Coronavirus Vaccine | Menstrual Cycle Links between Covid-19 vaccine and menstrual cycle changes possible, must be investigated: Study
London/IBNS: There is a possible link between the Covid-19 vaccine and the menstrual cycle, which demands investigation, according to an editorial published in the peer-reviewed British Medical Journal on Thursday.
Unexpected vaginal bleeding or periods have not been listed as common side effects of Covid-19 vaccination, Victoria Male, reproductive specialist at Imperial College London, noted in the editorial, a report in the media said.
Till September 2, more than 30,000 such reports had been made to the UK medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) surveillance scheme for adverse drug reactions, she said.
The expert, however, noted that most people find that their period becomes normal in the next cycle and, significantly, there is no proof that Covid-19 vaccination adversely affects fertility.
"One important lesson is that the effects of medical interventions on menstruation should not be an afterthought in future research," Male said, the report stated.
MHRA says the number of reports is low in relation to both the number of people vaccinated and the prevalence of menstrual disorders generally.
However, Male says that firm conclusions are difficult because of the way in which the data is collected.
She argues that approaches better equipped to compare rates of menstrual changes in vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations are needed.
Recipients of both mRNA and adenovirus-vectored vaccines have reported menstrual changes, she said.
She notes that if there is a connection, it is possibly due to the immune response to vaccination rather than a specific vaccine component.
The editorial also pointed out that the body's immune response to the virus may affect the menstrual cycle and a study showed that a quarter of women infected with S-CoV-2 have reported menstrual disruption.
If the link between Covid-19 vaccination and menstrual changes is confirmed, it will enable individuals seeking vaccination to plan in advance for potentially altered menstrual cycles, she said.
She said doctors should encourage recipients of the Covid-19 vaccine to report any changes in periods or unexpected vaginal bleeding to the MHRA's scheme.
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