Period issues after the covid 19 vaccines

[Pbjalure]

Hi I hope everyone is well.

so first things first I’ve had 3 doses of the covid vaccine at the time I was breastfeeding and also I felt it was the best option for myself especially to travel to see family so please no comments on why did I get the vaccines whats done is done.

I was breastfeeding for 17 months so i was sure my periods would be irregular because of this but once I stopped and my milk dried up and I had a blood test to check my prolactin levels (which were fine) my periods just started showing up very randomly. I would be regular for 2 months and then they would go missing for 3 months no reason at all. Hormones all fine and everything else long with it was fine no PCOS no other issues and ever since I have had very sporadic periods. I ovulate every month confirmed with testing but for some reason my periods just don’t come as of this year I have had one period so far.

Im trying for my second baby and I feel so defeated that my irregular cycle is making it 10 times harder.

Did anyone have any period issues after the vaccines?

There is no evidence at all that COVID vaccines have any effect on periods.

There is evidence that periods can be irregular post breastfeeding.

You're looking for answers in the wrong place.

So after speaking to my doctor she actually confirmed that covid itself can affect your periods which I was skeptical about because I’ve only ever met one person with the same experience as me.
Also every time I’ve had covid 3 times now I would skip one whole cycle.
I was just looking to see if anyone had any similar experiences to me.
Im not for or against vaccines just looking for experiences.

My periods were extremely heavy and painful after both vaccines. The nurse administering the second dose deliberately asked me about periods and made a note of what I said saying loads of women were saying the same and they had been looking at patterns.
My periods have gone very short since but i think thats peri rather than vaccine.

Why do you assume its the vaccines rather than pregnancy and birth which has triggered the change? Its not unusual for cycles to change after a baby.

There were a lot of anecdotal claims about vaccine impact on cycles but the only hard data I saw on large enough numbers to make it significant were a slight increase in cycle (less than a day) and that impact was temporary. This isn't so different from other vaccines. None have shown a long term impact on fertility.

This doesn't prove you couldn't be some kind of outlier but don't ignore other possible causes of the change. How long has it been since you stopped breastfeeding?

My period was irregular after the first vaccine but went back to normal after 3-4 months but it's not been regular since my second vaccine. Decided not to bother with anymore now. Two of my closest friends have been exactly the same which is odd considering it's an "rare" side effect (according to my GP)

there can be period issues for 1-2 months after the vaccine but not long lasting effects.

here is a report from a study that tracked 10000 of people around the time of covid.

https://health-study.joinzoe.com/post/covid-vaccines-menstruation#:~:text=We've%20received%20app%20reports,or%20uncomfortable%20periods%2C%20for%20example.

I had regular periods all my life. Two DC, age 37.

Periods went crazy after two of the jabs I had. Around 3 months of irregular/ weird cycles, including extended cycles, mid-cycle bleeding and short bleeding.

Could be a coincidence. Or not

Pbjalure

re your comment:
"I was breastfeeding for 17 months so i was sure my periods would be irregular because of this but once I stopped and my milk dried up and I had a blood test to check my prolactin levels (which were fine) my periods just started showing up very randomly. I would be regular for 2 months and then they would go missing for 3 months no reason at all. Hormones all fine and everything else long with it was fine no PCOS no other issues and ever since I have had very sporadic periods. I ovulate every month confirmed with testing but for some reason my periods just don’t come as of this year I have had one period so far".

Something is causing this and it is in your interest to find out what it is particularly as you are now trying to conceive.

What blood tests have been done to date?. You need a day 2 blood test to check and compare your LH level against that of FSH; this does not seem to have been done and your doctor seems to not be up to speed either.

What testing confirms you ovulate every month; if it is OPK's (ovulation predictor kits) they are not at all reliable when it comes to irregular cycles. It is also possible to have periods without ovulating. Conditions like polycystic ovaries can cause periods to become irregular as does problems with the thyroid gland; both of these can be determined via blood tests. You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

I had regular 28 day periods, lasting 7 days, rather heavy. After the first jab, my periods dropped to 4 days. Month after second jab, down to 2 days. Third jab, 1/2 days and irregular. Before I could fill a super tampon in 2 hours, now my entire 1 day period wouldn't fill it. Never went back to normal. Doctors can find no reason for it whatsoever.

I’m not ignoring any other causes I’m just ruling things out and looking to see if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

it’s been 18 months since I last breastfed.

I had the day 2 test for LH and FSH I also had a blood test on day 7 past ovulation to confirm ovulation and use OPKS too as I can usually feel when I ovulate but to be sure test most days throughout the month to be sure.
Ive also has internal ultrasounds to check for PCOS,Endometriosis, cysts, fibroids and any other anomalies.
Lastly I have had a generic blood test to check thyroid function, vitamin levels and full blood count too.

This is my current situation. No explanation at all my doctor mentioned the covid vaccine could have an effect on my cycles but didn’t say much more.

After covid itself I had no periods for 3 months and then the same after the latest vaccine.

I saw a breast consultant about something else and he said it could definitely be caused by covid / vaccines

Mine used to be every 28 days for 5 days. Since my covid jab they have been every 21 days and last for 6/7 days 🤷🏼‍♀️

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9349849/

"Conclusion: Our study shows relatively high rates of irregular bleeding and menstrual changes after receiving the SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine. Further research is needed to confirm our findings and to better characterize the magnitude of change and any possible long‐term implications."

I had the 3rd vaccine and I did find that the month after having it I was extremely late on my period (never happens) I ended up doing multiple tests and they were negative and I ended up coming on 10 days later
The same happened the month after which I assumed again was down to the vaccine however when I did a test this time I was very positive. She's now 6 weeks old

So the point is 2 things I guess

• yes I think it can affect your cycles from experience
• I don't think it should affect you trying to get pregnant again from experience

I hope you get your BFP soon op

Wasn't there an issue with the vaccines causing blood clotting, thickening. I wonder could this impact period blood, make it stickier, more difficult to expel, make it remain in the lining before being expelled as a big gush... Or thick dark old, sticky blood 🤔....... (not a medic).

Both times I had my vaccine I just skipped my period that month and it just came as normal the following month when it would have if I’d not skipped. I’m a few years past breastfeeding etc though.

I know of a 58 year old woman who had a period after the vaccine, she hadn't had periods for over 8 years. WTF is that about.

Mine have been like clockwork my whole life, then my second vaccine brought on a period nearly 3 weeks early, that lasted well over a week. They’ve never settled down since. I have spoken to a doctor (I’m lucky enough to have private health care through work and was able to speak to a specialist) and she said they are seeing women who have had long term changes to their cycles after their jabs.. short term changes are common, long term changes are rare, but they are seeing some. It could of course still be completely coincidental but just letting you know my experience. Hope it settles down for you x

Any bleeding after the menopause needs to be checked by a doctor. That was not a period. It cannot be if she wasn't ovulating etc.

Also, correlation does not equal causation. Just because she bled after the vaccine, it doesn't mean the vaccine caused the bleeding.
If I trip and fall on a paving slab the day after my vaccine it doesn't mean the vaccine cause me to fall or that it caused the paving slab to be uneven.

Mine were very weird all 3 times I had the jab - when I asked my GP, he said a lot of people had been reporting the same to the yellow card scheme (or whatever the side effect reporting system is).