Affecting periods?

[ToTheLetter01]

Before I start I will say I'm not into conspiracys or anything like that. I was happy to get my vaccine until recently. I was just scrolling on my Facebook feed, saw a woman complaining about a heavy and bad period that had come early even though she's always been regular. Below in the comments someone asked if she had her vaccine of been around anyone that had eg. Family. She said she had. Then this other person had said alot of other women have been saying they have had heavier, more painful periods that have been very early or late.
So I did some googling and it turns out alot of women are reporting this side effect. Has this happened to anyone who's had the vaccine or been in close proximity of anyone who's had one.
I'm just concerned about the effects it could have on fertility as me and my partner have spoken about another child in the future.

Hi there. I had the vaccine ( both doses). No changes to my period.

I think, as a start, I would avoid your "Facebook feed". Likewise, I would not advise "having a quick google".

It is likely, that inadvertently you might come across information that is untrue, a personal
Opinion by the author, or information not well presented.

To start with, I recommend that you look at proper sources such as the Royal
College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

I would also contact your gp if you have valid concerns around your periods, or future fertility.

It's also very important to note that vaccine technology, which has been around for hundreds of years has never been known to affect fertility.

Had the vaccine, period came as due but was shorter than normal. 2 weeks later another one! 6 weeks later and I’m still waiting and about to leave DH the PMT is that bad.

@enjoysun but how can you explain these unusual cycles happening to women that have been so regular their lives, when the only thing that's changed is the vaccine?

@Fixitup2 oh really. This is what I've seen has happened to other women

Have a search on this board there's a few threads about this. I had pzifer, mine have been on time but really heavy and painful. I've had two post vaccine.

The “side effects by proxy” thing is literally impossible.

For those whose period has been affected after having the vaccine itself, nothing has been proven yet. Some are putting it down to stress or simply the immune response. The menstrual cycle is a very fragile thing, it can be thrown off by pretty much anything.

Given the numbers of women being vaccinated it’s statistically inevitable that some would see an entirely unrelated change in their menstrual cycle around the time they’d been vaccinated, too. Especially as we’ve now hit the early 40s and women at that age often find their periods start to change due to normal hormonal fluctuations.

And it’s completely impossible that one person’s vaccination could cause side effects in another person.

Just to add: it’s known as the post hoc, ergo propter hoc fallacy: something happened after an event, therefore that event must have caused it.

My periods had always been entirely regular until I went on holiday to Germany shortly after my 41st birthday, since when they’ve been irregular in both arrival and heaviness. I don’t think that either Germany or birthday cake was the cause.

I suppose it’s possible that the immune response to the vaccine might be causing a change in periods. We know things like life stress or other illness can cause a temporary change to the menstrual cycle. But even if this is the case it’ll return to normal and isn’t going to be harmful.

Usual disclaimer: I am not a doctor and if you’re worried about your health in any way speak to one.

I had covid in December and missed my first period afterwards, and subsequent ones have been lighter (it’s usually incredibly heavy) but I have heard numerous accounts of covid affecting cycles so it doesn’t surprise me that it does.
Dm has had the vaccine and at 69 had such a heavy bleed and clots last month she was rushed to a&e. Yes it could be completely unrelated to the vaccine but I reckon there is a link there. With all the stories I hear, it’s a bit too coincidental

Any stress to your body can have an affect on your period.

When you have vaccine, it kicks your immune system into action and your body will be working hard.

After my first dose my period was 5 days late and a little lighter than usual, but I wasn't concerned. People are worrying because they don't understand the reason. Our monthly cycles are really sensitive to any stresses or anything else that is going on in our bodies - for example, at Christmas time I was very stressed because I wouldn't be able to see my family and sure enough, my period was about 10 days late!

It doesn't mean that it will affect your fertility. It will be right back on track the next month. It is really nothing to worry about and I would urge people to still have the vaccine. I will still be having my second dose for sure!

Do other vaccines do this though? I've had the flu jab and it hasn't effected my periods?

Period is 2 weeks late post vaccine and no I'm not pregnant. I have read that this can be something to do with the immune system so I'm not that alarmed by this.

It’s weird these things happen but who knows why.

If you are considering not getting the vaccination due to perhaps wanting a future child, just remember that you need to be alive to conceive and that people are still dying of covid in the U.K. (I’m presuming you are from here) so it’s not something to mess around with.

If everyone who wanted a future child didn’t bother to get the vaccine half the population would be unvaccinated. We need as many as possible to get done.

Please stop worrying about things that are years away or may not happen and get the vaccination.

I feel like people should be asking questions though instead of just willingly getting the vaccine. Yes it is good to get for everyone but also what about future effects. No one knows the long term data. It's only recently since they gave the vaccine out to the mass that they realised it can cause blood clots in younger people.
So I don't think people should be asking questions if it concerns their future health

Before I start I will say I'm not into conspiracys or anything like that.

