menstrual cycle: The physician-scientists also advise that individuals who notice prolonged changes in menstruation should seek guidance from their clinician.
According to a recent study, one of the side effects of Covid is that a woman taking it may notice minute, transient changes in the length of her menstrual cycle. The next menstrual cycle typically sees a return to normal in these small changes, according to researchers. Researchers used Clue, a platform for menstrual and reproductive health, to analyze menstrual cycle data from more than 6,000 people in 110 countries for the study, which was published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology.
What does the study say about menstrual cycle ?
Researchers discovered that the average length of the menstrual cycle among unvaccinated participants reporting Covid illness had increased by 1 point 45 days in comparison to the participants’ prior cycle length average.
These increases were in line with the adjustments noted in the cohort who had received the Covid vaccine. Researchers emphasize that changes in both cohorts disappeared after vaccination or illness in the first cycle.
Furthermore, they pointed out that the immune and reproductive systems are known to interact, so even though these results aren’t shocking, they should validate the public’s experiences and give comfort that, if changes in flow do occur during or after Covid infection, they are probably minor and temporary.
Blair Darney, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University, said that modifications to your menstrual cycle can be unsettling and even frightening.
“We want this research to reassure people that, on a population level, these changes are typically not a cause for concern,” said Darney.
Because people naturally experience variations in menstrual cycle length and bleeding patterns, researchers say it is difficult to pinpoint Covid as the only cause. Cycle changes are likely the result of a temporary, disease-related activation of an immune response. The study’s authors also point out that it was not focused on people who were known to have long Covid.
Those who notice persistent changes in their menstrual cycle should consult their clinician, the physician-scientists advise. Researchers are currently utilizing data from cycle-tracking apps to look into other reported variations in menstruation after vaccination, such as missed cycles, unexpected vaginal bleeding, and pain. They hope to learn more about the biological mechanisms underlying these changes in the future.