Some Covid patients report irregular menstrual cycles

GURUGRAM: Aarti Kalra (32) tested positive for Covid-19 in May. She was on her period at that time. Aarti had a high fever, severe body ache and felt nauseous for a week due to the virus. But what worried her more was that she continued to bleed for over 40 days, with a gap of barely a few days here and there.
“My menstrual cycle has now become irregular and I don’t have any idea when the bleeding will begin or stop. I can’t predict my period anymore. I suffered from unbearable cramps and loss of appetite and was unable to sleep for days,” she said. Like Aarti, several others also said their periods have become more painful with an increase in blood clots after Covid.
Soma Jain (28), said, “I used to get my periods on time. But after Covid, it started in just nine days, with a heavy flow. I didn’t have any bleeding at all in May and June. In July, I had bleeding for the entire month.”
Abnormally long periods, irregular menstrual cycles, clotting and heavy flow are some of the issues that several women who have recently recovered from Covid are witnessing. Doctors said many have complained of a menstrual cycle longer than 40 days, while others said they had heavy bleeding for over 30 days.
This condition is treatable, and it is important to maintain calm as stress can also interfere with normal menstrual cycles, doctors said. These cases may have been caused because of stress and hormonal changes, and more research is needed to establish a connection between Covid and irregular menstrual cycles, they pointed out.
“It is possible that Covid may temporarily affect your period but the exact reason for why this happens is currently unknown. At this stage, we can say menstrual irregularities may also be due to pandemic stress. The average menstrual cycle is 28 days, but 21 to 40 days are also normal in some cases.” Dr Sharmila Solanki, senior consultant (obstetrics and gynaecology) at Columbia Asia Hospital, said. “There is no need to panic, the effects are temporary and subside after one or two months after recovery from Covid,” she added.
Experts also said that Covid vaccines have no role to play here. “The menstrual pattern will most likely return to normal in a few weeks. Covid vaccines are not responsible for any change in periods at all,” IMA (Gurugram) president Dr Vandana Narula said.
Doctors also said menstrual irregularities have mainly impacted women with Covid who are less than 48 years old. “The number is very low. Women with severe Covid are more likely to have a longer menstrual cycle or other related complications. We are at a very initial stage to say something concrete as many women are hesitant to approach doctors on this issue,” said Dr Kiran Arora, president, Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India.
Expects advised patients to consult a healthcare professional, preferably a gynaecologist. Other than that, they can focus on boosting their immunity with regular exercise and a nutritious diet. “A healthy lifestyle, daily workouts, breathing exercises and stress relaxation techniques, and nutritious food may help,” said Dr Ritu Garg, a consultant at HCMCT Manipal Hospital.
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