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Are Covid-19 Vaccines Affecting Women’s Health and Menstrual Cycles?

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin
August 22, 2021

Highlights

  • After COVID-19 vaccination it is not uncommon to have a 1- to 2-cycle irregular period as the endometrium is part of the immune system.
  • While few reported heavy bleeding during their menstrual cycle, some others reported early onset of periods with painful cramps and some had delayed periods.
  • People should not be alarmed due to it and treat it as a minor side effect of the vaccine.
  • All changes reported have been minor or temporary with no damage to fertility, hormone, or reproductive health.
  • Full Read
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Two researchers- Kate Clancy, a human reproductive ecologist and associate professor of anthropology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and biological anthropologist Katharine Lee of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have collected more than 140,000 reports from people who say they’ve noticed a change in their periods after vaccination; Lee and Clancy are formally documenting those cases in an open-ended study on women’s health and reproductive systems post-vaccine.

Clancy’s took to social media after her own experience, “My period after dose one was one of the heaviest I remember having ever in my life,” she says. “I did not anticipate it blowing up to the extent that it has. A lot of emails, a lot of Instagram DMs, and a lot of tweets of people who are just baring their souls to us.”

But Dr. Beachgem, a pediatric emergency response doctor explained in a video that an irregular period, after vaccination is normal and is not detrimental to your health or fertility.

 “After COVID-19 vaccination it is not uncommon to have a 1- to 2-cycle irregular period. Your endometrium is part of your immune system, so this can definitely happen,” she explains.

Women are more hormonal than men. During ovulation, the immune system receives a sort of a ‘signal’ to prevent infectious agents from disturbing conception. The cells of the uterine linings also contain some immune cells, which could be affected by hormonal changes and create mild, inflammatory reactions. If the ovulation doesn’t happen, the vaccine could end up spelling some changes to the period cycle.

All three US manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson) have denied that they have seen any irregularities in menstruation or fertility. But the early COVID 19 vaccine trials studies never spoke about reproductive health. This is a huge lapse on their part because they have just disregarded women’s health and the bodies of people with ovaries making them unseen in the clinical trials.

The good news though is that most of the irregularities seem to be short-lived. “From what we have seen so far, it appears that the changes to the menstrual cycle seem to be short-lived, just a couple of cycles,” Lee says.

While few reported heavy bleeding during their menstrual cycle, some others reported early onset of periods with painful cramps and some had delayed periods. But many others had different experiences, too with untimely spotting or bleeding (breakthrough bleeding).

“We started hearing a lot about breakthrough bleeding, from people on long-acting reversible contraception, people on gender-affirming hormones, and postmenopausal people who were years and years out from their last period, sometimes decades out,” Lee says.

However, both researchers say that these irregularities should not be taken as an anti-vaccine argument. A vaccine needs to be taken. But for awareness’ sake, people need to know if there will be an adverse effect so that they are informed and know to expect an irregularity and should not be alarmed due to it and treat it as a minor side effect of the vaccine.

Riley says she believes issues such as the effects on menstruation need to be addressed in future clinical trials of drugs and vaccines: “Because when you can’t answer those questions, you’re asking people just to believe.”

It is only to be informed, aware, and better prepared for women to expect slight changes in their menstrual cycle after ovulation but this should not be a reason for avoiding the vaccination as it is a must. And all changes reported have been minor or temporary with no damage to fertility, hormone or reproductive health. However, if symptoms seem to persist for a longer period, it is better to contact your physician.

Source: npr.org , timesofindia.indiatimes.com

For more on women’s health, periods and pregnancy, download the Infano App from Play Store.

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Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

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What You Need To Know About Good Fertility Health

Written By: Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin
December 22, 2021 | 10:00 AM |
910

Highlights

  • Fertility: What You Need To Know.
  • Factors that affect reproductive health and fertility.
  • How Women Can Improve Their Fertility
  • How Men Can Improve Their Fertility
  • Full Read
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You may have heard that age can affect your fertility–but did you know there are ways to get around it? As people delay childbirth, fertility rates decline. And since fertility declines with age, it’s worth considering if you’re planning to have children later. This blog post by Infano talks about the factors responsible for good fertility health and how age contributes to it.

What is Fertility?

Fertility is the natural ability to reproduce. It can be measured by looking at how many eggs are in a woman’s ovaries, what type of eggs they are (e.g., mature or immature) and how regularly menstruation occurs (e.g., monthly or not). Fertility is an important part of the health of women and men. For example, if a couple wants to have a baby but cannot get pregnant, then the couple would want to know why they are unable to conceive.

