During the most critical months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many women experienced changes in their menstrual cycle, such as: Late or absent periods, longer periods, or persistent bleeding.
A study by the Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona ruled out that the virus was responsible for these changes, which could have been caused mainly byStress due to confinement.
Emotional state It also caused during the forced lockdown between March 14 and May 2, 2020. decreased libido In half of women, according to the authors of the study published in the journal Clinical medicine.
The Key, As Every Woman Has Experienced It
gynecologist Joachim CalafWhat determines whether or not there are changes to the rule is the How each woman has suffered from the pandemicnot the severity or importance of the threat that was there.
“For example, between two people involved like two ICU supervisors who were working hard, one might have a regular cycle and the other a variable cycle, depending on how each was experiencing it emotionally.”
“Everyone who worked in a healthcare setting had more workload and a greater risk of infection and transmission at home, and they were more affected, but despite this, the changes occurred among women who cared for them more.”
4,900 women aged 15 to 55 participated in the study. They will not get COVID-19. The study was unable to determine how many women experienced menstrual disorders during childbirth.
Calaf points out that no research has yet been done on the overall impact of the pandemic on women’s menstrual cycles.
The more stress, the more menstrual cycle changes.
The study did not find statistically significant differences in the regularity, duration and quantity of menstruation in women according to the time of their isolation. But yes, according to Severity of changes in emotional state “Because of stressful factors,” such as the risk of illness, family injury or job loss, according to the published results.
“Isolation is linked to stress, anxiety and depression, and there is clinical and experimental evidence that it has a greater impact on women.”
The pressure of both people who were confined to their homes – taking care of their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and/or working remotely – and those belonging to the healthcare sector – from medical staff to hospital cleaners – or so-called “essential services”, who, in addition to the overload of work, were also afraid of transmitting the infection to the family at the end of the day and returning home.
Participants’ perception of their emotional state was assessed based on how they rated restrictions on their activities, the risk of personal infection and contagion. family, Amount of work that they have or fear losing it, i.e. Economic situation Arising from imprisonment.
Priority to survival
“Anything that changes your life significantly affects your menstrual function,” continues Dr. Joachim Calaf, who explains that in reproduction, humans follow primitive pattern “Which keeps happening”:
“Any external input has an effect on the base because reproduction is a secondary phenomenon. The most important interest of every person is to survive hardship, and we will reproduce when we are healthy and well.”
He adds that this pattern occurs across the board. “For example, selectivity also affects menstrual function in girls and depends on each girl’s personality.”
“When the environment is hostile, it is better to survive and leave reproduction for later.”
7.7% had amenorrhea, the absence of menstrual periods.
Participants answered online questionnaires asking about their social and work routines, sexual activity, contraceptive use, emotional state, menstrual characteristics and the impact of confinement on quality of life, both in general and in relation to menstruation.
More than 92% had at least one menstrual period during childbirth, while one 7.7% will experience menopause –Absence of the rule–. The quality of life associated with menstruation did not change in 70% of cases, but in Two out of 10 women got worse It improved by 1.6%.
It is worth noting that more than half of the participants said that their overall quality of life had worsened during the pandemic, and in 41.3% of cases it remained the same and improved only in 8.7% of women.
Sexual activity decreased by 50% As for the participants, it remained at 41% and increased by 9%.
Most of the participants had regular periods before the pandemic and were not using any hormonal contraception. The average age of the study participants was 35 years.
More than 67% stayed at home during lockdown and 20% did not self-isolate because they worked in healthcare or were considered “essential workers”, such as people working in supermarkets, for example.
The vaccine also has an effect, but to a lesser extent.
The Covid vaccine can also affect your menstrual cycle, but not much, according to another study published two years ago in the medical journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
The study found that the menstrual cycle It can be extended for one day on average.But this vaccination does not increase bleeding.
Nearly eight out of ten women in the study noticed changes in their menstrual cycle sometime after receiving the injection.
The study presented by the Research Institute of the Hospital Santa Cruz i Sant Pau, explains Dr. Joaquim Calaf, could help reassurance Women who may have experienced changes during the pandemic and are distressed by the impacts it may have on their reproductive cycle.
“For a woman who has a health condition such as irregular menstrual cycles, it is natural to worry when this irregularity is lost and wonder if this will affect her fertility.”
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