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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think there's a link - shortening menstrual cycles and covid vaccine?

100 replies

HelpMeHiveMind · 15/02/2022 07:02

I want to be clear im in no way advocating that people should not get the vaccine.

I have another post in Health, where I was actually wondering if this could be peri menopause (I'm late 30s) and maybe it still is. Periods moving forward by a week or so each time and have done for about the last 5 cycles.

But others started responding that they too have experienced this since their covid vaccines, I've looked online a bit more and found others saying the same. Yet all the "official studies" I can find just talk about a temporary short lived (eg 1 or 2 cycles) change and generally refer to different length cycles, not them moving forward.

I'm just wondering how many others have experienced this, what the implications are, when / if it went back to normal and why there aren't more studies about it - or maybe there are and I've not found them? Or, are there lots of late 30s / early 40s ladies starting peri menopause at the moment (possibly completely unrelated to vaccines)?

OP posts:
bluejelly · 15/02/2022 08:35

Periods vary and change through life and always have. There isn't any credible research that links this to the Covid vaccines. It is easy to make the connection when your cycle changes and you attribute it to that, but on a population level there really is no data to prove it.

JakeyRolling · 15/02/2022 08:37

@bluejelly

Periods vary and change through life and always have. There isn't any credible research that links this to the Covid vaccines. It is easy to make the connection when your cycle changes and you attribute it to that, but on a population level there really is no data to prove it.
Because any women are fobbed off by doctors - it's one of the reasons an endometriosis diagnosis can take years to get because it's just seen as "period problems"
Hilly17 · 15/02/2022 08:37

@Unpopular37

Just as a point of interest, we are born with 'x' amount of eggs (without wanting to cause a meltdown, I am talking about biological females), thus we will have 'x' amount of periods. The younger you start mentruating, the younger you will have your (natural) menopause...
I started menstruating at 17 and seem to be peri menopausal at 42, so I'm not sure that's true. Although I've had IVF so that may be a factor.
PrescriptionWine · 15/02/2022 08:39

I had covid last week and had my period whilst being ill with covid, it came a week earlier, was actually due today!

I had an appointment with my GP (unrelated to covid, but related to my period as we was timing some anxiety meds around it) on Friday and mentioned it, she said covid does disrupt your period and to expect my cycle to be a bit strange for a few months.

Not had any changes after all 3 of my vaccines.

Norgie · 15/02/2022 08:40

I read a few days ago that recent studies stated that the covid jab was affecting menstrual cycles.
I'll see if I can find the article.

Restingpotato · 15/02/2022 08:42

I also don't think it is a coincidence, I had 1st covid jab then the next day my first period since giving birth (14 months prior), had one more period in between then the day after my 2nd jab, another period, not at regular spacing although it has settled into a regular pattern since. I was supposed to get a booster when I tested positive for covid so I didn't go, and I won't get boosted now as I'm considering a 2nd child in the next year or so.
At the appointment for my 2nd jab I mentioned the period/bleeding to the doctor who dismissed it as a coincidence and said they can't get reliable information about period changes because for so many women they are irregular and influenced by many external factors. I hope they do look into it further

SteakExpectations · 15/02/2022 08:43

It has definitely affected mine and it’s a disconcerting side effect.

XmasElf10 · 15/02/2022 08:44

This is called anecdotal evidence. If you believe it is as a result of the vaccine you need to report it as a side effect (via GP or pharmacy). License holders are required to collect and analyse safety data (like your report would be) on an ongoing basis. If there are sufficient reports to trigger further investigation this may end up listed as a side effect. If the reports are few and far between and there is no sign of trend or statistical significance it won’t end up listed as a side effect.

You can do this with any side effect for any medicine. If you feel they are linked then you can report it.

labyrinthlaziness · 15/02/2022 08:45

@SteakExpectations

It has definitely affected mine and it’s a disconcerting side effect.
How do you know that it is the vaccine and not a coincidence?

It is really disconcerting to see people claim they 'know' things they simply can not know.

labyrinthlaziness · 15/02/2022 08:46

[quote Norgie]www.imperial.ac.uk/news/229773/potential-link-between-menstrual-changes-covid-19/[/quote]
Agree the 'potential' link of this as with any side effect should be investigated.

