If you spend any time on social media, you may have witnessed a period tell-all in recent weeks, with women coming online to share changes to their menstrual cycle which they link to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Hannah Feiner, a doctor at the Women?s College Hospital Bay Centre for Birth Control in Toronto, has heard these stories too, in her practice. ?It?s come up in conversation?maybe their menstrual period is heavier this month, or maybe it?s lighter, or maybe it?s lasted longer or it was shorter,? she says.
So what?s going on" In addition to a sore arm and potentially some flu-like symptoms, can women expect menstrual changes as a side-effect of getting vaccinated against COVID-19" Here?s what we know so far.
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause menstrual changes" The short answer is that we just don?t know yet, says Feiner. ?There is basically nothing out there, in terms of studies. In fact, menstrual cycle changes tend not to be studied with vaccines to begin with.?
Dr. Chelsea Elwood, reproductive infectious diseases specialist with B.C. Women?s Hospital & Health Centre, agrees. ?These conversations are going on but they are anecdotal,? she says.
That said, Feiner says if a patient tells her the vaccine caused a change in their cycle, she tends to believe them. ?When a patient experiences something, just because I don?t have a trial to back it up. It doesn?t mean that it?s not happening for that reason,? she says.
In general, a lot of things can c...