This isn't based on autism, per se, but a friend of mine had a severely delayed adult child (mentality of a 3 y/o or so) and ultimately decided to put her daughter on a long-term suppressant/birth control method. When I knew her, it was Depo shots, which need to be given every 3 months, but she was looking into something more long-term. Doctors were unwilling to do a hysterectomy to permanently end the difficulty, but they were discussing using the implanted rods in the upper arm as an alternative to sterilization, since they only need to be dealt with every decade or so.

Since this particular young woman was unable to deal with the psychological effects of bleeding, being messy, etc. (and it wasn't simply a matter of avoiding conception if she was ever abused by a caregiver or something similar), her mother was especially interested in only things that would lessen or suppress the actual shedding of blood during menses.

From the POV of a parent, if your child is unable to deal with those stressors, suppression is a good alternative, but you want to make sure you aren't artificially stunting natural development at the same time. Doctors can help with that. Doctors tend to avoid permanent sterilization, it seems, but they do appreciate suppression for this reason.

Thanks for asking this question. I'm hoping to gain some insight from the answers also.

Michelle... According to studies I've seen, the downward slide of age of first menses started back in the late 70s and early 80s. I started mine at 10, but they knew it was coming, because at 9, I was the tallest person in my class and had gone through the full transformation to a woman with curves and other marks of adulthood...the usual puberty, but much earlier than anticipated.

These days, the biggest concerns (and things that did affect me) are that going through a very quick and unimpeded puberty will cause the growth plates in the big bones to close prematurely (resulting in stunted growth...all that height in 4th grade was the sum total of my growth, and by 8th grade, I was one of the shortest people in the class) AND problems with adapting to perimenopausal state/early onset menopause. Unless they feel these will be pressing issues, doctors usually let early menses/early puberty occur without interference.

That said, I took the question to mean that she wanted to suppress the worst of the effects for a child that doesn't deal well with the physical symptoms of menses. I could be completely wrong there, of course.

Researchers concluded that a continuous-use, low-dose regimen of oral contraceptives was safe and as effective as traditional oral contraceptives, and that the decrease in menstrual cycle symptoms during continuous use therapy represented an increase in quality of life (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/84596.php).
However, It is important to note that cycle-stopping contraceptives do not only reduce or eliminate menstrual bleeding, but also suppress the complex hormonal interplay of the menstrual cycle. The impacts of this cycle on a young girl’s health are not completely understood.

my daughter just turned 6 last week and I had not even thought that far ahead yet. thank you for asking this.