Covid 19 Vaccines Temporarily Altered Menstrual Cycles Study Reports

The new study – the largest to date – expands on research that has highlighted the temporary effects of Covid-19 vaccines on menstrual cycles, but until now focused mainly on menstruating women. Although the vaccines have largely prevented deaths and serious illnesses with few reported side effects, many medical experts initially brushed aside concerns when women and people of the opposite sex began reporting irregular menstrual cycles after receiving the shots. To better understand these post-vaccination experiences, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis distributed an online survey in April 2021 to thousands of people worldwide. After three months, the researchers collected and analyzed more than 39,000 responses from people between the ages of 18 and 80 about their menstrual cycle. All study participants were fully vaccinated — with the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or other vaccines approved outside the United States. And as far as they know, the participants had not contracted Covid-19 before being vaccinated. The research, published Friday in the journal Science Advances, shows that 42 percent of people with regular menstrual cycles experienced heavier bleeding after the vaccination, while 44 percent reported no change and 14 percent reported lighter periods. Additionally, 39 percent of respondents on sex-affirming hormone treatments, 71 percent of those on long-acting contraceptives, and 66 percent of postmenopausal women experienced bleeding after one or both shots. “I think it’s important for people to know that this can happen, so they’re not scared, shocked and caught without supplies,” said Katharine Lee, a biological anthropologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Louis, and the first author of the study. Dr Lee cautioned, however, that the study did not compare results with a control group of people who were not vaccinated. And it’s possible that people who noticed changes in their cycles after the vaccination were more likely to take part in the research. However, the findings are consistent with smaller studies that reported menstrual changes after vaccination with stronger controls. Importantly, the new study also found that certain demographics may be more likely to experience menstrual changes, and the study may help them better prepare, Dr. Lee said. A heavier period was more likely for those who were older, for example. Respondents who used hormonal contraception, were pregnant in the past, or had been diagnosed with a reproductive condition such as endometriosis, fibroids or polycystic ovary syndrome were also more likely to have heavier bleeding during their period. People who identified as Hispanic or Latino also tended to report heavier bleeding. And people who experienced other side effects of the vaccines, such as fever or fatigue, were also more likely to experience irregular periods. Postmenopausal women who were slightly younger, about an average age of 60, were more likely to experience post-vaccine bleeding than those who were older. But the type of vaccine the postmenopausal women received, whether they had other side effects such as fever or had a previous pregnancy, did not appear to have an effect on their bleeding.

Why do these changes occur?

Some level of variation in menstruation—the number of days you bleed, the heaviness of your flow, and the length of your cycle—is normal. “Our menstrual cycles are not perfect clocks,” said Dr. Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, who has also studied the effect of Covid-19 vaccines on menstruation. Hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries regulate the monthly cycle and can be affected by both internal and external factors. Stress and illness, weight loss or gain, calorie restriction, and vigorous exercise can all change typical menstrual patterns. The endometrium, which covers the uterus and is shed during menstruation, has also been linked to the immune system. Because of the role it plays in remodeling uterine tissue and offering protection against pathogens, it’s possible that when vaccines activate the immune system, which they should, they also somehow trigger effects on the endometrium, disrupting your period. cycle, Dr. Edelman said. And some people may be more sensitive to immune changes or hormonal changes in their bodies. In her research, Dr. Edelman found that some women came a day or two later than usual after being vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the changes were temporary—menstruation tended to return to normal after a cycle or two.

What to do if you notice menstrual irregularities after the Covid vaccine

If you experience new or unusual bleeding patterns, take note. Your menstrual cycle can be seen as another vital sign, like your body temperature or blood pressure, that provides clues about your health, said Dr. Jennifer Kawwass, a reproductive endocrinologist at Emory University, who was not involved in the study. . “A significant change in menstrual cycle interval or bleeding profile warrants further investigation to make sure there is no underlying endocrinologic, hematologic, or anatomic cause,” Dr. Kawwass said. Bleeding in people who no longer have regular periods, for example, can also be a warning sign of cervical, ovarian, uterine or vaginal cancer. That said, subtle variation in your menstrual cycle, if you have regular periods, shouldn’t be a cause for concern and doesn’t require you to change anything you would normally do, Dr. Kawwass said. Clinical trials and other studies have already shown that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are unlikely to affect fertility in the long term.

Should you be vaccinated at a certain time in your cycle?

Experts agree that the havoc that Covid-19 can wreak on your entire body, including the potential lingering effects, is far worse than any side effects caused by vaccination against the disease. People who have previously developed a fever after a vaccine may schedule their next dose on a day when they don’t have to go to work, Dr. Edelman said. But you shouldn’t let the temporary changes of your period stop you from getting a full shot or a refresher. As cases are rising again, delaying vaccination for two weeks or more can significantly increase your risk of contracting Covid-19, he said. But it’s important to monitor your body’s response to vaccination, and public health officials should recognize concerns about menstrual cycle fluctuations in addition to warning people about their risk of getting Covid-19, said Keisha Ray, bioethicist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Houston. Increased transparency around menstrual changes or other vaccination side effects could also have another benefit: reducing people’s reluctance to get vaccinated. “We try to be honest. We’re trying to validate people’s lived experiences,” said Dr Lee. In turn, she hopes the new research will help improve conversations around people’s health and lead to more inclusive clinical trials in the future.

