Sexual health and contraception Disability and women's health

women, including young women disabilities, use contraceptives various reasons. these include prevention of pregnancy, menstrual suppression or because of use of teratogenic medications. women intellectual disabilities (id) more use contraceptives or request hysterectomy in order manage menstruation. various types of contraception available women disabilities, however, prescription of specific type of birth control largely rests on kind of disability woman has , types of associated side-effects of method of contraception.

menstrual cycles affected different types of disabilities. in addition, women become disabled later in life experience transient menstrual disorders.

healthcare professionals less refer women disabilities various gynecological screenings. attitudinal barrier can come healthcare provider s unfamiliarity disability or because assume women disabilities asexual in nature. women disabilities less women without disabilities receive recommended pap smears. women have spinal cord injury above t6 vertebra can have autonomic dysreflexia during pelvic exam can life-threatening. women id less given pap smears because process may upsetting patient.

women physical disabilities may unable pap smear if examination table cannot lowered. there number of alternative examination procedures can used, including knee-chest position, diamond-shaped position, m-shaped position , v-shaped position.these alternative procedures can accommodate women have difficulty putting feet stirrups or need greater body support. in addition, ob stirrups can used additional comfort. welner table, designed american obstetrician-gynecologist , disability rights activist sandra welner, examination table designed wider range of adjustments , positions facilitate accessibility both patients , doctors physical disabilities. welner compiled handbook, welner s guide care of women disabilities. welner died before book finished, florence haseltine completed it.

a study conducted in 1989 found 19% of women physical disabilities had been counseled on sexuality in medical setting , offered information contraceptives. women id lack both education sexual health , ability learn informally. in addition, medical providers less discuss contraception them.

women in zimbabwe, people disabilities treated second-class citizens, face increased barriers in having access services sexual health. when national reproductive health policy implemented in 2006, women disabilities virtually ignored. zimbabwean women disabilities faced negative attitudes reproductive health, female nurses expressed idea sex not meant disabled.

some disabled women have been advised become sterilized or have abortion because doctors feel unsuited or unfit become mothers. in united states, 1927 supreme court case, buck v. bell, allowed forced sterilization of women intellectual disabilities. in singapore, voluntary sterlisation act (vsa) passed in 1970 , allowed spouse, parent or guardian of persons afflicted hereditary form of illness recurrent, mental illness, mental deficiency or epilepsy consent sterilization on behalf. in brazil, many healthcare providers , individuals disabilities both see sterilization option contraception.