Key TakeawaysPeople say they’ve seen changes in their periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is most likely because of stress.Research offers no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes menstrual changes.Medical experts advise everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Key Takeaways

People say they’ve seen changes in their periods during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is most likely because of stress.Research offers no evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine causes menstrual changes.Medical experts advise everyone to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Getting your COVID-19 vaccine is so important that the last thing you want is to miss an appointment. There are good reasons to postpone your shot, such as testing positive for COVID-19, but being on your period isn’t one of them. This article looks at some of the reasons why it is OK to get the shot during your period.

There’s currently no scientific evidence to support these stories or explain why they may be happening. Some experts, including anthropology professor Dr. Kate Clancy at the University of Illinois, havestarted researchto find out more. Some 140,000 people have responded to Clancy’s survey about COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes.

Javeed Siddiqui, MD, an infectious disease specialist atTeleMed2Uin California, tells Verywell thatmenstruationis not a reason to avoid or delay your vaccine. People with a history of severe allergic reactions to vaccines, though, should talk with a healthcare professional about them, he says.

Study: Women Have More Pronounced COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects than Men

In fact, experts say a COVID-19 infection presents a greater risk of long-term menstrual issues than the vaccines do. Researchers are also looking to see how the virus will shape new research on menstrual cycles.

Periods and the Immune System

The 2018 review suggests the body may be trading some immunity for a better shot at getting pregnant. This could explain why some people see flare-ups of diseases and a greater risk of infection during different parts of the menstrual cycle.

Hormones and Your Menstrual Cycle

“The reason for the decreased immunity may be due to the need for less immune cells that would attack an implanted embryo," Kim Langdon, MD, an OB-GYN atMedzinobased in Ohio, tells Verywell.

Langdon says there is little research on whether these changes in immunity across the menstrual cycle affect how well the vaccines will work, but she thinks it’s not likely.

What This Means For YouNo matter what part of your menstrual cycle you are in, you should not skip out on the COVID-19 vaccine. The three FDA-approved or authorized vaccines have been proven safe and effective.The risk of severe infection and menstrual problems fromlong COVID-19far exceeds any unproven risk from the vaccine. If you have any concerns about immunization, you should speak with a trusted healthcare professional.

What This Means For You

No matter what part of your menstrual cycle you are in, you should not skip out on the COVID-19 vaccine. The three FDA-approved or authorized vaccines have been proven safe and effective.The risk of severe infection and menstrual problems fromlong COVID-19far exceeds any unproven risk from the vaccine. If you have any concerns about immunization, you should speak with a trusted healthcare professional.

No matter what part of your menstrual cycle you are in, you should not skip out on the COVID-19 vaccine. The three FDA-approved or authorized vaccines have been proven safe and effective.

The risk of severe infection and menstrual problems fromlong COVID-19far exceeds any unproven risk from the vaccine. If you have any concerns about immunization, you should speak with a trusted healthcare professional.

Menstrual Cycle Problems and Long COVID

While more men than women have died from COVID-19, more women report long COVID-19 symptoms that persist for months.

A few preprint studies—which did not go through peer review—found middle-aged White women with at least two preexisting medical conditions were more likely to have persistent COVID-19 symptoms.

Likewise, another study found that women under the age of 50 were five times less likely than men of the same age to say they weren’t fully recovered seven months after COVID-19 infection.The women in the study were seven times more likely to be short of breath and twice as likely to feel more fatigue compared to men.

Women With Chronic COVID-19 Struggle To Be Heard By Doctors

How do periods come into play? “Women are indicating a change in their menstrual cycles [during long COVID]," Siddiqui says. “This change includes frequency, duration, flow, intensity, and pain level.”

Scientists are still researching why long COVID-19 affects the cycle, but stress may play a role. Langdon says any stress from an illness or a long quarantine could cause irregular menstrual cycles.

A February 2021 preprint study found 52.6% of women reported changes to their period during lockdowns. The menstrual cycle changes were linked to higher levels of family or personal stress. Stress from a job was also linked to increased bleeding during a period.

Another reason could be the coronavirus’s effect on reproductive hormones. A preprint study from China found people with menopause who had low estrogen andanti-müllerianhormone levels were less likely to have severe COVID-19 infection or need care in a hospital.

Why Does COVID-19 Affect Men More Than Women?

Given the health risks associated with COVID-19 infection, Siddiqui says that stopping the pandemic requires all hands on deck.“It is critical for all individuals who can receive [the] COVID vaccine," Siddiqui says. “We need you; we need you to get vaccinated.”

RecapThousands of women have reported changes in the frequency, flow, and other qualities of their periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of their concerns have been linked to stress, rather than a COVID infection or vaccine side effects.Among other things, scientists are looking at the role of the immune system during phases of the menstrual cycle to understand why these changes may occur.

Recap

Thousands of women have reported changes in the frequency, flow, and other qualities of their periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of their concerns have been linked to stress, rather than a COVID infection or vaccine side effects.Among other things, scientists are looking at the role of the immune system during phases of the menstrual cycle to understand why these changes may occur.

Thousands of women have reported changes in the frequency, flow, and other qualities of their periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of their concerns have been linked to stress, rather than a COVID infection or vaccine side effects.

Among other things, scientists are looking at the role of the immune system during phases of the menstrual cycle to understand why these changes may occur.

Summary

There are a lot of questions about COVID-19 and people’s periods, but the truth is that medical science doesn’t yet have as many answers. Many women report menstrual changes after either a COVID-19 infection or getting the vaccine, but researchers are still working to see why.

What they do agree on is that getting your period is no reason to avoid getting the vaccine.

