Effects of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and COVID‐19 pandemic on menstrual health of women: A systematic review

Abstract

Background: The menstrual cycle in women is the main indicator of their reproductive health which is affected by the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This review aims to summarize the effects of the COVID-19 infection and the global pandemic on the menstrual health of women. Methods:The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar using keywords "COVID-19," "Menstrual Cycle," "Menstrual Cycle Irregularities," "Amenorrhea," "Polymenorrhea," and "Dysmenorrhea." The articles were selected according to the following inclusion criteria: (i) cross-sectional studies, (ii) cohort studies, (iii) surveys, and (iv) other observational studies observing the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19 pandemic on menstrual health of women. Exclusion criteria included: case reports, gray literature, and website articles regarding menstrual health.Results: A total of 30,510 articles were shortlisted after a comprehensive search.Sixteen articles were included out of which 13 studies investigated the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the menstrual cycle while 3 evaluated the possible effects of COVID-19 infection on the menstrual health of women. Menstrual disorders or irregularities were a more common finding during the pandemic as compared to before (p = 0.008). Women affected by pandemic-related stress were more prone to changes in the duration of their menses (p = 0.0008), reported heavier bleeding (p = 0.028), and increased incidence of painful periods (p < 0.0001). COVID-19 infected women also reported changes in their menstrual cycle including irregular menstruation, increased symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, and infrequent menstruation.Conclusions: Women suffering from COVID-19 infection or pandemic-associated stress and anxiety were more likely to experience irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea,

The impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the menstrual cycle and mental health of young Georgian women

“…These included changes in menstrual cycle length, the duration of menses, and changes in premenstrual symptoms. Similar findings were confirmed by other studies [5,15,16], but some authors, however, were in contrast with our findings [5,17].…”

Comparison of menstrual cycle irregularities among young women based on coronavirus disease 2019 infection status: a cross-sectional study

“…It is known that menstrual cycle disorders have increased in women due to increased stress and anxiety during the pandemic. A systematic review reported an increase in menstrual symptoms and a prolongation of the menstrual cycle length in women who had had COVID-19 26 . Ozimek et al 27 reported that increased menstrual irregularities with the pandemic were associated with women’s increased stress levels.…”

SARS-CoV-2 infection and female reproductive health: A narrative review

“…Numerous studies have reported on menstrual cycle disruption during the pandemic [14] , [57] , [66] , [67] , [68] , [69] , [70] , [71*] , [72] , [73] , [74] , [75*] . Two recent systematic reviews have utilised data from the highest quality studies to characterise the relationship between the pandemic and menstrual disturbance [76,77] . A systematic review and meta-analysis incorporating data from six studies, found a significant association between lockdown and changes in the menstrual cycle for 21729 women of reproductive age [76] .…”

“…A systematic review and meta-analysis incorporating data from six studies, found a significant association between lockdown and changes in the menstrual cycle for 21729 women of reproductive age [76] . Similarly, the second systematic review which included data from thirteen studies, found that menstrual disorders were a more common during the pandemic as compared to pre-pandemic, and that women affected by pandemic-related stress were more prone to changes in the duration of their menses, and reported increased rates of dysmenorrhoea and heavier menstrual bleeding [77] . A Hungarian study found no association between vaccination or infection and menstrual cycle changes, but found that menstruation length increased whilst regularity of the menstrual cycle decreased during the peak of the pandemic and this correlated with the severity of depression [57] .…”