Women are just imagining problem periods after the vaccine

[PenelopeP1tstop]

It's a blog post by a doctor on the Zoe COVID study. She's basically saying that all women who've experienced changes and issues are imagining it. Or rather, it's real but it's not down to the vaccine

What do you think on reading it? I KNOW the vaccine delayed my period and then, when it came, it was really heavy. I know this wasn't down to a painkiller I may have taken or a spot of stress I had

https://covid.joinzoe.com/post/covid-vaccines-menstruation?mccid=0bcd25dee2&mcceid=b394a53244#part2

I have very regular cycles that I track monthly. First dose definitely delayed my period by over a week. Second dose didn't seem to have any effect. Frustrating that as usual women's menstrual issues are ignored by some in the medical community.

More worrying downplaying of genuine concerns. This is concerning in itself , there is only one narrative allowed it seems and people should question this more

@Nerdygirl

More worrying downplaying of genuine concerns. This is concerning in itself , there is only one narrative allowed it seems and people should question this more

Mention any concerns about any vaccine side effects and you are immediately shot down. There is only on narrative that we are allowed to go with, covid vaccines = wonderful with no problems what so ever, nothing to see here.

@BringBackThinEyebrows @PenelopeP1tstop
Thanks for your patience, I obviously didn't make my initial points very clearly.
This thread and others are extremely valuable in drawing attention to these possible issues. My issues were a sudden heavy period 2 days after the vaccine and 2 weeks early. I'm usually regular. My (female) GP did some tests, didn't find anything worrying but encouraged me to keep a record. She also explained that period issues are incredibly common, often arising from nowhere in otherwise regular cycles with no apparent cause . She hasn't seen any increase in her own patients reporting these odd symptoms following vaccination but said it remained very consistent. She said if the cycle contained to behave strangely then I should return to her. So far it seems ok.
I personally believe my own minor odd symptoms may have been chance. Especially as I was very emotional at the time.
But I watch this thread and others with interest as I'm keeping a totally open mind.
I also do not pretend to speak or make any judgement on those of you with more 'serious' or frightening issues . Again I have a totally open mind and hope more research is done.

@LibertyRose - “ She also explained that period issues are incredibly common, often arising from nowhere in otherwise regular cycles with no apparent cause.” Does that comment not annoy you a little bit? Do you really think there is no cause, or that nobody can be bothered to look for causes? In the big scheme of things, the occasional blip is not important, so long as the person can conceive when they want to and they do not have long term issues with pain, anaemia, etc. However, there was no known cause for my 3 years of secondary amenorrhoea. That’s actually quite a long time for no known cause to persist…. but then, as the medical profession can mostly get away with trotting out its patronising explanations about stress, diet and exercise, there is no great incentive to investigate the causes of menstrual disturbances much further, is there, even when reported as a side effect of vaccination.

I suppose I felt quite reassured by the idea that women often came to see her with period problems (pre pandemic) and the she said she hadn't notice numbers increase, that she did some initial tests and asked me to come back if there were any more issues.

But maybe you're right and that's a symptom of our all having been told for years that our bodies do strange things and that's that.

I think it helped that she was female , I might have felt more dismissed by a man. Sexist but true !

Interested to hear any suggestions of things I maybe should have done or said differently. Especially in case it happens again or after my second jab.

What should any of us do ? Try to log it best as we can on the app, try and get our GP to log it on our medical records, and anything else ?

And very sorry to hear about your own ongoing issues . Must be distressing and horrible.

@LibertyRose - I have no distressing, ongoing issues. My periods came back after 3 years, I had not been trying to get pregnant during the time I was not having periods, and I had no difficulty conceiving when I did start trying (although I was, understandably, a bit anxious about my fertility, given my past history, especially given the bloody idiotic comments about stress and anxiety being a cause of absent periods - apparently not a problem for my body when trying to conceive, it appears more likely not to bother with ovulation when I’m not particularly stressed about anything!). As for post-vaccination issues, I’m not personally bothered by them, although ovulating on day 4 of my delayed period was certainly a novel experience!!!

