The menstrual cycle and the COVID-19 pandemic

Mitra, Anita; Verbakel, Jan Y.; Kasaven, Lorraine S.; Tzafetas, Menelaos; Grewal, Karen; Jones, Benjamin; Bennett, Phillip R.; Kyrgiou, Maria; Saso, Srdjan

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0290413

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…After vaccination, a percentage of women experienced menstrual irregularities such as heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), frequent bleeding (metrorrhagia/ polymenorrhea), or postmenopausal bleeding [ 20 , 21 ]. Recently, studies emphasized the relationship between COVID-19 infection and menstrual disturbances [ 22 – 24 ]. There has been a limited number of published studies on the impact of COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 infections on menstrual symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccination on menstrual cycle symptoms in the south of Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abu-Lubad,

Abu-Helalah,

QawaQzeh

et al. 2024

J. Egypt. Public. Health. Assoc.

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Background Several recent studies have highlighted the need for more evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccines on the reproductive system and menstruation. This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection and vaccines on menstrual symptoms. Methods A cross-sectional survey utilizing face-to-face interviews from January 1 to 31 March 2022 was conducted in the city of Al-Karak in southern Jordan. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, medical and reproductive history, the contraceptive method used if any, menstrual cycle (MC) status, previous medical and drug history, and the impact of infection and vaccination on the MC. Results The study questionnaire was completed by 400 participants with a mean age of 32.1±12.6 years. Regarding the history of COVID-19 infections, 33.8% of the participants reported a history of confirmed COVID-19 infections, 77.8% of them did not report any menstrual changes following the infection, while the remaining 22.2% reported changes in menstruation. The most commonly reported post-COVID-19 manifestations were irregular (27.6%) and light menstrual cycle (MC) (24.15) or dysmenorrhea (24.1%). Heavy menstruation was reported by 17.2% of participants post-COVID-19 infection. Two-thirds of the study participants (66.6%) reported no changes in the MC following the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. The most reported symptoms for those who experienced changes in the MC following the vaccination were irregular cycle (13.1%), heavy menstruation (7%), and light menstruation (7%). Other reported symptoms were dysmenorrhea (4.6%), intermenstrual bleeding (1.2%), and amenorrhea (0.5%). Conclusion This study revealed minor changes in the MC following COVID-19 infections and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine. These findings are consistent with published reports. It is recommended that future clinical trials for new vaccines for women of childbearing age include outcomes related to sex hormones and MC. Women should be encouraged to take the vaccines and report symptoms to healthcare professionals for further assessment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccination on menstrual cycle symptoms in the south of Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Abu-Lubad,

Abu-Helalah,

QawaQzeh

et al. 2024

J. Egypt. Public. Health. Assoc.

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“…Р епродуктивна система жінки є одним із чутливих індикаторів стану здоров'я організму. Сукупні дії різноманітних зовнішніх травмувальних факторів можуть значною мірою впливати на репродуктивну систему жінки [1].…”

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Possibilities of treatment of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle with phytotherapy

Kozub,

Hnatyuk

2024

RHW

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A woman’s reproductive system is one of the sensitive indicators of the female health. Its disorders indicate the development of any pathological process in the organism, which is often manifested by changes in specific functions. The impact of constant stress during the war on women who are in the frontline territories is becoming especially relevant today. In modern conditions, when psycho-emotional stress is a part of daily existence, it leads to the formation of pathologies that reduce the quality of life and fertility of a woman.The objective: to study the impact of stress on the female organism and the formation of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle and to analyze the effect of phytotherapy in the complex treatment of such conditions in women.Materials and methods. 50 women of reproductive age (18–45 years old) with various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders, which developed during their stay in the front-line territories, were under observed. The patients were diagnosed with the following disorders of the menstrual cycle: absent of menstruation, light and infrequent menstruation, heavy, frequrnt and irregular menstrustions, pain and other contitions related to female sexual organs and menstrual cycle.All patients had clinical and laboratory, hormonal and instrumental examinations to determine the form of menstrual cycle disorder. Together with the basic therapy of the specified pathologies, all patients were prescribed a dietary supplement, which included a mixture of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus – 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, for 3 months, 2 capsules 2 times a day with with the aim of achieving hormone-correcting, sedative, analgesic, diuretic effects. Control clinical-hormonal and instrumental studies were conducted after 3 months.Results. During the study reduction of complaints was observeed (emotional lability – by 68%, periodic headache – by 36%, sleep disturbances – by 48%, anxiety – by 50%, fatigue – by 60%), as well as the normalization of the hormonal level – a decrease of prolactin concentration in 2 times, cortisol and follicle-stimulating hormone – 1.5 times, luteinizing hormone – 1.7 times, estradiol – 1.3 times, and an increase of progesterone level – in 7 times.A decrease or disappearance of clinical symptoms the menstrual cycle disorders, namely, a normalization of the frequency, duration and regularity of the menstrual cycle, a decrease in the amount of blood loss and manifestations of dysmenorrhea were determined.Conclusions. Phytotherapy, the composition of which contains a preparation with a blend of plant powder extracts: Vitex agnus-castus– 43,87 mg, Angelica sinensis – 43,87 mg, Filipendula vulgaris – 43,87 mg, Petroselinum crispum – 18,06 mg, Apium graveolens – 18,06 mg, Galium verum – 16,13 mg, Calendula officinalis – 16,13 mg, is effective in complex treatment of various forms of stress-induced menstrual cycle disorders.

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Prevalence of menstrual alterations following COVID-19 vaccination: systematic review & meta-analysis

Al Shahrani,

Alhumaidan,

Alzelfawi

et al. 2024

BMC Women's Health

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Background COVID-19 vaccines can lead to diverse local and systemic side effects, but there is limited evidence concerning their association with menstrual cycle changes. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of menstrual cycle alterations after COVID-19 vaccination among adult women. Methods We systematically searched the PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct databases for observational studies that included adult women and investigated the range of menstrual alterations. The quality of the studies was evaluated via the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. All the data were analyzed via Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Version 4.0. Forest plots were created to calculate the individual and pooled prevalence rates of different types of menstrual changes and 95% confidence intervals (CI) via fixed-effects and random-effects models, as appropriate. Heterogeneity was assessed with Q statistics and the I 2 test. Results Eleven studies, encompassing 26,283 adult women, met our eligibility criteria. Among the selected studies, five were cohort studies, five were cross-sectional studies, and one employed a case‒control design. The menstrual changes included abnormal cycle duration, dysmenorrhea, irregular cycles, and abnormal cycle flow (heavy and light flow), with pooled percentages of 27.3% (CI: 7.2–64.6%), 22% (CI: 5.2–59.4%), 16% (CI: 5.8–37.2%), 11.7% (CI: 5.8–22%), and 5.5% (CI: 2.3–12.5%), respectively. Conclusions This review highlights the prevalence of menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccination and emphasizes the importance of considering menstrual health as an integral part of postvaccination monitoring and health care interventions. However, longitudinal studies are essential for establishing a definitive causal relationship between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual alterations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-024-03349-9.

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The menstrual cycle and the COVID-19 pandemic

Cited by 4 publications

References 62 publications

Impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccination on menstrual cycle symptoms in the south of Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccination on menstrual cycle symptoms in the south of Jordan: a cross-sectional study

Possibilities of treatment of stress-induced disorders of the menstrual cycle with phytotherapy

Prevalence of menstrual alterations following COVID-19 vaccination: systematic review & meta-analysis

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