In recent weeks, more and more people have reported receiving one of the covid-19 vaccines an unusual effect on their periods. Some reported spotting, bleeding more than usual, and general irregularity in their menstrual cycle. While there is reason to be suspicious of the sources of some of these rumors – influencers in the wellness community are not always the most reliable sources of medical advice – the concerns may have merit. Unfortunately there are none yet clear conclusions on whether the covid-19 vaccine affects menstruation.
This overview is not new – it is just the latest example of the rejection of the medical field the need for care of people who menstruate.
When the Johnson & Johnson vaccine was first interrupted, Twitter users were quick to point out that it was much more common to get a blood clot after taking a contraceptive pill than that a blood clot develops as a result of the vaccine. The risks are undeniably different– Doctors say that blood clots caused by birth control are common in the legs, while the more serious blood clots caused by the J&J vaccine occurred in the brain. Still, medical professionals regularly ignore and minimizing the health problems associated with menstruation, therefore the possible impact of different medical treatments on a person’s cycle is often a question mark–irresponsible supervision that can endanger people’s lives.
Dr. Jen Gunter recently wrote a blog post dive into the possible reasons that the covid-19 vaccine could affect (or appear to affect) a person’s menstrual cycle. According to Gunter, a possible explanation for irregularity after the vax period could lie around this that the endometrium– the lining of the uterus – is part of the immune system. However, it’s impossible to come to conclusions without more information, and although the covid-19 vaccine studies tracked other mild side effects, Gunter said. Mother Jones which they have not included data on menstrual changes. “People assume that a period that is heavy or late is not a nuisance, but you could only assume that if you think periods are not important,” she said.
Experts also warn people against spreading rumors about the vaccine’s impact on the menstrual cycle, such as a number of influencers have already started doing so on social media – because it could increase mistrust of vaccines. “Hopefully we will learn more over time,” Dr. Jen Gunter writes in her blog post. “In the meantime, think of possible menstrual irregularities as a side effect of the vaccine, such as fever, it is a sign that the immune system is being activated.”
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While the potential effects of the covid-19 vaccine on menstruation appear to be relatively small in the magnitude of the potential side effects of the vaccine, the response to these concerns reflects the greater lack of medical attention to the bodily processes traditionally associated with with the body of cis women. including menstruation.