Yes @Arsebucket I have noticed that too. I don’t understand why people think that this is ok and are so adamant about shutting down any alternative narrative . It’s not like the government and pharmaceuticals are perfect is it

My issue is exactly what Dr Gunter said in that link. If they would say that menstrual issues are a potential side effect, and when you need to be seen by a doctor or when you can put it down to the vaccine that would help a lot. A flat denial is counter to what so many women are reporting and it's not very helpful.

You can report side effects here
coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

@Nerdygirl

Yes *@Arsebucket* I have noticed that too. I don’t understand why people think that this is ok and are so adamant about shutting down any alternative narrative . It’s not like the government and pharmaceuticals are perfect is it

It’s the language around it that doesn’t help.

People say they are privileged, grateful, happy, excited etc to get the vaccine. So then there can be no negatives. Because we should all feel an overwhelming sense of happiness.

I get it, I really do. People have spent so long being fearful. Some have seen loved ones ill or lost them. Some have been horribly financially impacted by the past 15ish months, lost jobs, businesses. People have been lonely and isolated, worried about CEV family members.

This vaccine to them was/is a beacon to end the fear.

So I do understand.

But there are questions to be asked.

Only it seams that if you are not running for the vaccine feeling grateful and relieved, or have had it and are now asking questions about symptoms you’ve had after, and like some, regretting it, then you are just a thick anti vaxxer who doesn’t understand science.

[quote QuentinBunbury]My issue is exactly what Dr Gunter said in that link. If they would say that menstrual issues are a potential side effect, and when you need to be seen by a doctor or when you can put it down to the vaccine that would help a lot. A flat denial is counter to what so many women are reporting and it's not very helpful.

You can report side effects here
coronavirus-yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/[/quote]
I entirely agree with this.

My 18 year old daughter's period was nearly three months late; she'd missed two and was about to miss a third when it came. She had Az.

@Justforphoto

I hadn't had a period in over 2 years, assume due to my age and menopause until 3 weeks after the vaccine. could of course be a complete fluke but.....

You should contact your GP @Justforphoto because any bleeding after menopause needs to be investigated

And @ShowerOfShite

YY @Nerdygirl Only one narrative allowed. I got told it was conspiracy theory to ask for a cost benefit analysis of lockdowns.

It’s infuriating that this is being dismissed.

What seems to have happened with this vaccine is the total reverse of all scientific methodology we have built up over decades!

In this case, instead of dismissing the reported menstrual interruptions, they’d have to PROVE it was unrelated. Prove it.

Agree, there were lots of presumably mostly female poster on earlier threads on MN saying that the late/missed periods would have happened anyway given the age group etc. But women know their own menstrual cycle.
it is like the GCSE/A level grade allocations last year- the right grades given but to the wrong people.
Just because the rate of menstrual abnormalities is the same, does not mean that those particular women affected would have been the ones who had the menstrual abnormalities.
If you have regular periods for year, then miss one following a Covid vaccine, then there is some kind of link.
Also those that were saying it was the stress of the pandemic - I think most people would have noticed menstrual problems in the 9 months from the start of the pandemic to the very first vaccine given.
It is just insulting to be suggesting that silly women are just mistaken.

Ps I am extremely pro-vaccination and would happily take any number of missed periods for a vaccine (or several vaccines).
It was just the patronising attitude about how we must be mistaken that pissed me off.

I am 100% sure my early and super heavy clotty period was due to the vaccine

Typically 28/29 days.

After first vaccine 42 days then 29 days and once again I am on the 40th day following the second vaccine.

Clearly I am imagining this

@PandemicPalava

I am 100% sure my early and super heavy clotty period was due to the vaccine

I had blood with loads of clots after the vaccine too. Never seen a period like it.

I’m not surprised, women are always dismissed when it comes to our health. I don’t think the medical profession know enough about female endocrinology to say what’s going on with any certainty.

I know I have a regular 30 day cycle. Was a week late after AZ, then next one was a week early, then had another one start from day 11?? I’ve since had second dose and waiting to see what happens next

And I wasn’t at all stressed after AZ vaccine. I was incredibly stressed Jan-Mar trying to run a failing business from home while homeschooling, while both dh and I weren’t earning any money. Periods were like clockwork during that time.

I had my period a week after my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

That was actually on time but my gosh, the pain! I was actually writhing around, begging my DH for various pain relief methods.

My periods are never that painful normally. Dreading the second dose now.