New Delhi: According to recent research, women who were under significant stress due to the COVID-19 outbreak were twice as likely to have changes in their menstrual cycles. The study’s findings were conducted by the University of Pittsburgh and published in Obstetrics and Gynecology. ,
Overall, more than half of the study participants reported changes in menstrual cycle length, duration of periods, irregularities in menstrual flow or increased spotting, which can have economic and health consequences for women, the researchers said.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, it would come up oddly in conversations with girlfriends and other women that ‘things have been wacky with my period since the pandemic,'” said lead author Martina Anto-Ocra, PhD, MPH, MT. ASCP), assistant professor in the Department of General Internal Medicine at the Pitt School of Medicine. “Stress can manifest in women’s bodies in the form of changes in menstruation, and we know that the pandemic has been an incredibly stressful time for many.”
Anto-Okra and her team developed a two-part survey that included a validated COVID-19 stress scale and self-reported changes in menstrual cycles between March 2020 and May 2021. To reach a diverse population that was representative of the US, the researchers worked with a market research company to recruit a geographically and racially representative group of participants to complete the online survey. They restricted the sample to people aged 18 to 45, who identified as women and who were not taking hormonal birth control.
Of the 354 women who completed both parts of the survey, 10.5% reported high stress.
Taking into account age, obesity and other characteristics, the researchers found that women with high COVID-19 stress were more likely to report changes in menstrual cycle length, duration and spotting than their low-stress peers. There was also a trend towards heavier menstrual flow in the high stress group, although this result was not statistically significant.
“During the pandemic, women’s roles were redefined, and as a society, we took a step back in terms of gender equality,” Anto-Okra said. “Women often bear the brunt of childcare and household tasks, and they found changes in daily activities and the risk of COVID-19 infection more stressful than men.”
About 12% of participants reported changes in all four menstrual cycle characteristics, a finding the researchers called alarming.
“The menstrual cycle is an indicator of women’s overall well-being,” Anto-Okra said. “Disruptions in the menstrual cycle and fluctuating hormones can affect fertility, mental health, heart disease, and other outcomes. Ultimately, these factors may also play into relationship dynamics, potentially complicating stress on relationships.
“Longer, more frequent or heavy periods can also kill women in the wallet because of the added cost for female hygiene products.”
We know that the pandemic has had a negative economic impact on many people,” Anto-Ocra said.
“If the change in your flow in times of economic crisis increases period-related costs — or ‘tampon taxes’ — financially, it’s a double whammy.”
He hopes the study inspires more research on the COVID-19 stress and women’s health globally, including potential long-term effects on fertility, menopausal transition and mental health.