits.

It is important for maintenance checks and/or screening for autism is recommended. The study may be found below and should be required reading for all #autisticparent #autisticgirls #women and the knowledge provided in age approximate ways to autistic girls

I am now doing up a medical question telated to this study and including it in my comprehensive assessment and diagnosis for puberty #autisticgirls and #autisticwomen

👉🏻 researchgate.net/publication/35… Please share with your family members, your doctors, the autism community and the gender Dysphoria community.

Some clinical limplications of this study are that #pubertal or #prepubertal or #teenage autistic girls and women experience more severe medical conditions, pain they may misunderstand as Dysphoria and if they don’t know what is happening to them, they may

misunderstand this for something else, they May want to stop the #puberty process because it is so #painful, may think being a male is easier, may want to escape these medical conditions and/or be unaware of them. It is important to explore, ask questions, be curious & be aware