Table 1. Summary of included studies.
| Author (Year) Country |
Setting | Aim | Recruitment | Participants | Factors Impacting Results |
Data Collection | Data Analysis | ND Approach | Funder | Quality Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cridland et al. (2014)56 Australia |
Not Specified | To investigate experiences of adolescent Autistic girls. |
Through local schools and community groups. |
Mothers (n=5) Daughters (n=3) |
Formal diagnosis |
Semi- structured interviews |
IPA | Person-first language Use of “ASD” |
Not Specified |
Y (10) N (0) CS (0) H |
| Cummins, Pellicano and Crane (2018)57 UK |
Not Specified | To explore the puberty experience of Autistic girls. |
SEN school pupils. | Parents (n=10) Educators (n=10) |
Minimally verbal Autistic girls with IDs. |
Semi- structured interviews |
Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006) |
Identity-first language | Not Specified |
Y (8) N (0) CS (2) H |
| Eriksen, W.T. (2016)52 USA |
Not Specified | To explore the experience of menses for Autistic females and families |
Autism research databases | Mothers (n=10) Daughters (n=10) |
Daughters “…able to read English at a 4th grade level” | Semi- structured interviews |
Thematic Analysis Braun and Clarke (2006) |
Person-First Language ‘On the spectrum’ also used |
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Office of Nursing Research |
Y (9) N (0) CS (1) H |
| Gray and Durand (2023)50 UK |
Not Specified | To explore experiences of period pain and treatment uptake in allistic and Autistic menstruators. |
Social media (18+) | Allistic (n=20) Autistic (n=17) |
Experience of period pain required Self- identifying accepted |
Semi- structured interviews |
Thematic Analysis Braun and Clarke (2019) |
“…menstruators on the autism spectrum” (p.10) Identity-first language. |
None associated | Y (10) N (0) CS (0) H |
| Grove et al. (2023)51 Australia |
Not Specified | To understand the everyday experiences of autistic women and gender diverse people and how these impact on their health and wellbeing |
Social media, and related organisations. (18+) |
Autistic women and gender diverse people (n=31) |
Aged 21-63. White European (77%) Medical diagnosis (83%) |
Semi- structured interviews |
Thematic Analysis Braun and Clarke (2019) |
“Autistic led study” | UTS Chancellor’s Research Fellowship |
Y (10) N (0) CS (0) H |
| Jones and Datta (2022)55 [Online] |
Not Specified | To tackle menstrual taboo and stigma | Not Specified | Not Specified |
Swedish business Autistic authors |
Not Specified |
Not Specified |
Identity-first language | INTIMINA | N/A |
| Kendall (2023)54 [Online] |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Autistic and ADD authors | Article | N/A | Identity first language | N/A | N/A |
| Mademtzi et al. (2018)58 USA |
Child Study Center Developmental Disabilities Clinic. |
To determine educational and therapeutic needs and activities for Autistic girls and their families. |
Contacted those previously diagnosed at clinic. |
Parents of Autistic children (n=40) |
No exclusion criteria for: age, level of support or co-occurring conditions. |
Focus Groups (n=5) | Thematic Analysis | Person-first language | Hilibrand Fellowship and Marilyn and Jim Simons | Y (9) N (0) CS (1) H |
| Navot, Jorgenson and Webb (2017)59 USA |
Seattle Children’s Research Institute. | To investigate the maternal experience of raising an Autistic daughter. |
Identified from prior interest in research participation |
Mother daughter dyads (n=11) |
Medically diagnosed “functional and fluent verbal language”. |
Semi- structured interviews |
“…An interactive process commonly used in a naturalistic inquiry.” (p.538) |
Person-first language “symptom presentation” (p.537) |
“Supported by the Crown Family Foundation” (p.543) |
Y (9) N (0) CS (1) H |
| Ross (2017)53 [Online] |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Opinion piece | Blog | N/A | Identity first language Autistic women; autistic girls. | N/A | N/A |
| Steward et al. (2018)32 UK and Australia |
Not Specified | To understand both what Autistic people wanted to know about menarche, and to discuss autism-specific experiences |
Website and social media | Autistic (n=123) Non- Autistic (n=114) |
Autistics, parents, professionals and siblings |
Online Survey | “Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006).” (p.4288) Tools used unspecified |
Identity-first language Autistic researchers involved |
Pears Foundation (RS) grant and a Philip Leverhulme Prize 2015 | Y (9) N (0) CS (1) H |
| Whiting (2020)60 UK |
University of Bolton | Explore the experiences of Autistic females including puberty and autism-specific features. |
Word of mouth and social media | Autistic people (n=11) | Masters dissertation |
Semi- structured interviews |
Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). |
Person first language Author with Specific Learning Difficulties |
Not Specified |
Y (9) N (0) CS (1) H |