How is Good Fertility Health Assessed?

The health of women and men is assessed by looking at a number of things including:

• Women’s overall health and habits. For example, if a woman has any chronic diseases ( e.g., diabetes, hypertension), is overweight or underweight, does not get enough exercise, etc.

• Men’s overall health and habits. For example, if a man has any chronic diseases ( e.g., diabetes, hypertension), is overweight or underweight, does not exercise enough, etc.

• Women’s menstrual periods. If a woman is having irregular periods or none at all, then this can be a sign of potential fertility problems.

• Women’s ovulation patterns. If a woman is ovulating regularly but having no menstrual period or a very light period, then this can also be a sign of potential fertility problems.

• Women’s sexual activity (or lack thereof). If a woman is having intercourse regularly but not ovulating, she may have a fertility problem.

• Personal histories of infertility. This is especially important for women who have had previous problems becoming pregnant or carrying a pregnancy Fertility is the natural ability to get pregnant.

A person’s fertility can vary depending on factors such as age, stress levels, and lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. Couples that are having difficulty getting pregnant typically go through a number of tests to determine if there is an underlying problem. These tests may include hormone levels, infertility medications, and even surgery.

Why Age Matters

Many factors affect reproductive health and fertility, and age is one of the most important. Women’s eggs may not be as healthy or plentiful in their 30s and 40s, which means that their chances of getting pregnant are lower. On the other hand, some women in their 30s and 40s have healthy eggs.

Age may affect your fertility, but there’s no way to know exactly how. The majority of women can conceive children naturally in their 30s, 40s and even into their 50s. Women who use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have higher success rates in their 30s than women closer to 40, and pregnancy rates increase slightly again in the early 50 s. After age 50, success rates for pregnancy using ART are only about 5 percent.

So if you’re in your 20s, it’s best to avoid ART and try your luck on your own. Even if you’re in your 30s, it’s not too late to have a baby, as long as you’re healthy and not trying to have more than one child. Women close to or in their 40s but in good overall health have about a 15 percent chance of conceiving naturally within the first year and about a 30 percent chance if they go the ART route. If you’re over 40, it would be wise to consult with your doctor about whether you should pursue ART or use a donor egg.

It’s important to remember that even if you get pregnant using ART, you’re not guaranteed an outcome. You could have complications and miscarriages. You could lose the baby in your early weeks, or the baby could be born with birth defects or genetic abnormalities. Even in the best-case scenario, you could have a baby with Down syndrome or another health condition. If you’re thinking of pursuing ART, know that you have choices. Fertility clinics aren’t required to tell you about all your options, so be sure to do your own research and ask questions

How Women Can Improve Their Fertility

One of the best ways to improve fertility is to avoid smoking. Smoking can negatively affect fertility by altering hormone levels, lowering egg quality, or interfering with ovulation. If you are unable to quit smoking, at least try to cut back in order to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. Other factors that can hinder your success include alcohol consumption and emotional stress. Losing weight and exercising can also help. Obesity, especially excess body fat around your waist, is a known risk factor for ovulation disorders. Excessive alcohol consumption can impair the quality of eggs and sperm, as can stress. Lastly, if you are over age 35, and have not been able to have a baby within one year, you should be evaluated for infertility

How Men Can Improve Their Fertility

Male infertility is a real problem. If you are trying to have a baby, but are having trouble getting pregnant, it can be hard to figure out why. Male infertility has many potential causes, but the most common factor is low sperm count. When there are fewer than 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen, this is typically considered to be the cause of male infertility.

Conclusions

After many years of research, scientists have concluded that a healthy lifestyle can contribute to good fertility health. Studies showed that women who lead an active lifestyle, engage in regular physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight are more likely to conceive at a normal time frame. Diet and exercise can be helpful in some infertility cases, but they should not be the first approach. Before your doctor recommends a fertility diet or exercise program a thorough medical evaluation should be completed to find the cause of infertility.

For more articles on reproductive and menstrual health, click here.

artplanning a pregnancy

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin

Tasneem Akbari Kutubuddin has done her masters in Journalism & Communication and has worked as a senior journalist, editor and columnist for leading publications like The Logical Indian, Deccan Chronicle, Worldwide Media Corporation, The Bridge and Provoke.
With Infano, she hopes to create more awareness about women’s health issues. Suffering with Fibromyalgia, a chronic pain condition, she has also been advocating for its awareness through media.

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