Another side effect of the COVID-19 vaccination. He was “unnoticed or ignored”

Scientists have identified another possible side effect of COVID-19 vaccination. As they emphasize, it has so far gone unnoticed or ignored. “Some doctors have not been able to explain how the vaccine can make these changes.” It’s about unexpected menstrual bleeding. However, researchers recall that vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent severe COVID-19.

1. Menstrual-related changes may occur in the first two weeks after vaccination against COVID-19
2. “Since, when researching new vaccines, it is usually not asked about the monthly cycles or the menses themselves, this side effect has so far gone unnoticed or ignored,” note the authors of the study
3. These changes are believed to be due to an increase in the pro-inflammatory activity of the immune system following vaccination, and not strictly hormonal reasons.
4. ‘We suspect that for most people, the changes in question are short-term,’ the researchers note
5. The researchers also emphasize that vaccination against COVID-19 is one of the best ways to prevent the severe course of this disease
6. More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Doctors “ignored this symptom or did not associate it with recent vaccination”

Menstrual-related changes can occur in the first two weeks after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This side effect is experienced by quite a large number of people – researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Tulane University in the USA found after analyzing the reports from over 35. people. An article on this topic appeared in Science Advances.

«Menstruating people began to report to us that they experienced unexpected bleeding after receiving the vaccine – say the authors of the publication. “Because when researching new vaccines, people usually don’t ask about the monthly cycles or the menses themselves, this side effect has so far gone unnoticed or ignored.”

The rest of the article under the video.

“Doctors who were informed by the patients that they had some menstrual changes, disregarded this symptom or did not associate it with the recent vaccination,” emphasizes Prof. Kathryn Clancy. “Some clinicians have simply not been able to explain how the vaccine can produce these changes.”

Effect of vaccination against COVID-19 on the menstrual cycle. What exactly did the study show?

This study was conducted through questionnaires in which participants were asked about their broad post-vaccination experiences. The analysis only included people who had not had COVID-19 before, because sometimes the disease itself can cause changes in the menstrual cycle and bleeding. People aged 45-55 were also excluded from the study to avoid confusing vaccine-related menstrual changes with those resulting from perimenopause.

“We focused on people who menstruate regularly and those who have already gone through the menopause and do not have periods at all,” says Prof. Clancy. ‘In the latter group, recurrent bleeding also happened after vaccination, and for these people it was especially surprising’.

Statistical analysis showed that 42,1 percent of respondents to the survey reported richer and more bothersome than usual monthly bleeding after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. These changes were most commonly seen within 8-14 days after vaccination. A similar percentage, i.e. 43,6%, concerned women who did not report any changes in the course of the period, and 14,3%. noticed a lighter than normal course of menstruation.

Why does vaccination cause menstrual disorders?

Prof. Kathryn Clancy emphasizes that there is a group of vaccines, e.g. against typhoid, hepatitis B or HPV, which sometimes cause side effects in the form of menstrual disorders. These changes are believed to be due to an increase in the pro-inflammatory activity of the immune system following vaccination, and not strictly hormonal reasons.

«We suspect that for most people the changes in question are short-term. However, of course, we encourage anyone who is concerned to contact their doctor for clarification and care, says the co-author of the publication, Prof. Katharine Lee.

– At the same time, we want to make it clear that taking the COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best ways to prevent the severe course of the disease, and the very illness of COVID may be associated with something much more serious than changes in menstruation. May lead to hospitalization, long-term complications and death ».

More severe post-vaccination bleeding is more common in women who have given birth

“Since the study was based on self-reporting, it cannot be used to establish a causal relationship or translate its results to the entire population,” emphasizes Prof. Lee. ‘However, there are potential links between a person’s reproductive history, hormonal status, demographics and changes in menstruation following COVID-19 vaccination ».

The discussed analysis also showed that respondents who were pregnant at least once most often reported more severe bleeding after vaccination, while those who had never given birth, as a rule, did not notice any changes in this regard.

Hormone treated women (but not menopausal women) have often experienced breakthrough bleeding (outside the normal period of the menstrual period) after taking the immunization. In addition, 70 percent. people using hormonal contraception and 38,5 percent. people undergoing gender reassignment hormone therapy have also reported this side effect.

«Anyone who experiences breakthrough bleeding should see a doctor»

The increase in menstrual bleeding in most people is transient and subsides very quickly, and unexpected changes in the course of the period can be disturbing.

“E.g. such unexpected breakthrough bleeding during hormone therapy is surprising and disturbing to those experiencing it. Under normal conditions, it may be one of the early symptoms of some cancers, which is why now such people have been subjected to costly and invasive screening for cancer »- says Prof. Lee.

“Such studies cannot be ignored because they can detect cancer at an early stage,” the researcher added. Therefore, anyone who experiences breakthrough bleeding should see a doctor. However, the awareness that vaccination may be one of the reasons for the observed abnormalities would facilitate diagnosis ».

“We would love to see future vaccine testing protocols include questions about menstruation, and not just standard questions about pregnancy,” the authors conclude. – Menstruation is a regular process that responds to all kinds of immune and energy stressors, and menstruating people often notice changes in their bleeding patterns associated with various unusual situations. However, this is still a topic that is not talked about in public ”.

We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Kamila Wykrota, the resilience trainer, will tell us about what resilience is. How does the ability to adapt to changing circumstances and react to adversities affect our quality of life? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.

PAP / Katarzyna Czechowicz