But is convinced changes to other woman's cycle must be due to the vaccine without consulting a GP

How many woman who have had the vaccine have reported no changes versus those who have? As I'm sure woman with no changes wouldn't report no changes to google

enjoysun but how can you explain these unusual cycles happening to women that have been so regular their lives, when the only thing that's changed is the vaccine

I could have a go at explaining these "unusual cycles" but you know, I'm just a random stranger off t'internet!!!!

Like I said earlier, rather than getting opinions from randoms from Facebook, Google and Mumsnet, do the responsible thing and look at reputable sources, such as Royal College of Midwives, RC Obs&Gyny, the JCVI, The Green Book or NHS.

By the way, your post will be biased. It is more likely to attract responses from those members of the public that HAVE noticed periods being affected, rather than a broader and fairer sample of the population.

Good luck finding the answers.

OP there was a massive thread on this board about this particular problem and many women are experiencing it.

It is really unhelpful to dismiss women's concerns around fertility as it HAS seemingly impacted peoples menstrual cycle and although this is likely to be due to the immune systems response we do not know that for a fact.

The PP who said 'you have to be alive to conceive' what a load of rubbish. A woman of child bearing age with no underlying conditions are very unlikely to die from COVID, I mean it has a 99.8% survival rate.

It is being looked into. This article plus those linked to within it has some interesting information.
I believe women know their bodies well enough to spot a big change. I also feel that putting it down to the stress of having a vaccine when many women have much bigger stresses in their lives is insultingly minimising.

vajenda.substack.com/p/the-covid-19-vaccine-and-menstrual

@justawoman

Given the numbers of women being vaccinated it’s statistically inevitable that some would see an entirely unrelated change in their menstrual cycle around the time they’d been vaccinated, too. Especially as we’ve now hit the early 40s and women at that age often find their periods start to change due to normal hormonal fluctuations.

And it’s completely impossible that one person’s vaccination could cause side effects in another person.

Yes, the age of the women having the vaccine is probably significant.

Many many women who've had the vaccine in the last few weeks are mid 40s and above so many will have seen changes in periods over the last few years anyway, so it will be incredibly difficult to prove that the vaccine is a cause, it could well be perimenopausal instead so entirely unrelated.

Or it could be a stress/immune response so not indicative that the vaccine is 'bad' but an expected normal response.

I'm 47 and had the vaccine a couple of weeks ago and am now around 5 days late from what I'd normally expect, but that 'normal' is only normal for the last 3 months and before that it had been over 6 months since I'd had a period.

Also the last two have been far far heavier and more painful than I've ever experienced in my whole life, so not normal for me anyway. So my currently absent period could have done the same even if I haven't had the vaccine (definitely not pregnant).

Mine are regular as clockwork always have been. First one post vaccine came a week early and was far heavier and painful than usual.
I’m due again any day now so we’ll see what happens.

@ToTheLetter01

Do other vaccines do this though? I've had the flu jab and it hasn't effected my periods?

Yes, other vaccines can also cause this. It just doesn't get reported/ noticed as much because people aren't as paranoid about other vaccines as they are about the Covid one.

Honestly, please don't be alarmed by this. You will be absolutely fine having the vaccine.

I had covid in December and missed my first period afterwards, and subsequent ones have been lighter (it’s usually incredibly heavy) but I have heard numerous accounts of covid affecting cycles so it doesn’t surprise me that it does.

Yes I had covid & although I've been much sicker before & hospitalised my period ww very late. This was such an anomaly to me that I even did a pregnancy test as I had sore boobs etc but no period. I knew I wasn't pregnant & eventually it came.

Vaccine didn't impact cycle

Being a critical thinker is a smart move when the vaccine is still in the trial phase until 2023.

@HeyDuggeesCakeBadge

With regard to your post, I was the one mentioning that you have to be alive to conceive and suggesting we all get vaccinated, which you poopooed.

I’ll be sure to tell my work colleague that there is a high survival rate for people who get covid and he should totally listen to you.

Oh no wait, I can’t because he’s dead.

He died of covid. Middle aged, about two stone overweight with no underlying health conditions.

Don’t tell me I’m taking rubbish. You clearly are in the fortunate position to not know anyone who has contracted the virus and they’ve either had a hard time (two people I know, both of whom had no underlying health conditions and both though they were going to die as they were so ill) or it took their life.

You don’t want to mess with it. It’s not worth the risk.

Elieza, I am so sorry that you have been affected by COVID and sorry for your loss. However, statistically it is highly unlikely that a woman of childbearing age, with no underlying conditions would die - that's a fact and no amount of anecdotal data is going to change that.

The OP was worried about the impact on her fertility and you poopooed that, I think people have valid concerns and dismissing them and scare mongering in response is not going to make the OP less worried.

@nancywhitehead thank you thats reassuring to know.

@aurea yes true, we are basically one big experiment at the moment until the have all the data on the vaccine and what side effects it can have

@Elieza i am sorry that covid has affected you and you are valid in the way you feel definitely. However i'm just being cautious and wanting to know more about the vaccine before i make an informed decision.