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Original poster

AstraZeneca vaccine affected period

27 replies

1penelopepitstop · 16/08/2021 16:31

Hi everyone! Just after some advice please. I’m 40 and double vaccinated with AZ. After my first vaccine my period was a couple of weeks late, but when it did arrive it lasted nearly 3 weeks (I’m normally a 5 day girl) and was EXTREMELY heavy. I then had spotting for a couple of weeks before the same thing happened again. I spoke to NHS direct who said it was likely to get better. I’m now 4 cycles on and it’s slightly better but not back to normal. Periods lasting longer than normal, much heavier than normal and spotting in between. Apparently 13,000 reports have been made via the yellow card system (including me!) Has anyone else had similar symptoms? And does anyone know how long before things return to normal? I’m very very grateful to be vaccinated, but getting a bit fed up with my cycle being so haywire now!!! TIA x

OP posts:

Thirsday · 16/08/2021 17:24

My period was 5 days late after my second vaccine. I was so worried then after researching noticed it was common. I’m always heavy (fibroids) so didn’t notice anything different there!! Hope your cycle resolves itself soon!

liveforsummer · 16/08/2021 17:57

I had my first AZ on Saturday afternoon, I woke up Sunday morning to a period. I'm on the mini pill and don't get periods. Today it's not been heavy as such but (sorry tmi) lots of tiny clots. So many on mumsnet were trying to say it was just a coincidence and all in peoples heads earlier in the year. Doesn't seem it to me!

HoldOnToHope · 16/08/2021 18:05

I didn't have a period for 3 months after my first AZ vaccine and then had the worst period ever. Second period wasn't as bad, but still very heavy. I've now not had a period for 2 months. Very unusual for me. I'm 30, had my first vaccine in February before my age group were told to avoid.

Serenschintte · 16/08/2021 18:09

Check if you are anemic. It makes periods heavier and more clotting. Then it’s a vicious cycle

liveforsummer · 16/08/2021 18:09

@HoldOnToHope apparently Pfizer is having similar effects on cycles

Makinglists · 16/08/2021 18:14

Yes. Im 51 so though in the menopause zone I was fairly regular. Had first dose mid March and was on day 1 of my cycle. Had another period two weeks later then another two weeks after when I would normally have expected one. Since then nothing for four months. I yellow carded my menstural changes. For me I'm not too bothered but if I was 40 I would have been gutted as I was trying for DC2 who was born when I was 41.

OnlyTheLangOfTheTitberg · 16/08/2021 18:18

Mine have been all over the place since having the AZ jabs. I’ve had everything from 2 weeks (unheard of for me) to 7 weeks. Also quite a bit heavier than usual; I was always blessed with v light periods lasting around 3 days with only one day of proper ‘flow’, now they’re more like 5-6 days with the first two days being heavier than I’ve ever known.

liveforsummer · 16/08/2021 18:20

Interestingly I don't have any of the other symptoms that normally come along with start of period eg spots or sore breasts

Original poster

1penelopepitstop · 16/08/2021 18:26

Thanks all!! I wish they would warn women that your periods MIGHT be affected…….it could avoid a lot of stress/worry!
I definitely feel reassured that others have had irregularities too. Hopefully things will settle back to normal soon.

OP posts:

BeautyGoesToBenidorm · 16/08/2021 18:31

My cycle was bang on 28 days, periods were light and lasting 3-4 days before the second AZ jab.

I'm now heading into the third week of a really unpredictable period, which is very light some days, and heavy the next. It's bollocks.

LookdeepintotheParka · 16/08/2021 22:08

Relieved to see this as I was a week late after second Moderna jab but now on day 16 of a random on and off period Very unusual for me as mine is usually bang on dates and lasts 5-7 days.

I guess there's no point seeing GP yet

TheOnlyWayisher · 16/08/2021 22:10

I’ve been similar from after Pfizer too. Total PITA but no one seems to know anything or care.

Blankspace4 · 16/08/2021 22:13

Yes. I had a very heavy and painful period the month after my first AZ jab. And after the second my clockwork 28/29 cycle was 40 days. I felt really yukky.

