--- title: Do women with intellectual disabilities experience more period pain and PMS? description: Women with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder reported more period pain than is typical. However, the sample was very small and relied on parent report url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/health-issues-and-quality-of-life-in-women-with-intellectual-disability-2005/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Do women with intellectual disabilities experience more period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2005 # Do women with intellectual disabilities experience more period pain and PMS? Women with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder reported more period pain than is typical. However, the sample was very small and relied on parent reports, so firm conclusions are difficult. Early or limited evidence 24 women with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder in Australia and New Zealand ## What they did Gave questionnaires to parents of 24 women with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder in Australia and New Zealand, asking about period pain and premenstrual symptoms. ## What they found Women with Down syndrome were more able to directly report pain or point to where it hurt compared to women with autism or Asperger syndrome. Women with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder appeared to have a higher rate of period pain compared to women in the general population. Pain was often only noticed through behavior changes rather than direct reporting by the woman. ## What it means for you Women with intellectual disabilities, especially autism spectrum disorder, may experience more period pain, but it may be harder to recognize because they don't communicate it the same way. The main limitations are the very small sample (24 women), the study being only in Australia and New Zealand, and relying on parent observations rather than direct reports from the women. 24 Women with intellectual disabilities surveyed ## About the study Original title Health issues and quality of life in women with intellectual disability Authors Kyrkou M Journal Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR Year 2005 Study design Survey study Participants 24 What was tested None – observational study of health experiences Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00749.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00749.x) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Autism](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-autism/)[Quality of life and daily functioning](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-quality-of-life/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Systematic review, 2025 Does digital healthcare help manage period pain and PMS? Systematic review, 2025 Does teaching adolescent girls about their menstrual cycle and health help reduce period pain and PMS? Survey study, 2026 Are menstrual characteristics linked to depression and anxiety in teenage girls? Randomised trial, 2026 Does transcranial direct current stimulation reduce menstrual pain and PMS mood symptoms? Survey study, 2026 How does menstrual health affect your quality of life? Survey study, 2026 What menstrual cycle symptoms do people experience and how much do they interfere with daily life? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