A Word From Our Medical Reviewer

Of the many things to consider when getting the vaccine, the connection of the menstrual cycle is a recent topic. Although the case reports are interesting, we do not have enough to tell us whether this is a causal relationship or a direct link. Right now, receiving the vaccine is of utmost importance and millions of women are receiving the vaccines daily. Your period should not stop you from getting vaccinated.

What we do know with certainty is that physiologically, the parts of the brain associated with fever induction and inflammation also are the same parts of the brain that control the hormonal regulation of the menstrual cycle. Hormones do have the ability to turn inflammatory responses on and off. Therefore, there is good cause for more studies devoted to women’s vaccine outcomes and reproductive health.

Jessica Shepherd, MDObstetrician/GynecologistDr. Shepherd is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Shepherd appears regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more.Read more

Jessica Shepherd, MDObstetrician/Gynecologist

Jessica Shepherd, MD

Obstetrician/Gynecologist

Dr. Shepherd is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Shepherd appears regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more.Read more

Dr. Shepherd is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Shepherd appears regularly as an expert on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and more.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Prado RCR, Silveira R, Asano RY.SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) pandemic and a possible impact in the future of menstrual cycle research.Health Sci Rep. 2021;4(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.276Alvergne A, Tabor VH.Is female health cyclical? evolutionary perspectives on menstruation.Trends Ecol Evol. 2018;33(6):399-414. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.006Evans RA, McAuley H, Harrison EM, et al. (2021).Physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of COVID-19 following hospitalisation – a multi-centre prospective cohort study.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 24, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.22.21254057Sigfrid L, Drake TM, Pauley E, et al.Long Covid in adults discharged from UK hospitals after covid-19: a prospective, multicentre cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 23, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.18.21253888.Bruinvels G, Goldsmith E, Blagrove RC, Martin D, Shaw L, Piasecki J.How lifestyle changes within the COVID-19 global pandemic have affected the pattern and symptoms of the menstrual cycle.medRxiv. Preprint posted online February 03, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.02.01.21250919Ding T, Zhang J, Wang T, et al.A multi-hospital study in Wuhan, China: protective effects of non-menopause and female hormones on SARS-CoV-2 infection.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 30, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.03.26.20043943

6 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Prado RCR, Silveira R, Asano RY.SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) pandemic and a possible impact in the future of menstrual cycle research.Health Sci Rep. 2021;4(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.276Alvergne A, Tabor VH.Is female health cyclical? evolutionary perspectives on menstruation.Trends Ecol Evol. 2018;33(6):399-414. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.006Evans RA, McAuley H, Harrison EM, et al. (2021).Physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of COVID-19 following hospitalisation – a multi-centre prospective cohort study.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 24, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.22.21254057Sigfrid L, Drake TM, Pauley E, et al.Long Covid in adults discharged from UK hospitals after covid-19: a prospective, multicentre cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 23, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.18.21253888.Bruinvels G, Goldsmith E, Blagrove RC, Martin D, Shaw L, Piasecki J.How lifestyle changes within the COVID-19 global pandemic have affected the pattern and symptoms of the menstrual cycle.medRxiv. Preprint posted online February 03, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.02.01.21250919Ding T, Zhang J, Wang T, et al.A multi-hospital study in Wuhan, China: protective effects of non-menopause and female hormones on SARS-CoV-2 infection.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 30, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.03.26.20043943

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Prado RCR, Silveira R, Asano RY.SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) pandemic and a possible impact in the future of menstrual cycle research.Health Sci Rep. 2021;4(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.276Alvergne A, Tabor VH.Is female health cyclical? evolutionary perspectives on menstruation.Trends Ecol Evol. 2018;33(6):399-414. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.006Evans RA, McAuley H, Harrison EM, et al. (2021).Physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of COVID-19 following hospitalisation – a multi-centre prospective cohort study.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 24, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.22.21254057Sigfrid L, Drake TM, Pauley E, et al.Long Covid in adults discharged from UK hospitals after covid-19: a prospective, multicentre cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 23, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.18.21253888.Bruinvels G, Goldsmith E, Blagrove RC, Martin D, Shaw L, Piasecki J.How lifestyle changes within the COVID-19 global pandemic have affected the pattern and symptoms of the menstrual cycle.medRxiv. Preprint posted online February 03, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.02.01.21250919Ding T, Zhang J, Wang T, et al.A multi-hospital study in Wuhan, China: protective effects of non-menopause and female hormones on SARS-CoV-2 infection.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 30, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.03.26.20043943

Prado RCR, Silveira R, Asano RY.SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) pandemic and a possible impact in the future of menstrual cycle research.Health Sci Rep. 2021;4(2). doi:10.1002/hsr2.276

Alvergne A, Tabor VH.Is female health cyclical? evolutionary perspectives on menstruation.Trends Ecol Evol. 2018;33(6):399-414. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2018.03.006

Evans RA, McAuley H, Harrison EM, et al. (2021).Physical, cognitive and mental health impacts of COVID-19 following hospitalisation – a multi-centre prospective cohort study.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 24, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.22.21254057

Sigfrid L, Drake TM, Pauley E, et al.Long Covid in adults discharged from UK hospitals after covid-19: a prospective, multicentre cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 23, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.03.18.21253888.

Bruinvels G, Goldsmith E, Blagrove RC, Martin D, Shaw L, Piasecki J.How lifestyle changes within the COVID-19 global pandemic have affected the pattern and symptoms of the menstrual cycle.medRxiv. Preprint posted online February 03, 2021. doi:10.1101/2021.02.01.21250919

Ding T, Zhang J, Wang T, et al.A multi-hospital study in Wuhan, China: protective effects of non-menopause and female hormones on SARS-CoV-2 infection.medRxiv. Preprint posted online March 30, 2020. doi:10.1101/2020.03.26.20043943

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