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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Period 4 days late. Not pregnant. Pfizer? Or diet?

54 replies

HomerSimpsonsDonut · 07/07/2021 14:05

Hi all

Looking for some advice (Google only gets you so far!)

I am currently not TTC and we are careful.

My period is now 4 days late. I have a fairly long cycle but it is regular. Done two pregnancy tests, both negative.

I've recently received my second Pfizer vaccine and read online that a lot of vaccinated women have had delayed periods, periods after menopause, etc.

BTW I am in no way condemning the vaccine - I do not believe in conspiracies etc but I wondered if anyone else had been affected too?

However I have recently made big changes to my diet (started 16 hour fasting a couple of weeks ago) and eating a lot less calories, around 1300 a day. Is it more likely to be the diet that has affected my cycle?

Not sure what my AIBU is really, I just know people are very honest and open on here and would appreciate some advice, if possible.

Thank you 😊

OP posts:
Zombieseverywhere · 07/07/2021 18:31

I was 2 weeks late last month after having 2nd vaccine. You can report period issues on the yellow card for the vaccine.

Looubylou · 07/07/2021 18:38

The opposite happened to me - had a period 2 weeks early after pzier. This has never happened before. At first I didn't link it to jab, thought I might be starting to be menopausal, despite no other signs. But everything returned to normal with next period. It was also a very painful period which isn't my norm either from my thirties onwards.

Looubylou · 07/07/2021 18:39

I was vaccinated early due to my job, so several months of back to normal now.

Winniewonka · 07/07/2021 18:40

I read an article recently that said when your body is fighting a severe virus, it can temporarily affect periods. Because the vaccine mimics this effect, that's why some women have noticed this change. However, it went onto say that your body soon returns to normal.

Fridaysgirl17 · 07/07/2021 18:50

I've had both my vaccines my period was 11 days late after the first one and now after my second I'm currently 12 days late,I'm also going through a stressful time right now, cheating partner,recent b

Palavah · 07/07/2021 18:51

@coulditbecominghome

The body is on the lookout for factors that might make pregnancy a bad idea - physical/mental stress, lack of sleep, extreme exercise, reduced calorie/fat intake, travel especially big changes in time zone, disease or infection. All of these can disrupt ovulation and menstruation.

I've been very ill in the past (much sicker than I was with covid) & I've also had a number of operations but they've never impacted my cycle.

Yep, that's why I said 'can' not 'always will'
Fridaysgirl17 · 07/07/2021 18:53

Pressed post too soon 🤦🏻‍♀️
Recent break up,2 young kids,I've had period symptoms like cramps but nothing happening, I've the shopping ordered for Friday which includes a pregnancy test just to put my mind at ease

coulditbecominghome · 07/07/2021 19:00

Yep, that's why I said 'can' not 'always will''
I wasn't arguing that you did, more of I'm surprised my body had the reaction it did.

ShinyMe · 07/07/2021 19:03

How old are you? My periods stopped being regular in my early 40s. I missed one entirely last month and got excited that maybe I'm finally through the menopause, but then it arrived, so I assumed also vaccine related.

Doubledenimrock · 07/07/2021 19:18

It's likely the vax. I'm regular but missed 3 months with 2nd pfizer missed a month with the first.

Original poster
HomerSimpsonsDonut · 07/07/2021 19:22

@Vickles20

How old are you OP?
I am 31
OP posts:
Vickles20 · 07/07/2021 20:00

You’d be early for peri menopause.
Sounds like it could be either. Vaccine or too little calories. I think just keep an eye on it. I wouldn’t be to concerned.

berryhead2013 · 07/07/2021 20:05

I heard that the vaccine can affect periods it's anecdotal but mine have been heavier since I had it have had both doses so maybe

2andahalfpints · 07/07/2021 20:19

Please report it, if everyone does they are more likely to listen and at least warn people this could happen.

Mine was late, I'm not worried it'll straighten out but it was definitely the vaccine

JacquelineCarlyle · 07/07/2021 20:26

I had the AZ and my period was weeks late - I'm usually regular as clockwork but was significantly delayed and can only put that down to the vaccine as nothing else had changed.

I've not reported that anywhere - I didn't know there was somewhere you can report it to?

