Vaccines and periods

[sorucettee45]

Apologies if there is enough thread!

I'm not an anti-vaxxer and have had three! However, I'm now wondering if anyone else is concerned about repeat boosters and their period? Each time now, my period has gone weird after the vaccine. It eventually normalises but it seems too much to be coincidental. I know multiple women who experienced similar and are now concerned about potential repeat boosters.

Say boosters become a twice yearly thing as some countries are recommending or looking at. That's four or five months a year my period will be out of whack

Even if there are no long term effects on this, even if it's just "inconvenience," of my period disappearing, surely other women are concerned?

I fully appreciate the positive impacts and importance of the vaccine, but quite frankly I'm annoyed at my period vanishing for yet a third time.

My doctor knows and says it could "potentially be related" and I reported it as a symptom. I'll get the boosters anyway, but I'm still a bit curious if other people have thought about this.

And yes, I am aware my experience is only anecdotal!

I've just googled it and it seems there is a "plausible link." (So not just anecdotal evidence.)

I guess my question is, is the inconvenience of having a messed up period enough of a reason to be a bit iffy at repeat boosters? Or am I just being fussy if science says it won't impact my fertility?

I am past fertility issues but I wish they’d investigate this link. I’m not sure whether to encourage my dd to have the vaccine or not as I’m concerned for her.

This is the main reason i will never be vaccinated. I would NEVER want anyone i know to take a vaccine if they haven’t had children yet

I'm too old to worry about fertility issues too, but my periods restarted after my 2nd jab (5 years after my last period, I'm 59....) so no idea what will happen now I've had my booster.....

Please report it via the yellow card scheme. The more women who do the more likely they will be to take it seriously.
I have read dozens upon dozens of posts from women saying this is temporarily affecting their periods. They wont investigate unless they know about it
yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

@Piggy42

I am past fertility issues but I wish they’d investigate this link. I’m not sure whether to encourage my dd to have the vaccine or not as I’m concerned for her.

Researchers are actively surveying and looking into the menstrual side effects associated with coronavirus vaccination.

For example:

Johns Hopkins is one of five institutions selected by the National Institutes of Health to conduct research to explore the potential impacts of COVID-19 vaccination on menstruation. The five one-year grants, totaling $1.67 million, are funded by NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health.

The NIH research grants were established after many women reported irregular menstrual periods and other menstrual changes after getting the COVID-19 vaccines.

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/covid-19-news-study-to-investigate-impacts-of-covid-vaccines-on-menstruation

Yep, I'm very concerned and disappointed that an explanation has not been provided yet.

What intrigues me is the range of symptoms women have experienced- late/missing periods, lighter flow, severe cramping, clots, flooding, post-menopausal bleeding, the list goes on. We deserve an explanation.

@sorucettee45

I've just googled it and it seems there is a "plausible link." (So not just anecdotal evidence.)

I guess my question is, is the inconvenience of having a messed up period enough of a reason to be a bit iffy at repeat boosters? Or am I just being fussy if science says it won't impact my fertility?

A change in your menstrual cycle does not equate to changes in fertility - there are many many environmental factors that can impact on this including infection.

This is a good commentary from an established research team with a strong background in epi

bristol.ac.uk/news/2021/december/covid-and-menstrual-changes.html

This slightly worried me at first. But then I thought, you know what? My period goes squiffy when I lose weight/go on a diet, when I'm ill, when I'm stressed and sometimes due to changes in routine. None of them have remained long term, always goes back to normal eventually.

My period was delayed after both COVID jabs and having COVID itself (only the second time, no effect the first time).

I've not had any issues with Covid vaccines and periods. My periods are regular (not exactly the same no. of days in a cycle but within a range) and didn't deviate from their typical pattern. I had no problems getting pregnant after my second vaccine, and have had the booster while pregnant, which hasn't caused any issues. This pregnancy will be my last so I won't be worried about the effect of boosters on periods in the future.

I had no problems after my first two (Astra Zeneca) but I've missed a period after my Pfizer booster - waiting to see if it will turn up next week. I'm on HRT so while it's possible I'm skipping periods due to menopause, it's pretty co-incidental.

I know of 4 women who've had awful problems post vaccine.

But no one wants to even suggest it's anything other than a huge coincidence...

Me! Very frequent spotting as well as heavier, really painful and longer period after both my jabs. Just had my booster because it’s the right thing to do, but I’m dreading the impact on my menstrual cycle. And I’m on the pill! I feel I’ve constantly been bleeding since May first jab).

I had a very late period when I had covid. I actually was worried that I was pregnant as I'm regular to the day. I had all the period systems but no period. Went back to normal & then had my vaccine & it was late again.

I wonder what causes it, I wasn't particularly ill & have been much iller in the past & still like clockwork.