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They show how the Covid vaccine affects menstruation: half suffered changes

Almost half of the participants menstruating regularly at the time of the survey reported heavier bleeding during their periods after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine in a recent study. Other people who did not menstruate, such as transgender men, people taking long-acting contraceptives, and postmenopausal women, also experienced a unusual bleeding.

The new study – the largest to date – expands on research that has revealed the temporary effects of Covid-19 vaccines on menstrual cycles, but until now focused primarily on menstruating cisgender women.

Although vaccines have largely prevented deaths and serious illnesses with few reported side effectsconcerns were initially brushed aside by many medical experts when women and gender-diverse people began to report erratic menstrual cycles after receiving vaccinations.

To better understand these post-vaccination experiences, researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis distributed an online survey in April 2021 to thousands of people around the world. world.

After three months, the researchers collected and analyzed over 39,000 responses of people between the ages of 18 and 80 about their menstrual cycles. All the people who responded to the survey had been fully vaccinated, with vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson or another approved outside the United States. And, to their knowledge, the participants had not contracted Covid-19 before getting vaccinated.

Experts assure that “the costs” of Covid exceed those of the vaccine. Photo: Xinhua


The research, published in the journal Science Advances, shows that 42% of people with regular menstrual cycles experienced heavier bleeding after vaccination, while 44% reported no change and 14% reported lighter periods.

Additionally, 39% of respondents taking gender-affirming hormone treatments, 71% of people taking long-acting contraceptives, and 66% of postmenopausal women experienced intermittent bleeding after one or both vaccinations.

“I think it’s important for people to know that this can happen, so they don’t freak out, they don’t get shocked and they don’t run out of feminine hygiene products,” said Katharine Lee, a biological anthropologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine. in San Luis and first author of the study.

Lee cautioned, however, that the study did not compare results with a control group of people who were not vaccinated. And it’s possible that people who saw changes in their cycles after vaccination were more likely to participate in the survey. Still, the results are consistent with smaller studies that have reported menstrual changes after vaccination with stronger controls.

Importantly, the new study also found that some demographic groups may be more likely to experience menstrual changes, and the study may help them be better prepared, Lee said. For example, older people are more likely to have heavy menstrual flow.

Experts talk about possible side effects on the endometrium.  Photo: EFE

Experts talk about possible side effects on the endometrium. Photo: EFE


Respondents who used hormonal contraceptives, who had been pregnant in the past, or who had been diagnosed with a reproductive disease such as endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovary syndrome also were more likely to have heavier bleeding during your periods.

People who identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino they also tended to have heavier bleeding. And people who have experienced other side effects of vaccines, such as fever or fatiguethey were also more likely to experience erratic periods.

Las postmenopausal women slightly younger, with a median age of 60, were more likely to experience intermittent bleeding after vaccination than older women. But the type of vaccine the postmenopausal women received, whether they had other side effects, such as a fever, or whether they’d had a past pregnancy, didn’t seem to have an effect on their bleeding.

Why these changes occur

It is normal that there are some variations in menstruation: the number of days you bleed, the intensity of the flow and the duration of the cycle.

“Our menstrual cycles are not perfect clocks,” says Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health & Science University, who has also studied the effect of Covid-19 vaccines on menstruation.

Las secreted hormones by the hypothalamus, the pituitary and the ovaries regulate the monthly cycle, and can be affected by both internal and external factors. Stress and illness, weight loss or gain, calorie restriction, and intense exercise can change typical menstrual patterns.

The endometrium, which lines the uterus and is shed during menstruation, has also been linked to the immune system. Because of the role it plays in remodeling uterine tissue and protecting against pathogens, it’s possible that when vaccines activate the immune system, which is what they’re supposed to do, they also somehow trigger side effects on the endometrium, causing a disturbance in the menstrual cycle, Edelman said. And some individuals may be more sensitive to immunological or hormonal changes in their body.

In her research, Edelman found that some women’s periods came a day or two later than usual after getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. But the changes were temporary, and menstruation usually returned to normal after one or two cycles.

What to do if you notice irregularities

Si is experimental any new or unusual bleeding pattern, take note. The menstrual cycle can be thought of as another vital sign, like body temperature or blood pressure, that provides clues about your health, said Jennifer Kawwass, a reproductive endocrinologist at Emory University who was not involved in the study.

“A significant change in menstrual cycle interval or bleeding profile warrants further investigation to be sure there is no underlying endocrinologic, hematologic, or anatomic cause,” Kawwass said.

Intermittent bleeding in people who no longer menstruate normally, for example, can also be a warning sign of cancer of the cervix, ovary, uterus, or vagina.

That said, a subtle variation in your menstrual cycle, if you have regular periods, shouldn’t be a cause for concern and doesn’t require you to change anything you normally do, Kawwass said.

Clinical trials and other studies have already established that Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective and unlikely to affect long-term fertility.

The New York Times. Especial

Translation: Patricia Sar

PS

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