AUTHOR=González María , Al-Adib Miriam , Rodríguez Ana B. , Carrasco Cristina 

TITLE=COVID-19 and menstrual-related disturbances: a Spanish retrospective observational study in formerly menstruating women

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Global Women's Health

VOLUME=5

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/global-womens-health/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1393765

DOI=10.3389/fgwh.2024.1393765

ISSN=2673-5059

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Four years after the start of the pandemic, there is limited evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on the women's health regardless of their reproductive status.</p></sec><sec><title>Objective</title><p>The aim was to analyze the prevalence and associated factors of menstrual-related disturbances in formerly menstruating women following SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p></sec><sec><title>Study design</title><p>A retrospective observational study of adult women in Spain was conducted during the month of December 2021 using an online survey (<italic>N</italic> = 17,512). The present analysis includes a subpopulation of SARS-CoV-2-infected and formerly menstruating women (<italic>n</italic> = 72). The collected data included general characteristics, medical history, and specific information on COVID-19. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney <italic>U</italic>-tests were performed. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was then performed to investigate possible associations between the occurrence of menstrual-related disturbances after SARS-CoV-2 infection.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>38.8% of participants experienced menstrual-related disturbances following COVID-19. Among these, unexpected vaginal bleeding (20.8%) was the most common event, followed by spotting (11.1%) (
<xref ref-type="table" rid="T1">Table 1</xref>). Other reported changes were in the length (shorter = 12.5%) and flow (heavier = 30.3%) of menstrual bleeding in comparison to their previous experience. Regression analysis revealed that being a perimenopausal woman [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.721, CI 95%, 1.022–21.796, <italic>p</italic> = 0.047] and having a previous diagnosis of menorrhagia (AOR 5.824 CI 95%, 1.521–22.310, <italic>p</italic> = 0.010) were factors associated with the event.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>These findings could help health professionals provide their patients with up-to-date scientific information to empower them to actively manage their reproductive health, especially in societies where menstrual health is still taboo.</p></sec>