A health question can already be private or awkward. It should not become harder because a service feels difficult to enter. This study is a reason to make room for young people’s own choices and words.
- Autistic young people used these services less often in one Swedish county.
- Digital visits may narrow one gap, but they are not proven to work for everyone.
- Fewer visits do not mean fewer needs or less interest in care.
Questions you can take with you
You do not need to become an expert. These questions can help you talk with a professional or support provider.
- Can I know what will happen before I arrive?
- What would make this appointment feel more private or manageable?
- How can I communicate in a way that works for me?
Want the study details?Sample, method and evidence type
- Young people
- 454,405
- Autistic youth
- 11,850
- Setting
- Stockholm County, 2018–2022
Read on for what was studied, what was found and what remains uncertain.
What the researchers counted
The team linked health registers for 454,405 people aged 12 to 22 in Stockholm County between 2018 and 2022. Among them, 11,850 were autistic. They counted recorded contacts with sexual and reproductive health services, whether in person or digital.
Compared with young people without autism or ADHD, autistic young people had lower odds of both kinds of contact. The difference was clearer for in-person care. For example, autistic girls and young women had an adjusted odds ratio of 0.67 for in-person visits; autistic boys and young men, 0.45. These are group comparisons, not a prediction for one person.
An access gap is not a lack of interest
A lower number of appointments cannot tell us why someone did not attend. A service may feel hard to find, awkward to contact, too rushed, too sensory-heavy, or simply not designed around the person’s needs. Some young people may also prefer another source of information or support.
The authors note that the smaller difference for digital visits could mean that online options help some people get started. But this study did not test an online service, ask whether it was accessible, or show that it improves care. A video call is not automatically easier for everybody.
What could be useful in a real conversation
The practical message is modest: sexual and reproductive health belongs in ordinary health care for autistic young people too. It should not be assumed away. Clear information, choice about how to communicate, and enough time to ask questions can make a door feel less closed.
This is not individual medical advice, and the study did not compare particular services. A young person can choose what to discuss, how much to share and whether a trusted person comes along. Their privacy and wishes still matter.
Limitations to keep in view
- The study is observational and based on registers, so it cannot explain why service use differed.
- It covers one Swedish county and a particular health system; the pattern may not transfer directly elsewhere.
- It did not measure unmet need, accessibility, satisfaction, consent or the quality of individual appointments.
Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare Among Youth With Autism and ADHD: A Population-Based Study From Sweden
Hellsten L, Rast J, Nielsen A, et al.
Autism Research · 2026
This article provides general information and does not replace individualized medical, psychological or educational advice.