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Category: Uncategorized

Description: Publications will be eligible for inclusion in this review if they are: i) published in English; ii) published after 1980 (the year of publication of DSM-5); iii) original papers (including letters to editor); iv) either quantitative, qualitative studies or mixed-method studies. The exclusion criteria: i) studies not conducted on autistic population (e.g. other forms of neurodivergence, such as autistic traits or ADHD, or specific genetic syndromes); ii) studies were menstruation was not treated as the concept in focus (e.g. pubertal timing without assessment of menstruation status or experience, menarche status mentioned only as a confounding variable; analysis of hormonal variables such as oxytocin rather than menstruation); iii) studies on animal models of ASD; iv) studies of maternal menstrual health rather than menstrual health of autistic individuals; v) position statements/guides or study protocols rather than completed primary research.