The Impact of Covid-19 Infection and Vaccinations on the Menstrual Cycle

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19 infection) might present with no clinical symptoms or with mild to severe clinical symptoms. Menstrual cycle issues are one of the long-term clinical characteristics of COVID-19. The menstrual cycle is a biologically important cycle for females, regulated closely by endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine mechanisms, with substantial fluctuation in length (21-35 days) and hormone levels during the cycle. Inactivated viral vaccine, recombinant viral vaccine, subunit vaccine, DNA vaccine, and attenuated vaccine have all been tested for Co-V-19 vaccine efficacy. Few females suffered menstrual problems after immunization, such as Menorrhagia, Metrorrhagia, Polymenorrhea, and Postmenopausal bleeding. Vaccine-associated thrombocytopenia could be one of the causes.

Aim: To document menstrual changes in female participants following COVID-19 infection and Covid-19 vaccination with one to two doses and to study the impact of the Corona vaccine on the cycle.

Methods: This retrospective investigation occurred in two phases. The first phase recruited 547 females, with an average age of 35 years and who were infected with COVID-19 to complete a questionnaire to record menstrual changes in women after COVID-19 infection without vaccination, while phase two enrolled 673 females with an average age of 33 years (21-49) and who received the vaccine before the study to record menstrual disturbances after vaccination for COVID-19 , at Prince Rashid military hospital, Irbid, JORDAN, during the period March 2020-Apr 2022.

A questionnaire with 6 sections was constructed to determine the influence of COVID-19 infection and Covid-19 vaccination on the menstrual cycle.

Results: In phase one: 46.98% (257/547) had changes in the number of days between two following periods and in the volume of blood loss. 42.41% of subjects (232/547) had an increase or reduction in the length of menses.

In phase two: 24.96% (168/673) of subjects experienced higher volume and 15.6% (105/673) experienced decreased volume. 23.03% (155/673) experienced delayed periods and 53.2% (358/673) experienced no changes.

Conclusion: COVID-19 infection might influence the menstrual cycle. There was a discrepancy in menstrual profile after vaccination, irrespective of vaccine type or the number of doses given.

However, our study is cross-sectional, and these findings need further investigations or clinical trials to demonstrate the effect of Covid -19 infection or vaccinations on menstrual cycle.