{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,23]],"date-time":"2026-10-23T23:28:16Z","timestamp":1792798096123,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":107,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,24]],"date-time":"2022-10-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1666569600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Ministry of Health, Italy, Current Research Funds 2022"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>ASD consists of a set of permanent neurodevelopmental conditions, which are studded with social and communication differences, limited interests, and repetitive behaviors. Individuals with ASD have difficulty reading eye gestures and expressions, and may also have stereotyped or repetitive language, excessive adherence to routines, fixed interests, and rigid thinking. However, sexuality in adolescents and young adults with ASD is still a poorly studied and neglected issue. This review aims to evaluate sexual function and behavior in individuals with ASD to foster a greater understanding of this important, although often overlooked, issue. This review was conducted by searching peer-reviewed articles published between 01 June 2000 and 31 May 2022 using the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Database, and Web of Science. A comprehensive search was conducted using the terms: \u201cAutism\u201d OR \u201cASD\u201d AND \u201cSexuality\u201d OR \u201cRomantic relation\u201d OR \u201csexual behavior\u201d AND\/OR \u201csexual awareness\u201d. After an accurate revision of 214 full manuscripts, 11 articles satisfied the inclusion\/exclusion criteria. This review found that, although individuals with ASD may have sexual functioning, their sexuality is characterized by higher prevalence rates of gender dysphoria and inappropriate sexual behavior. Furthermore, sexual awareness is reduced in this patient population, and the prevalence of other variants of sexual orientation (i.e., homosexuality, asexuality, bisexuality, etc.) is higher in adolescents with ASD than in non-autistic peers. Sexual health and education should be included in the care path of patients with ASD in order to improve their quality of life and avoid\/reduce inappropriate and risky behaviors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci12111427","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,24]],"date-time":"2022-10-24T11:53:55Z","timestamp":1666612435000},"page":"1427","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":41,"title":["Sex and Sexuality in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Scoping Review on a Neglected but Fundamental Issue"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0757-2389","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Grazia","family":"Maggio","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Science, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Patrizia","family":"Calatozzo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Studio di Psicoterapia Relazionale e Riabilitazione Cognitiva, 98124 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8022-4770","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonio","family":"Cerasa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy (IRIB-CNR), 98164 Messina, Italy"},{"name":"Sant\u2019Anna Institute, 88900 Crotone, Italy"},{"name":"Pharmacotechnology Documention and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Traslation Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, 87036 Calabria, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8089-7449","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Giovanni","family":"Pioggia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy (IRIB-CNR), 98164 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angelo","family":"Quartarone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino Pulejo\u201d, 98121 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8566-3166","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rocco Salvatore","family":"Calabr\u00f2","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"IRCCS Centro Neurolesi \u201cBonino Pulejo\u201d, 98121 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,10,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2342","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.2604","article-title":"The sexual health, orientation, and activity of autistic adolescents and adults","volume":"14","author":"Weir","year":"2021","journal-title":"Autism Res."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"American Psychiatric Association (2013). 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