Can the COVID-19 vaccine affect your period? If anecdotal evidence is to be believed, it does seem possible the COVID-19 vaccine can affect a woman's menstrual cycle.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 250 million Americans have received the COVID-19 vaccine. While tales of illness following the shots ranging from flu-like symptoms to non-existent are plentiful, menstrual cycle disruption as a result of the COVID-19 vaccine is a potential lesser-known side effect for women.
In general, the vaccine does appear to have more adverse effects on women as compared to men. In February, the CDC reported nearly 79 percent of adverse effect reports came from women.
COVID vaccine and menstrual cycles
The link between the COVID-19 vaccine and the menstrual cycle
What's the link between the COVID-19 vaccine and your period? In a word, stress.
"Whenever there is stress, there's a stress response," Loeb-Zeitlin told Mom.com. "Having COVID, or the COVID vaccine, would cause a heightened immune system response that can affect the hormonal pathway that connects your brain to the ovaries."
But any kind of stress can impact a woman's menstrual cycle, Loeb-Zeitlin said. And as far as stress goes, the last year has been one for the record books. While the vaccine may well be causing the disruption to your period, take into account the other stress you've experienced, such as a sick family member, juggling a job with distance learning, or the simple fear of falling ill.
Regardless of the underlying cause, Loeb-Zeitlin said the impact should be temporary.
Women should have no hesitation to get vaccinated, she said. Because changes are short-term, they are "definitely not a reason not to get vaccinated. COVID is significantly worse than the vaccine."
