New study finds an uncanny connection between the COVID-19 vaccine and temporary period changes

No, it's not just you: a recent study supported by the National Institutes of Health found a connection between the COVID-19 vaccine and alterations in your menstrual cycle (NIH). In order to determine whether the COVID-19 vaccine had any effect on the length of the women's cycles, researchers examined period-tracking data from approximately 20,000 cisgender women in the US, the UK, Canada, and Europe. Approximately 15,000 individuals received vaccinations, while 5,000 did not. Each participant's four menstrual cycles were examined by researchers. For those who had received vaccinations, they looked at three cycles before and one period after. Following their first and second doses of the vaccination, respectively, vaccinated subjects reported bleeding for an additional.71 and.56 days, respectively. This rise was more likely to be experienced by younger women and those whose previous cycle length was greater. It's important to note that all of the reported alterations were transient and were within the eight-day "normal range of fluctuation" for menstrual cycles. As a result, the vaccine does not seem to have any significant or long-lasting consequences on the reproductive health of women. “These findings provide additional information for counseling women on what to expect after vaccination,” said Diana Bianchi, M.D., director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, in a statement. “Changes following vaccination appear to be small, within the normal range of variation, and temporary.” The latest study adds to a corpus of prior investigation into the effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on the health of women, including a related article from January. Additionally, it supports weeks' worth of personal accounts from women all over the world. All adults ages 6 and older, including those who are breastfeeding, pregnant, or who may become pregnant in the future, are advised to get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the CDC. Complete vaccination reduces the chance of developing a serious illness, requiring hospitalization, or even dying from COVID-19. To keep yourself, your loved ones, and your community safe as the pandemic continues, think about being vaccinated or getting your immunity strengthened.