Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
Written by autistic author Robyn Steward, this is a detailed guide for young people aged 9 to 16 on the basics of menstruation. Created in consultation with young people, an online survey and a group of medical professionals, this is a book that teaches all people about periods, which can be a scary and overwhelming issue.
Promoting the fact that everyone either has periods or knows someone who does, the book reduces the anxiety girls face in asking for help. It offers direct advice on what periods look and feel like and how to manage hygiene and pain. It also breaks up information using flaps and step-by-step photos of how to change pads and tampons, it discusses alternatives to tampons and pads, and gives information about possible sensory issues for people with autism.
Robyn Steward is an autistic woman with experience of mentoring others on the spectrum, and author of The Independent Woman's Handbook for Super Safe Living on the Autistic Spectrum 2013.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward | 1 | ||
| The frame | 7 | ||
| A note from the author | 9 | ||
| Part 1. The Basics | 11 | ||
| 1. What Are Periods? | 13 | ||
| 1.1 What a period is and what it isn’t | 13 | ||
| 1.2 Who has periods? | 15 | ||
| 1.3 Why some people have periods and some people don’t | 16 | ||
| 1.4 Why people who don’t have periods still need to know about them | 17 | ||
| 1.5 What are the internal parts of the body involved in periods? | 18 | ||
| 1.6 Blood! Am I hurt? | 20 | ||
| 1.7 The menstrual cycle | 20 | ||
| 1.8 What happens during a menstrual cycle? | 21 | ||
| 2. Period Supplies | 23 | ||
| 2.1 How do you stop the blood and uterus lining going everywhere? | 23 | ||
| 2.2 Tampons | 26 | ||
| 2.3 Pads | 28 | ||
| 2.4 Menstrual cloths | 30 | ||
| 2.5 Menstrual cups | 32 | ||
| 2.6 Period underwear | 34 | ||
| 2.7 Where to keep sanitary products | 36 | ||
| 2.8 Where to dispose of used sanitary products | 37 | ||
| 3. Common Period Worries | 39 | ||
| 3.1 How much blood will there be? | 39 | ||
| 3.2 What if blood leaks onto my clothes? | 39 | ||
| 3.3 Are periods dirty? | 40 | ||
| 3.4 Are periods painful? | 41 | ||
| 3.5 Do periods affect your mood? | 43 | ||
| 3.6 What else happens during a menstrual cycle? | 50 | ||
| 3.7 How will I know when my periods will start? | 51 | ||
| 3.8 Who can I talk with about periods? | 52 | ||
| 3.9 What is normal and what is not normal? | 55 | ||
| 3.10 My period plan – how I will deal with different situations | 58 | ||
| Part 2. Photos and Step-by-Step Guides | 59 | ||
| The female reproductive system | 61 | ||
| A. How to use and change a disposable pad | 62 | ||
| B. How to use and change a cloth pad | 66 | ||
| C. How to use a tampon | 68 | ||
| D. How to use and empty a menstrual cup | 73 | ||
| E. What you might see on toilet paper/your underwear, and photos of your cervix | 76 | ||
| Part 3. A Bit More Detail | 79 | ||
| 4. What Happens in the Body During a Menstrual Cycle? | 81 | ||
| 4.1 What happens biologically during a typical four-week menstrual cycle? | 81 | ||
| 4.2 What might happen emotionally during a typical four-week menstrual cycle? | 83 | ||
| 4.3 What is my experience of menstruation? | 85 | ||
| 5. Autism-Specific Issues with Periods | 87 | ||
| 5.1 Sensory issues | 87 | ||
| 5.2 Executive functioning | 93 | ||
| Thank you page | 94 | ||
| Blank Page |