I think it’s awful how women’s concerns are largely being dismissed.

WaterIsBest · 16/08/2021 22:15

Theres numerous threads about this and lots on the internet about it

Jellykat · 16/08/2021 22:23

Interestingly i quizzed a GP lately about medical concerns and vaccination .. she answered every query effectively, until i mentioned the bleeding irregularities some women have experienced - there was silence followed by a quick 'its just a coincidence,' and she practically ran out of the room.. i was left thinking what a strange reaction

TheOnlyWayisher · 16/08/2021 22:28

This might be a crazy question (I’m not a biologist) but as someone not that young, single and childless... If I’m having twice as many periods as pre vaccine (now 3 months on) is this going to mean I’m going to reach menopause sooner. I know it might sort itself out and in the grand scheme 3 months sooner probably won’t make a difference but if this is a long term side effect…

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 16/08/2021 22:33

It's definitely not a coincidence.

My periods are all over the place. Sometimes I have two in a month. Sometimes I have one cycle. Sometimes they last a week. Sometimes they last two. They can go from light to heavy to light to stopping for a day, back to heavy, all in one cycle.

EdHelpPls · 16/08/2021 22:37

No change after first AZ but after the second I had the lightest period Ive ever had. It would be been a relief if I hadn't been expecting a flood any minute. Straight back to normal (v heavy) periods in the following month.

Whataboutye88 · 16/08/2021 22:55

My cycles are 28 days without fail, 4-5 days of fairly light bleeding. Had my second AZ last Monday and my period was 4 days late and so heavy and painful I’ve had to take today off work. It’s awful!

Bumbleumbo · 16/08/2021 23:42

My periods have been all over the place since having my first Pfizer jab. Really, really heavy, spotting throughout the month, irregular and tbh a real pain in the arse. Several of my friends are also experiencing changes, though none of them have reported via the yellow card scheme as they hadn’t made the link. I suspect 15000 is the tip of the iceberg and is simply being ignored.

I think the vaccines affect blood in some way. I went to give blood a couple of weeks after my second jab and it kept clotting so I had to go back a week later. The same thing happened again, the blood just wouldn’t flow. The nurse asked me if I had had the AstraZeneca vaccine as she has seen the same issue in other patients following AZ. I’ve regularly been giving blood for 15 years and this has never happened before

liveforsummer · 17/08/2021 04:32

@TheOnlyWayisher

I suppose it depends if you are ovulating each time. Judging by the lack of other symptoms, and the speed the bleeding happened for me, I'm going to guess not. Of course that is just a guess and based on my own experience but if it had caused spontaneously ovulation I'd have expected the other symptoms that go along with a normal period and I don't think it would have happened as quickly as the next morning. Of course who knows what it is doing to cause it and if it will have effects in other ways. I guess only time will tell.

tienthanh · 17/08/2021 07:30

My period was 4 weeks late after my second vaccine. Thats is a advice of gov at my state. I dont have any symptom after vacincated.

namechangeandNC · 17/08/2021 07:55

I believe it is a coincidence. Women can randomly have irregular periods for a huge range, or no reason whatsoever. I certainly have done for a few months in the past every so often and I know many of my friends have.
But when so many women have had a vaccine due to it being given in such a short space of time to everyone possible - then there's a lot of people who will assume normal hormonal changes are suddenly to do with this.

liveforsummer · 17/08/2021 13:03

@namechangeandNC

I believe it is a coincidence. Women can randomly have irregular periods for a huge range, or no reason whatsoever. I certainly have done for a few months in the past every so often and I know many of my friends have. But when so many women have had a vaccine due to it being given in such a short space of time to everyone possible - then there's a lot of people who will assume normal hormonal changes are suddenly to do with this.

I've been on the mini pill for over 4 years. Never had a period in all that time, not even a spot. Woke up the next morning after vaccine and still bleeding now. No way situations like this can all be coincidence!

JS87 · 17/08/2021 13:03

Mhra yesterday said there was no evidence it was connected to the vaccine and was coincidental. I think they should come on Mumsnet then they might change their mind. Is suspect most people aren’t yellow carding it so rate reflects the general rate of period irregularities

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