Story perspectives

Sensory Sensitivities Heighten Sexual Distress, Especially Women

7/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Gabriella Petruzzello and Barbara D’Entremont surveyed 144 autistic adults in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity showed a moderate association with higher sexual distress (medium effect size).
Sexual-function issues affected about 14 % with weak drive, roughly 33 % with at least one impairment, and two-thirds of autistic women who exceeded the high-distress cutoff.
The cross-sectional, predominantly white and educated sample limits causal inference and broader applicability.

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Story summary

Gabriella Petruzzello and Barbara D’Entremont surveyed 144 autistic adults in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
Both hypersensitivity and hyposensitivity showed a moderate association with higher sexual distress (medium effect size).
Sexual-function issues affected about 14 % with weak drive, roughly 33 % with at least one impairment, and two-thirds of autistic women who exceeded the high-distress cutoff.
The cross-sectional, predominantly white and educated sample limits causal inference and broader applicability.