Numerous females experienced an unanticipated vaginal discharge subsequent to being inoculated with the Covid vaccine.
The research1 revealed that among ladies who do not menstruate such as those who are postmenopausal or on contraceptives, there was a heightened chance of unforeseen vaginal bleeding after they had been vaccinated for COVID-19 as compared to prior to the Covid vaccines being available.
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo recently released a study in Science Advances detailing reports of heavier-than-normal menstrual bleeding among women soon after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. Kristine Blix, the study’s author, particularly wanted to focus on women who do not typically experience a menstrual cycle, such as those on contraceptives or who have gone through menopause.
The team was unable to determine the cause of the bleeding, but hypothesized it might be connected to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in the vaccine. Generally, it has been established that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe and efficacious.
Blix and her team utilized the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study, an ongoing population health survey, to track the effects of the pandemic. From the first questionnaire in 2021 that asked about the COVID-19 vaccinations, some women mentioned heavy menstrual bleeding in their responses. This prompted them to ask about bleeding patterns in a more structured way.
Far-reaching Impact of Covid Vaccines
The effects of this have been felt everywhere.
The team conducted an analysis of data gathered from over 21,000 postmenopausal, perimenopausal and non-menstruating premenopausal female participants, a few of whom were taking long-term hormonal contraceptives.
Blix commented that the findings were striking; out of the 2,184 women surveyed, 252 postmenopausal, 1,008 perimenopausal and 924 premenopausal reported having unexpected vaginal bleeding.
Approximately half of the men and women surveyed revealed that bleeding had occurred within a month after receiving either the first or second dose of the Covid vaccine. Premenopausal and perimenopausal women were more likely to experience bleeding than before the vaccine was available, with their risk being three to five times higher. Postmenopausal women, on the other hand, had their risk increased by two to three times.
In Norway, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech’s mRNA jabs, in addition to the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca, have been administered. The European Medicines Agency amended the side-effect information of mRNA vaccines in October 2022 to include heavy menstrual bleeding.
After menopause, any kind of unexpected bleeding is typically seen as a serious medical issue, as it could be an indicator of cancerous endometrial carcinoma or precancerous lesions. The underlying cause for post-vaccination bleeding may not be known, but if it is known to be a side-effect of the vaccine, doctors can take this into consideration when assessing the patient. According to Kate Clancy, a biological anthropologist at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, “Postmenopausal bleeding is often a cause for alarm and could be a sign of cancer. Knowing a patient’s vaccination status might provide the necessary context to their bleeding.”
Clancy and her team have released the results of their examination which indicate alterations in menstrual cycles following COVID-19 vaccination. This data is in line with the group’s discoveries and can be used to educate and advise patients and medical personnel.
Blix suggests that the key benefit of this and other related documents is that data on female menstrual patterns should be taken into account or kept track of in clinical trials of new vaccines, and maybe even certain drug trials.
Clancy expressed joy at the prospect of another group focusing on pre- and postmenopausal people, noting that it was wonderful to observe more consideration being given to the often neglected demographic.
Citing Sources
- Blix, K. et al. Sci. Adv. 9, eadg1391 (2023)
Lee, K. M. N. et al. Sci. Adv. 8, eabm7201 (2022).