Autistic women face significant disparities in reproductive healthcare including receiving lower rates of Pap smears and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. This editorial explores how widespread gaps in primary and gynecologic care exacerbate reproductive health inequities for this population. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature, national guidelines, and personal insight as a medical student and sibling to a profoundly autistic woman, this piece identifies widespread gaps in clinical training and practice. Key themes include low clinician training, limited use of communication accommodations, and the absence of neurodiversity-affirming care guidelines. Barriers to provider preparedness are discussed alongside coordinated solutions, such as collaboration between medical institutions, advocacy organizations, and accrediting bodies to implement longitudinal, evidence-based training across medical education. This editorial calls on professional organizations to adopt neurodiversity-affirming training into clinical guidelines, medical education, and residency curricula. Closing these gaps is essential to ensuring that all patients, regardless of neurodevelopmental profile, receive equitable reproductive healthcare.
Reeda Iqbal (Thu,) studied this question.