title: “Covid 19 Vaccines Temporarily Altered Menstrual Cycles Study Reports " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-02” author: “Josefa Goetz”

The new study – the largest to date – expands on research that has highlighted the temporary effects of Covid-19 vaccines on menstrual cycles, but until now focused mainly on menstruating women. Although the vaccines have largely prevented deaths and serious illnesses with few reported side effects, many medical experts initially brushed aside concerns when women and people of the opposite sex began reporting irregular menstrual cycles after receiving the shots. To better understand these post-vaccination experiences, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis distributed an online survey in April 2021 to thousands of people worldwide. After three months, the researchers collected and analyzed more than 39,000 responses from people between the ages of 18 and 80 about their menstrual cycle. All study participants were fully vaccinated — with the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, or other vaccines approved outside the United States. And as far as they know, the participants had not contracted Covid-19 before being vaccinated. The research, published Friday in the journal Science Advances, shows that 42 percent of people with regular menstrual cycles experienced heavier bleeding after the vaccination, while 44 percent reported no change and 14 percent reported lighter periods. Additionally, 39 percent of respondents on sex-affirming hormone treatments, 71 percent of those on long-acting contraceptives, and 66 percent of postmenopausal women experienced bleeding after one or both shots. “I think it’s important for people to know that this can happen, so they’re not scared, shocked and caught without supplies,” said Katharine Lee, a biological anthropologist at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Louis, and the first author of the study. Dr Lee cautioned, however, that the study did not compare results with a control group of people who were not vaccinated. And it’s possible that people who noticed changes in their cycles after the vaccination were more likely to take part in the research. However, the findings are consistent with smaller studies that reported menstrual changes after vaccination with stronger controls. Importantly, the new study also found that certain demographics may be more likely to experience menstrual changes, and the study may help them better prepare, Dr. Lee said. A heavier period was more likely for those who were older, for example. Respondents who used hormonal contraception, were pregnant in the past, or had been diagnosed with a reproductive condition such as endometriosis, fibroids or polycystic ovary syndrome were also more likely to have heavier bleeding during their period. People who identified as Hispanic or Latino also tended to report heavier bleeding. And people who experienced other side effects of the vaccines, such as fever or fatigue, were also more likely to experience irregular periods. Postmenopausal women who were slightly younger, about an average age of 60, were more likely to experience post-vaccine bleeding than those who were older. But the type of vaccine the postmenopausal women received, whether they had other side effects such as fever or had a previous pregnancy, did not appear to have an effect on their bleeding.

Why do these changes occur?

Some level of variation in menstruation—the number of days you bleed, the heaviness of your flow, and the length of your cycle—is normal. “Our menstrual cycles are not perfect clocks,” said Dr. Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, who has also studied the effect of Covid-19 vaccines on menstruation. Hormones secreted by the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and ovaries regulate the monthly cycle and can be affected by both internal and external factors. Stress and illness, weight loss or gain, calorie restriction, and vigorous exercise can all change typical menstrual patterns. The endometrium, which covers the uterus and is shed during menstruation, has also been linked to the immune system. Because of the role it plays in remodeling uterine tissue and offering protection against pathogens, it’s possible that when vaccines activate the immune system, which they should, they also somehow trigger effects on the endometrium, disrupting your period. cycle, Dr. Edelman said. And some people may be more sensitive to immune changes or hormonal changes in their bodies. In her research, Dr. Edelman found that some women came a day or two later than usual after being vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the changes were temporary—menstruation tended to return to normal after a cycle or two.

What to do if you notice menstrual irregularities after the Covid vaccine

If you experience new or unusual bleeding patterns, take note. Your menstrual cycle can be seen as another vital sign, like your body temperature or blood pressure, that provides clues about your health, said Dr. Jennifer Kawwass, a reproductive endocrinologist at Emory University, who was not involved in the study. . “A significant change in menstrual cycle interval or bleeding profile warrants further investigation to make sure there is no underlying endocrinologic, hematologic, or anatomic cause,” Dr. Kawwass said. Bleeding in people who no longer have regular periods, for example, can also be a warning sign of cervical, ovarian, uterine or vaginal cancer. That said, subtle variation in your menstrual cycle, if you have regular periods, shouldn’t be a cause for concern and doesn’t require you to change anything you would normally do, Dr. Kawwass said. Clinical trials and other studies have already shown that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and are unlikely to affect fertility in the long term.

Should you be vaccinated at a certain time in your cycle?

Experts agree that the havoc that Covid-19 can wreak on your entire body, including the potential lingering effects, is far worse than any side effects caused by vaccination against the disease. People who have previously developed a fever after a vaccine may schedule their next dose on a day when they don’t have to go to work, Dr. Edelman said. But you shouldn’t let the temporary changes of your period stop you from getting a full shot or a refresher. As cases are rising again, delaying vaccination for two weeks or more can significantly increase your risk of contracting Covid-19, he said. But it’s important to monitor your body’s response to vaccination, and public health officials should recognize concerns about menstrual cycle fluctuations in addition to warning people about their risk of getting Covid-19, said Keisha Ray, bioethicist at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth. Houston. Increased transparency around menstrual changes or other vaccination side effects could also have another benefit: reducing people’s reluctance to get vaccinated. “We try to be honest. We’re trying to validate people’s lived experiences,” said Dr Lee. In turn, she hopes the new research will help improve conversations around people’s health and lead to more inclusive clinical trials in the future.