Covid vaccine and menstruation

[Anonymous]

Moderna - No changes to my cycle

[Anonymous]

Completely normal periods following both doses. In my 40’s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first period after my second dose was about a week late. The following two came right on time.

Why is this a big deal?

I had the same issue when my grandmother died, both times I had major surgery my period started early when it wasn’t due yet, and it was about three weeks late in 2018 when I had flu A. It’s not unusual to have a strange cycle when your body is under stress or your immune system is busy working on something else.

Having a strange cycle or two means absolutely nothing in terms of your general health or fertility. I can see why it’s surprising for some, but I don’t understand why we need to keep starting discussions about it. It’s expected. It’s normal. It’s harmless. Move on.

I feel the same way about the numerous other threads about the very predictable, to-be-expected side effects. So you know what I do? I ignore them. And I don’t comment on them. Works great.

I think the difference here though is that reporting side effects of the vaccine on menstrual cycles get some women worried that the vaccine has somehow permanently (or at least semi-permanently) affected their fertility or general reproductive health. Whereas things like fever, aches, etc. are more commonly associated with the immune system reacting to a foreign substance and doesn't create worry.

I think most women generally don't understand the link between stress (in the physiological sense), the immune system, and hormones. It's not necessarily common knowledge. There are a lot of complicated interrelationships and yes it is different for women than men. It's one reason why autoimmune disorders are more common in women. There is even some thinking that things like depression are more common in women because of documented links between depression and hormones and depression and immune system activation. Doctors are really not fazed by temporary changes to women's cycles because they know all this. But the average woman sometimes thinks changes to their cycle mean something really bad has happened especially if their cycles are usually very regular. There are sooo many women whose cycles are weird/less regular especially as they get older. It's not because something is wrong. Sometimes it just is. PS I am a woman whose cycle has definitely become more wonky with age so I am not mansplaining. I have an advanced degree in an interdisciplinary field that overlaps with physiology, immunology, and endocrinology so I am aware that this stuff is quite complicated and often not cause for concern. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with women discussing their experiences. I just think panicking or raising concerns about the vaccines because of it is unwarranted because at the end of the day the vaccine is a physiological stressor and we know those affect cycles. It's not anything new.

[Anonymous]

In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first period after my second dose was about a week late. The following two came right on time.

Why is this a big deal?

I had the same issue when my grandmother died, both times I had major surgery my period started early when it wasn’t due yet, and it was about three weeks late in 2018 when I had flu A. It’s not unusual to have a strange cycle when your body is under stress or your immune system is busy working on something else.

Having a strange cycle or two means absolutely nothing in terms of your general health or fertility. I can see why it’s surprising for some, but I don’t understand why we need to keep starting discussions about it. It’s expected. It’s normal. It’s harmless. Move on.

I feel the same way about the numerous other threads about the very predictable, to-be-expected side effects. So you know what I do? I ignore them. And I don’t comment on them. Works great.

I think the difference here though is that reporting side effects of the vaccine on menstrual cycles get some women worried that the vaccine has somehow permanently (or at least semi-permanently) affected their fertility or general reproductive health. Whereas things like fever, aches, etc. are more commonly associated with the immune system reacting to a foreign substance and doesn't create worry.

I think most women generally don't understand the link between stress (in the physiological sense), the immune system, and hormones. It's not necessarily common knowledge. There are a lot of complicated interrelationships and yes it is different for women than men. It's one reason why autoimmune disorders are more common in women. There is even some thinking that things like depression are more common in women because of documented links between depression and hormones and depression and immune system activation. Doctors are really not fazed by temporary changes to women's cycles because they know all this. But the average woman sometimes thinks changes to their cycle mean something really bad has happened especially if their cycles are usually very regular. There are sooo many women whose cycles are weird/less regular especially as they get older. It's not because something is wrong. Sometimes it just is. PS I am a woman whose cycle has definitely become more wonky with age so I am not mansplaining. I have an advanced degree in an interdisciplinary field that overlaps with physiology, immunology, and endocrinology so I am aware that this stuff is quite complicated and often not cause for concern. I personally don't think there's anything wrong with women discussing their experiences. I just think panicking or raising concerns about the vaccines because of it is unwarranted because at the end of the day the vaccine is a physiological stressor and we know those affect cycles. It's not anything new.

Well yea for you. In my experience, the women on here are generally of above average intelligence. If they want to discuss impacts on their cycle, potentially from the vaccine, that should be permitted and not shamed under the guise of “women just don’t understand” and “oh no, the women are panicking”. Presumably this impacts are merely short-term side effects. There are anecdotes indicating menstrual impacts for so-called covid “long haulers”. Sites like this are where women share experiences and gather information. That should be allowed, regardless of concerns over potential “panic”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

DP. You are all.over DCUM posting trolling nonsense like this. Go back to your QAnon subreddits, please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

Wow, pp. Do you not realize how condescending you are being?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

No one, not one person, is acting like the sky is falling. Some might appreciate a little heads up that, hey, things might get a little wonky after that shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

No one, not one person, is acting like the sky is falling. Some might appreciate a little heads up that, hey, things might get a little wonky after that shot.

I guess you didn't see the previous thread (or threads?) on this. There was definitely some Chicken Little behavior going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

DP. You are all.over DCUM posting trolling nonsense like this. Go back to your QAnon subreddits, please.

Oh my god, every time you bring QAnon into this, you reveal yourself to be the real idiot. We’re just a couple of ladies talking about periods. Go away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

No one, not one person, is acting like the sky is falling. Some might appreciate a little heads up that, hey, things might get a little wonky after that shot.

I guess you didn't see the previous thread (or threads?) on this. There was definitely some Chicken Little behavior going on.

Can you recall any specific examples? Because I was following those threads closely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, shhhhh, stop talking about this! You might confuse all the women who are too dumb to understand science and their own bodies. Got it.

Do you really think the average woman can explain how the menstrual cycle works at the physiological level? And how the physiological stress response works? And how the immune system works? And how they interact at the cellular and molecular levels? It doesn't mean anyone is dumb, it just means they haven't gone to school to learn that stuff and maybe don't need to act like the sky is falling if the vaccine alters their cycle for one month.

Wow, pp. Do you not realize how condescending you are being?

DP. She's right though. I am highly educated and I would never claim I understand how the menstrual cycle works at a physiological level.

[Anonymous]

My period wasn’t off but the reaction I had was basically horrible aches in my low back and pelvis similar to my period discomfort but amped up big time. Like I suddenly had sciatica too on both sides. Hips pelvis low Back hurt so badly for 24 hrs.

[Anonymous]

I inhabit my body 24/7. I know when something is off.