Table 1 Frequencies of reproductive and sex-linked symptoms and conditions among women with autism spectrum conditions and controls

Sex-linked conditions

Anorexia

33 (8.0%)

10 (2.4%)

3.50 (1.70-7.20)

0.000

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia

1 (0.2%)

0 (0.0%)

-

0.500

Diabetes

10 (2.4%)

14 (3.4%)

0.71 (0.31-1.61)

0.268

Epilepsy

17 (4.1%)

6 (1.4%)

2.91 (1.14-7.46)

0.016

Any hormonal medical condition

43 (10.4%)

35 (8.4%)

1.23 (0.79-2.01)

0.203

Cardiac condition

16 (3.9%)

5 (1.2%)

3.29 (1.19-9.06)

0.012

Thyroid condition

35 (8.4%)

35 (8.4%)

1.00 (0.61-1.63)

0.550

Penicillin allergy

38 (9.2%)

37 (8.9%)

1.03 (0.64-1.66)

0.500

Reproductive or sex steroid-related symptoms or conditions

Hirsutism

76 (18.3%)

61 (14.7%)

1.30 (0.90-1.88)

0.089

Irregular menstrual cycle

192 (46.3%)

141 (34.0%)

1.673 (1.26-2.21)

0.0002

Unusually painful periods

163 (39.3%)

109 (26.3%)

1.82 (1.35-2.44)

0.00004

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Contraceptive pill users

33 (11.8%)

47 (14.4%)

0.80 (0.50-1.29)

0.212

279

327

Contraceptive pill non-users

11 (10.2%)

4 (4.7%)

2.296 (0.70-7.49)

0.126

108

85

Pre-menstrual syndrome

Contraceptive pill users

67 (24.0%)

45 (13.8%)

1.98 (1.30-3.01)

0.001

279

327

Contraceptive pill non-users

12 (11.1%)

7 (8.2%)

1.39 (0.52-3.71)

0.339

108

85

Excessive menstrual bleeding

Contraceptive pill users

94 (33.7%)

84 (25.7%)

1.47 (1.04-2.09)

0.019

279

327

Non-contraceptive pill users

22 (20.4%)

14 (16.5%)

1.30 (0.62-2.72)

0.308

108

85

Severe acne

Contraceptive pill users

49 (17.6%)

41 (12.5%)

1.49 (0.95-2.33)

0.053

279

327

Non-contraceptive pill users

23 (21.3%)

5 (5.9%)

4.33 (1.57-11.94)

0.002

108

85

Timing of puberty

Delayed puberty

4 (1.0%)

2 (0.5%)

2.01 (0.37-11.03)

0.343

Precocious puberty

13 (3.1%)

2 (0.5%)

6.68 (1.50-29.78)

0.003

Early growth spurt

84 (20.2%)

53 (12.8%)

1.73 (1.19-2.521)

0.002

Periods after 16 years

28 (6.7%)

19 (4.6%)

1.51 (0.83-2.75)

0.115

Periods before 10 years

34 (8.2%)

23 (5.5%)

1.52 (0.88-2.63)

0.085

Reproductive cancers

Breast cancer

17 (4.1%)

15 (3.6%)

1.14 (0.56-2.31)

0.429

Family history of breast cancer

97 (23.4%)

106 (25.5%)

0.89 (0.65-1.22)

0.259

Ovarian cancer

9 (2.2%)

12 (2.9%)

0.74 (0.31-1.79)

0.330

Family history of ovarian cancer

49 (11.8%)

41 (9.9%)

1.22 (0.79-1.90)

0.217

Family history prostate cancer

39 (9.4%)

44 (10.6%)

0.88 (0.56-1.34)

0.322

Uterine cancer

17 (4.1%)

12 (2.9%)

1.43 (0.68-3.04)

0.225

Family history uterine cancer

43 (10.4%)

34 (8.2%)

1.30 (0.81-2.08)

0.169

Gender and sexuality

Tomboyism

371

404

252 (67.9%)

171 (42.3%)

2.885

0.0000

Gender dysphoria

320

396

12 (3.8%)

1 (0.3%)

15.39

0.0004

Sexual preference

414

415

0.000*

Male

261 (63.0%)

369 (88.9%)

Female

48 (11.6%)

28 (6.7%)

Both

57 (13.8%)

18 (4.3%)

Neither

48 (11.6%)

0 (0.0%)

Transsexual

102

52

12 (11.8%)

1 (1.9%)

6.80 (0.86-53.82)

0.030

Obstetric conditions

ASC (parous)

Controls (parous)

185

264

Miscarriage

56 (30.3%)

65 (24.6%)

1.33 (0.87-2.02)

0.111

Pre-eclampsia

12 (6.5%)

17 (6.4%)

1.01 (0.47-2.16)

0.565

Difficulty conceiving

25 (13.5%)

51 (19.3%)

0.65 (0.39-1.10)

0.068