ArticlePloS one2023
The menstrual cycle and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.
- Prevalence of menstrual alterations following COVID-19 vaccination: systematic review & meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2024Pooled it
- MENSTRUAL PATTERN CHANGES AMONG WOMEN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN IBADAN, A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine · 2026Article
- Changes in female cancer diagnostic billing rates over the COVID-19 period in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan.Therapeutic advances in medical oncology · 2025Article
- Bleeding Through a Pandemic: Women's Lived Experiences with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding During the COVID-19 Pandemic.International journal of women's health · 2025Article
- Implications of Dysnatremia and Endocrine Disturbances in COVID-19 Patients.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Impact of COVID-19 infections and vaccination on menstrual cycle symptoms in the south of Jordan: a cross-sectional study.The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association · 2024Article
- A Time-varying Analysis of General Practice Prescribing in the COVID-19 Era: Lessons from Prescription Dynamics in a Pandemic.In vivo (Athens, Greece)Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe impact of COVID-19 virus on menstrual cycles in unvaccinated women is limited.
objectiveTo investigate the prevalence of changes to menstrual cycle characteristics, hormonal symptoms and lifestyle changes prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
methodsA retrospective online cross-sectional survey completed by social media users between July 2020 to October 2020. Participants were living in the United Kingdom (UK), premenopausal status and, or over 18 years of age. MAIN OUTCOME(S) AND MEASURES(S): The primary outcome was to assess changes to menstrual cycle characteristics during the pandemic following the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys (CHERRIES). Secondary outcomes included assessment of hormonal and lifestyle changes.
results15,611 social media users completed the survey. Of which, 75% of participants experienced a change in their menstrual cycle, with significantly greater proportions reporting irregular menstrual cycles (P<0·001), bleeding duration more than seven days (P<0·001), longer mean cycle length (P<0·001) and overall bleeding duration (P<0·001). Over half the participants reported worsening of premenstrual symptoms including low mood/depression, anxiety and irritability. When stratified according to COVID-19 infection, there was no significant difference in menstrual cycle changes.
conclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic resulted in considerable variation in menstrual cycle characteristics and hormonal symptoms. This appears to be related to societal and lifestyle changes resulting from the pandemic, rather than to the virus itself. We believe this may have an impact on the individual, as well as national economy, healthcare, and population levels, and therefore suggest this should be taken into consideration by governments, healthcare providers and employers when developing pandemic recovery plans.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.