The coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has turned virtually every aspect of our lives upside down since the outbreak of the pandemic. The effects affect both the professional and private spheres. Apart from that, Corona can also affect women's menstrual cycles and periods, among other things. In this article you will find out why this is the case and what kind of negative effects it can have.
The most important facts about corona and periods at a glance
- The pandemic caused a lot of stress, especially for women, due to a number of factors.
- In many cases, the prolonged stress during the pandemic also affected women's menstrual cycles.
- Studies indicate that infection with SARS-CoV-2 may have an effect on the menstrual cycle.
- Currently, there is not enough scientific evidence to determine the exact impact of the coronavirus on the menstrual cycle.
- As studies show, the corona vaccination could possibly also have an effect on menstruation.
- If in doubt, women should always consult their gynaecologist about any irregularities in their menstrual cycle to be on the safe side.
- If you are looking for an uncomplicated and reliable menstrual product, we recommend you try period pants.
Enormous stress due to the pandemic
As we all know, the pandemic has caused a lot of disruption in our lives over the last few years and has inevitably caused enormous stress for most people.
- Shops and restaurants had to close.
- Employees were sent to home offices.
- Schools sometimes offered no face-to-face classes for several months.
- Day-care centres sometimes only offered emergency care.
- Clinics and nursing homes for the elderly imposed bans on visitors.
In addition, many people experienced existential fears and the fear that they would infect themselves or their relatives with the corona virus and have a severe course.
Women are particularly affected by Corona stress
Compared to men, women were and are even more affected by the consequences of the pandemic in many areas. This is due, among other things, to the fact that women are usually more responsible for childcare. Accordingly, the double burden associated with home office and homeschooling was part of everyday life for many women for months.
In addition, as is well known, an above-average number of women work in care. The difficult conditions that have prevailed there for years anyway have worsened even more with Corona.
Staff shortages, increasing patient numbers and the additional workload due to special hygiene regulations have created a considerable extra workload for employees in nursing.
How stress affects our cycle
As you know for sure and may have experienced first-hand, stress can significantly affect the female cycle and periods. It should therefore come as little surprise that the corona pandemic has also affected the cycle phases of many women.
For example, stress can lead to an irregular cycle, increase existing PMS symptoms and promote menstrual cramps. If you have experienced such problems in recent years, they may well be related to the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Does a corona infection affect the period?
Apart from the stress associated with the pandemic, infection with the coronavirus or contracting covid-19 may also have an impact on the menstrual cycle and menstruation.
For example, a study published in early 2021 found that 25 per cent of the women who took part had changes in the amount of bleeding. In 28 percent, there were changes in the length of the menstrual cycle.¹
There are also indications that, conversely, the period or the hormonal fluctuations associated with it could also have an effect on the symptoms of an infection with Covid-19.
However, both of these factors do not apply to all women. So it may well be that the infection with Corona and your menstrual cycle have not influenced each other.
Basically, science is still at the beginning here. More research and studies are therefore needed in order to gain more precise insights into the effects of corona infections on the female cycle and the menstrual cycle in the future.
Does corona vaccination affect the period?
There are various studies that have looked at the effects of vaccination against corona on the menstrual cycle and the period. The results of the studies vary in some cases.
For example, a study conducted in the UK concluded that most women did not experience any irregularities in their menstrual cycle that could be attributed to the Corona vaccination. Women with endometriosis or PCO syndrome seemed to be more prone to changes in cycle length, according to the study.²
In a study with almost 40,000 participants from the USA, on the other hand, a good 4 out of 10 women said that their menstrual periods were unusually heavy after the vaccination. Women with fibroids or conditions such as endometriosis and adenomyosis were more likely than healthy women to have heavier periods.
As with the possible effects of corona infection on the menstrual cycle and menstruation, it is certain that more studies are needed to gain more accurate information about vaccination.
Optimal protection with period underwear from Weekiss
In stressful times and when there are irregularities in your cycle, it is especially important that you can rely on your menstrual products in every situation. With period underwear from Weekiss, you're right on target.
Our menstrual underwear is available in different absorbencies, so you can choose the model that best suits your period. What's more, the briefs are made from certified organic cotton and are uncomplicated to use and extremely comfortable to wear.
Try them out. We are sure that you won't want to do without our sustainable menstrual underwear in your everyday life.
Corona and periods - our conclusion
As you can see, the corona pandemic has affected many women's menstrual cycles and periods for a variety of reasons. In addition to the general stress caused by the pandemic, it seems that infection with the virus and vaccination can also lead to changes in some women's menstrual cycles.
If you have noticed anything unusual in this regard, you are not alone. If in doubt, talk to your gynaecologist if you think Corona may have increased your PMS symptoms or period pain, for example.
Sources
¹ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33288478/
² https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.15.21266317v1.full.pdf
³ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abm7201
