Menstrual health
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Neurodiversity

Neurodiverse individuals who menstruate can experience their cycles differently to neurotypical humans - not only in terms of physical and emotional sensations, but also in how they manage the practical and cognitive aspects of their cycle.

What this pillar explores

What do we mean by Neurodiverse?

UCL definition: Neurodivergence refers to the state of being neurodivergent: the way that individual brains function, learn and process information differently to the social norms of neurotypical minds. Neurodivergent people collectively make up at least 15-20% of the population.

Your stories

Lauren, UK
Undiagnosed ADHD

Niki, UK
ADHD

Is this you?
Share your Story

There is very little research focusing on the experiences of menstruating neurodiverse individuals, which is why we would love to hear your stories and experiences. Please consider submitting yours below

submit your story

Why it matters

What does this mean for menstruating folk? Physical and emotional sensations can fluctuate greatly and be experienced more or less intensely than neurotypical folk. Managing menstruation can also add to the intensity of this experience, as remembering cycles, tracking symptoms, and preparing products or spare clothing can place additional cognitive and organisational demands on neurodiverse individuals.

Menstruation can look and feel very different for everyone; At Period Reality we refer to this as the Reality Rule: The only thing that is true, is what is true for you. There’s no other reality than YOUR reality.

Research regarding the intersection between neurodiversity and menstruation is now more relevant than ever, studies and research tell us that those who are neurodiverse are more likely to experience co-occurring conditions, such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).

Who it’s for

We understand that not everyone is formally diagnosed, or desires to be, therefore we recognise “neurodiversity” whether you have a diagnosis or are self-identifying. We also appreciate that neurodiversity in itself is a large umbrella term which captures a range of diagnoses, including (but not limited to) Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Tourette's and Developmental Language Disorder. We are keen to hear stories from anyone who considers themselves to be neurodiverse.

Tuning into your body and living in sync with your cycle is best achieved through understanding it. For neurodivergent people, this can be especially challenging. Regardless of identity, we believe in letting your own observations, feelings and lived experiences guide you, which is why we’ve created a set of journaling tools, especially for the neurodivergent brain,to support you in connecting more closely with your rhythms.