Abstract
There has been increasing public concern that COVID-19 vaccination causes menstrual disturbance regarding the relative effect of vaccination compared to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our objectives were to test potential risk factors for reporting menstrual cycle changes following COVID-19 vaccination and to compare menstrual parameters following COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 disease. We performed a secondary analysis of a retrospective online survey conducted in the UK in March 2021. In pre-menopausal vaccinated participants (n = 4,989), 18% reported menstrual cycle changes after their first COVID-19 vaccine injection. The prevalence of reporting any menstrual changes was higher for women who smoke, have a history of COVID-19 disease, or are not using estradiol-containing contraceptives. In a second sample including both vaccinated and unvaccinated participants (n = 12,579), COVID-19 vaccination alone was not associated with abnormal menstrual cycle parameters, while a history of COVID-19 disease was associated with an increased risk of reporting heavier bleeding, "missed" periods, and inter-menstrual bleeding.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 106401 |
| Journal | iScience |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 15 Mar 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 21 Apr 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:We thank participants for their time completing the survey. JAM receives funding from The Wellcome Trust ( 209589/Z/17/Z , IS3-R3.11 21/22 ) and The Royal Society of Edinburgh (1077) and acknowledges the support of the Medical Research Centre ( MRC ) Center Grants G1002033 and MR/N022556/1 . AA received funding from the British Academy ( MD19\190016 ). GK received funding from the ESRC ES/P000649/1 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors
