A new study in the Obstetrics & Gynecology Journal on January 5, 2022 assessed whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is associated with changes in hormones, cycle or menses length in those receiving vaccination as compared with an unvaccinated cohort. Women have been reporting changes in their period after the COVID-19 vaccine.

The study confirmed at least one of these changes is “normal” post COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccinated women with periods have been reporting longer periods, missed periods and heavier periods. Postmenopausal women are reporting the return of their period. The medical community agrees there has been a lack of large-scale clinical research examining what happens with women’s menstrual cycles after the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Another flaw in collecting women’s data has always been an issue says DrLeslie and that is the lack of diversity in the cross-section of women including women of color, culture, weight, and education to name a few very important data points. The data has a very important drawback because the set of women population tend to be white, educated, and thinner than the average American woman making it difficult to draw generalized conclusions.

In summary, the study is a step in the right direction understanding how the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccines in general impact hormones. It’s clear that the current research being done is missing the cross-section of women in all sectors of the psycho-socio-economic demographic defined as interventions that address any of the psychological, social, or economic problems faced by women with the goal of improving either quality-of-life or treatment outcomes.