Giving my daughter the pill when she starts her period

Post Reply New Topic

- She should make the decision. It's her body.

- Just wait a few years... you'll likely be begging her to get outta the bathroom and stop doing her makeup and hair for hours a day.

- Most pills you still get a period at least 4 times a year. At least, ones that are safe enough for kids like her.

Do you not think she'll... um.... clean herself... during a period? It's just like... um... "cleaning onself" after going to the bathroom. Surely she does that. She'll "clean" after period issues out of necessity. If she doesn't, kids will pick on her seeing stains everywhere, then she'll start cleaning.

I didn't see that she was developmentally disabled before. Does she have an IEP, or special classes? If her school doesn't offer specialized classes, others in the district or nearby area might. It's seriously helpful for kids with such needs, especially if they are picked on by "average" kids. The school here has a great "special kids" program that really works with the kids and helps them succeed to their individual best.

The thing is when she goes off the pill you will have the same issue, and she will be older and may still not learn about hygeine. I think it's best to try to work with what you got . i know that children with autism need routine, maybe when she has her period you could put it into a schedule or something and have her change her pads at certain times during the day. Just a suggestion I don't know if it will work.

I think I should add that I also had problems with defecating a little in my pants, but when my period started it became a lot easier to go TO the bathroom for it, which may have a connection to the change in hormones (relaxin is the hormone that softens uterine walls and muscles "down there") making it easier to go.

OP - in my opinion this would be a bad idea.

Hormonal birth control can have a massive effect on a persons health physically, emotionally and mentally. Obviously you have a whole range of potential side-effects up to and including risks such as stroke - rare, but I'm living proof that it happens and that often doctors are not as well-educated or as vigilant as they should be about hormonal birth control...in fact I'd argue that due to the use of hormonal birth control for anything and everything doctors have gotten lazy so poorly educated on women's health. Emotionally and mentally you have risks such as depression and anxiety, also at different points in during a menstrual cycle women have different mental and emotional strengths which are suppressed by the pill - those on the spectrum may be particularly effected by hormonal changes so the pill may have additional adverse effects on an autistic woman's mental and emotionally well-being.

Looking specifically at young women using hormonal birth control there are issues such as her not being able to learn about her cycle - even if she's mentally younger than her physical age it's still important for her to learn about her body and hygiene, fact is that once she comes off the pill the problems will be worse as it may mean longer to regulate and more secondary problems like cramps to deal with. That issue aside it should be noted that there has been very little research done into the potential long-term health effects of hormonal birth control on young women (especially as young as your daughter), let alone menstrual suppression which is a whole different kettle of fish. Current research suggests hormonal birth control may have a long-term effect on sexual development and bone health.

A Very Important Note on Menstrual Suppression

Obviously if she menstruates tampons are a big no-no as the risks of infection and TSS are higher in younger women as it is without the risk of her not using them correctly, but you can give her pads and padded or leak-proof panties as back-up to avoid accidents or in case she doesn't change often enough, or get her a menstrual cup if you think she would be able to cope with internal sanitary products. Unless her period is very heavy she'd likely be fine at school and then you can check she's doing things properly at home. I like others here had hygiene issues, hell a little blood was the least of my problems, we learned and she may be capable of doing the same.

No!! ! For a lot of women, hormonal contraceptives can be hell. She will need to work on learning hygiene at some point, so this won't solve the problem, just kick the proverbial can a little further down the road. And, if she is already having meltdowns you think may be related to hormones, my fear is the Pill could make things even harder for her.

I wouldn't start her on the pill just so she doesn't get her period. If you're also worried about her being sexually active then that's another story but I wouldn't put her on the pill solely to stop her period. You have to teach her how important it is to be clean when you have your period. Maybe even tell her that she has options of wearing tampons as well, I find them to be more sanitary than pads. Tell her that she must always wash her hands after she changes her pad/tampon because her hands will smell and she needs to wipe off the blood. Tell her that she must regularly change her pad or else she'll have accidents. Maybe even get some videos from the library and books about starting your period for her. She has to learn sometime right? It's better to do it now while she's still young.

The pills weakens the immune system I heard.