The gynecological concerns of women with mental retardation or other developmental disabilities are essentially the same as those of other women.
Preventive care is a part of providing cost-effective and efficient health care.
Gynecological concerns, and in particular reproductive health, should be addressed as part of any comprehensive health care program. However, as important as gynecological evaluation is for the developmentally disabled population, gynecological issues are not often emphasized, and reproductive health care issues are addressed even less often. Parents and caregivers may be apprehensive about a gynecological evaluation for their loved one. They may not see the need for counseling about sexuality or for providing contraceptive options. Some physicians or other health care providers are uncomfortable dealing with issues of the reproductive system and sexuality in a patient with mental retardation or other developmental disability.