Some people recently reported a COVID-19 vaccine side effect after their injection. Specifically, they said they've had heavier menstrual cycles and more cramping.
According to a KBIA report, currently, there is no published scientific research yet about the possible association but researchers are looking into it.
Postdoctoral researcher, Katharine Lee, from the Division of Public Health Sciences at Washington University's School of medicine and one of the researchers noted menstrual cycles are tremendously variable.
She added, a strong illness or changes in eating habits and exercise can change an individual's monthly period. More so, when the body is experiencing inflammation like, following a vaccine that generates a strong immune response, one's menstrual cycle is possible to change, too.
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Some people reported they said they’ve had heavier menstrual cycles and more cramping.
Unusual Menstrual Periods
Lee said, even she herself, had unusual menstrual periods after she received a COVID-19 vaccine in February. Together with Kate Clancy, a researcher from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Lee developed a survey, as posted on REDCap, to record period experiences of people after they receive their COVID-19 vaccines.
Within hours of posting the survey on Twitter, the researchers received hundreds of replies. Two weeks after, more than 30,000 people have completed it.
The research is currently going on, but responses so far, have shown that unusual menstrual periods as a COVID-19 side effect are not uncommon.
Nonetheless, Lee is quick to emphasize that there is no evidence that suggests that people should avoid getting vaccinated for this reason.
COVID-19 Vaccine Effect Survey
A Chicago Tribute report said, while the study will investigate trends, Lee said, they wouldn't be able to determine the cause and effect. She elaborated, their survey cannot tell anything about prevalence, or the number of those who are affected.
She added, what can be done is to look for links and trends that help researchers direct whatever the next study would be.
An OB-GYN at Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital, Dr. Rakhi Shah said, she does not see a way the COVID-19 vaccines could impact menstrual periods.
She also said, she thinks that there is really no biological mechanism that is acceptable when it comes to "how that could be possible."
The OB-GYN also explained, she thinks that possibly, people are having normal menstrual pain, on top of the pains and aches that are linked to post-vaccine, and may be incorporating all of that altogether, and linking it.
Periods After Vaccination
Northwestern Medicine OB-GYN Dr. Julie Levitt said, a pair of patients have come to her expressing concerns particularly linked to their periods after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine.
The doctor said, bleeding takes place for so many reasons that it is indeed difficult to isolate the two. She said the COVID-19 vaccine could be developing a hormonal spike that could trigger bleeding.
Levitt explained, a hormone rises, it goes down, one bleeds a withdrawal bleed. This is not considered bad bleeding, though, she said emphasizing that this was not a subject of concern, neither was it a reason to discontinue the use of birth control
Lee is set to join a discussion about what she and Clancy are hoping to learn from their work, dismiss the false beliefs that COVID-19 vaccines result in infertility or affect people by proximity, and explain the reason people need to more readily talk about, and examine menstrual cycles.
A related report is shown on WTVR CBS 6's YouTube video below:
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