BearimyJeremy · 15/02/2022 08:50

Pfizer booster totally screwed up the next period. Regular as clockwork up to then so it was noticeable. Waiting to see if things are getting back to normal it's been on and off for eight weeks.

Whatdidisay · 15/02/2022 08:53

After the vaccines mine went from regular every 28 days to 25 for months! Now they have finally gone back to the usual 28 days!

comfortablyfrumpy · 15/02/2022 08:55

I am post menopausal but periods have come back. No idea if there is a correlation. Currently being investigated.

liveforsummer · 15/02/2022 09:00

How do you know that it is the vaccine and not a coincidence?

Because a lot of people know their cycles inside out and track them. Some people's dont change and are like clockwork or like myself don't have any at all therefore when countless people are reporting immediate change of something that was reliably the same for years then they can fairly comfortably 'know'

Couchbettato · 15/02/2022 09:06

I have the implant and a few days after my second vaccine I started bleeding randomly, however, I'm 26, my periods started when I was 8 and I'm just in my third year with the implant.

It's due replacing in July this year and no periods since, but I know it can happen.

I don't know if it's related, but I suspect not.

OnlyAFleshWound · 15/02/2022 09:06

@Unpopular37

Just as a point of interest, we are born with 'x' amount of eggs (without wanting to cause a meltdown, I am talking about biological females), thus we will have 'x' amount of periods. The younger you start mentruating, the younger you will have your (natural) menopause...
This isn't remotely true.
  1. We don't use all our eggs. Not by a loooooong way
  1. There is no relationship like you describe between early menarche and early menopause
  1. There's no link between covid vaccines and menstrual changes.
inigomontoyahwillcox · 15/02/2022 09:08

Mine are definitely getting shorter, but as many others have suggested, I'm pretty sure it's perimenopause.

Saying that, the scientific community have started to take menstrual changes post vaccination more seriously than previously.

BarbaraofSeville · 15/02/2022 09:11

You can't draw any conclusions on an individual basis because correlation is not causation, many women have reported different issues, eg cycle lengthening and you'd have to study thousands of women and compare two groups who have and haven't had the vaccine, but are otherwise similar in age, health, related gynaecological conditions, contraceptive and pregnancy status and probably other factors in order to draw a definitive conclusion.

It could be that they couldn't do the study needed even if they wanted to, because they'd have to find sufficient numbers of women who have not had the vaccine, but are otherwise suitable, and 'matching' women who have, plus have them all agree to not become pregnant, have IVF, change their contraception, lose or gain significant amounts of weight, start HRT in order for reliable data to be generated. It's far far more complicated than anecdotal 'I had the vaccine then my period cycle changed'.

StellaRockaFella · 15/02/2022 09:11

If you're in your late 30s, perimenopause is the likeliest cause. The vaccine is a red herring.

YeOldeTrout · 15/02/2022 09:14

mine are probably slightly longer than before vaccs I had

I thought people were reporting they skipped periods completely "due to the vaccine"

Shorter? Longer? Make up your minds...

Badgerstmary · 15/02/2022 09:16

My periods have definitely got shorter since my booster. I’m on my 4th already this year! I presumed it was peri menopause as I am 50, but who knows.

Giveaschitt · 15/02/2022 09:16

My periods have been getting shorter - used to be 28 days like clockwork and suddenly have 22 or 23 day cycles, and I had started to wonder if it was linked. But then, like a pp, I checked back in my calendar where I note my periods and realised I'd had several 23 and 24 day cycles in the months BEFORE I had my vaccine, so for me its much more likely to be either peri-menopause, or the contraceptive pill that I'm on (that I changed to early last year....). Had I not been tracking in the months before I would definitely have thought it was the vaccine causing it.

ecology1989 · 15/02/2022 09:19

Early 30s here. Period was a full 7 days early the cycle after my booster which is very unusual for me. Caught me unawares but bonus was no PMS? Not on any hormonal contraceptives. Interested to see what happens this month.

Cognoscenti · 15/02/2022 09:21

Mine are a lot shorter and lighter, not on any contraception and haven't been for a long time. It would also be very, very early for me to be going through peri-menopause as I'm nowhere near late 30s. I too think it may be vaccine-related.