[1] However, women with impaired mobility are often not given basic tests, such as weight monitoring, due to the lack of accessible equipment.
[12] Women with disabilities, especially individuals who belong to minority groups or who live in rural settings, are often underserved in their healthcare needs.
[7][14] In general, because of a lack of social connectedness that many disabled women experience, they often become disconnected from sources of support which can include healthcare providers.
[15] In Brazil, women with disabilities are also less likely to seek out gynecological health care due to various reasons, including cultural attitudes and cost.
[16] When disabled women need routine services for anything other than their main impairment(s), they can be perceived as "problematic patients" by healthcare providers.
[19] In countries with strict gender segregation, such as in Saudi Arabia, women must use women-only clinics, many of which do not have access for people with physical disabilities.
[20] Contraceptives are used by women with intellectual disabilities for various reasons, including pregnancy prevention, menstrual suppression, and management of teratogenic medications.
[32] A study conducted in 1989 found that 19% of women with physical disabilities had been counseled on sexuality in a medical setting and were rarely offered information about contraceptives.
"[37] Women with intellectual disabilities have been advised to become sterilized to possibly prevent sexual assault or because doctors may consider them unfit to become mothers.
[38][39] In the United States, a 1927 Supreme Court case, Buck v. Bell, allowed the forced sterilization of women with intellectual disabilities.
For example, a 1996 study discovered that over 50% of United States hospitals lacked the necessary infrastructure to cater to the needs of physically disabled pregnant women, which rendered their facilities inaccessible.
[42] These barriers may include lack of adjustable examination tables, wheelchair compatible features, and accessible weight scales.
[45] Participants in one small study felt that they gained a trusting relationship with their doulas and that helped them stay calm both during labor and after.
[50] There is also potential concern that ionizing radiation applied to the spine too early on in life may cause an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
[52] Older women who have disabilities that affect their mobility are at risk of losing contact with their communities and may experience degraded life outcomes associated as a result.