Treacletoots · 07/07/2021 20:28

It's Pfizer. Ive had very random periods since I had mine Confused

I doubt it's your diet, I've done the 5:2 a few times and it's never interfered with them

user1481050140 · 07/07/2021 20:35

I’d say it’s the vaccine. I am ttc and under care of a fertility dr. I am 5 days late, not pregnant and during a routine call with him today i mentioned that am waiting for period and first thing he asked was if i’d had vaccine who’s cycle which i had. He said they are seeing large numbers of women with delayed periods (usually 5/7 days but up to 14 days. Cycle usually normal in following month. I am bbt tracking and my temps have been incredibly high too.

Original poster
HomerSimpsonsDonut · 07/07/2021 20:48

Isn't it concerning if it is the vaccine though? Shouldn't women be warned about this? I'm not TTC but if I was I'd be panicking Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
HomerSimpsonsDonut · 07/07/2021 20:49

@JacquelineCarlyle I didn't realise you could report it either. I'm going to look into this and hopefully get it reported.

Weird thing is my period was completely normal after my first jab. It's the second one that seems to have delayed it.

OP posts:
JacquelineCarlyle · 07/07/2021 21:03

I didn't get one for weeks so didn't get one after the first and was a couple of weeks after the 2nd before it came back (so was 13 weeks late in total as I had an 8 week gap between vaccines).

I wasn't sure if it was vaccine related as I'm 45, so wondered if I was peri-menopausal but I've had no other menopause symptoms and read lots anecdotally about periods being affected and do believe that the vaccine was what caused the delay for me.

I agree, if I were looking to have children, it would make me worried and wary - as it is, I don't want my teenage DCs to have the vaccine if one becomes available for them as it's so unknown! (& I'm a complete believer in vaccines - paid for my DCs to have the chicken pox vaccine privately when they were little and they are fully up to date on all their immunisations).

NigellasMicrowave · 07/07/2021 21:06

It’s the vaccine. There’s a very helpful explainer here: www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-57616063

I am TTC, and keep a very close eye on my cycles and I ovulated about four days after I was expecting to (my app is usually bang on with the prediction). My period was due today, it hasn’t arrived and BFN. I am still of the view that I’d prefer this outcome than be at higher risk for Covid but I do think that women should have been warned of this, principally so we don’t concern ourselves. To me, it’s indicative of an attitude in research about women’s health but there you go, that might be unfair of me.

I’ll report on the Yellow Card site. There’s also an Imperial College Study which I’ve signed up to and I hope it will shed more light.

NotTodaySatanNotToday · 07/07/2021 21:12

I had my 2nd AstraZeneca 2 weeks before my period was due. My period didn't arrive on time. It finally came 4 weeks later so I think my body just skipped a month. It wasn't any heavier when it did arrive. Today I saw the news report about the AstraZeneca can make you skip a period so I guess it must have been that. I was OK after my it vaccine tho.

Original poster
HomerSimpsonsDonut · 07/07/2021 23:00

@NigellasMicrowave good luck with your conceiving journey Flowers hope everything goes well for you.

To me, it’s indicative of an attitude in research about women’s health but there you go, that might be unfair of me. You've made a really good point here and I'm in agreement with you.
I really do think women getting the vaccine should be told more about how it can affect the menstrual cycle. Although I am not currently TTC I will be in the next year or so and it worries me a little that I've chosen to have this vaccine and may have potentially harmed my fertility in the process 😕

OP posts:
NigellasMicrowave · 07/07/2021 23:08

@HomerSimpsonsDonut thank you for your good wishes. I am no expert, but I am sure that there is no long term concern over fertility. I think that the explanation of the womb lining responding to the vaccine because it is part of our immune response system (which I find so cool) is a rational one. It is really annoying women haven’t been warned about this because I think I’d worry less if it had been flagged to me on the list of possible reactions than be left in the dark and to glean information myself. Fingers crossed your period turns up soon enough and you feel a bit better- mine better, because I am a raging monster this week Angry Grin

Winniewonka · 07/07/2021 23:18

Long before Covid and back in 2018, it was noticed that for some women who caught flu, they had a delay in their period. This soon adjusted.
The article says it's the body's way of thinking now is not a good time to get pregnant if I have to fight a virus, I'll wait a few weeks.