Menstrual Cycle Characteristics of Healthcare Professionals Working at COVID-19 Pandemic Clinics

Abstract

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemics infected millions of people around the world, causing thousands of deaths. In this global struggle, healthcare professionals work at the forefront. The COVID-19 pandemic period has impacted healthcare workers physically and psychologically. Healthcare workers work under stressful conditions and involve difficult decisions as ethical implications. Increased work demands on healthcare professionals conflict with their duties to family and friends, which causes psychological stress. All of these factors may negatively affect the menstrual cycle. Studies have been conducted concerning working conditions, long working hours, shifts, and menstrual irregularities among healthcare professionals. However, there is no study on the menstrual characteristics of healthcare professionals during the pandemic period.Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) enters the host cell by using similar receptors as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and transmembrane protease serine system. 1 Organs with high expression of these molecules were considered as targets of infection. Expression of ACE2 in endometrium tissue was reported and it was demonstrated that this expression might be changed during the menstrual cycle. 1 The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the reproductive system is still not known. In this article, we aimed to investigate the menstrual characteristics of healthcare professionals employed in the COVID-19 pandemic clinic and to investigate further whether COVID-19 alters the pattern of the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual symptoms variation among Lebanese women before and after the COVID-19 pandemic

“… 33 Other studies found that levels of dysmenorrhea were higher in women infected by COVID-19 virus. 34 …”