Do COVID-19 vaccines cause different side effects in men and women? What the science says

Specialists in University of Granada, Spain, University of Huddersfield, UK and University of Illinois, USA, detected months ago the possible link between alterations in the menstrual cycle of women who had received a dose of COVID-19 vaccination shortly before, for which they began data surveys to try to determine if indeed the inoculants generate some type of adverse reaction this sense.

These are not possible manifestations that appear in the package leaflets for any of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines that have been used so far, but specialists from different parts of the world began to analyze it, taking into account the fact than the number of women consulting in this regard has increased. The changes detected are bleeding a little more abundant or, on the contrary lighter, delayed periods or changes in the breasts.

“Already in February, when health workers were getting vaccinated, we started to see some women showing menstrual problems,” he said. Laura Cámara, female sexual health expert at the Virgen de Las Nieves hospital in Granada. The specialist then began an investigation which resulted in the 51% of participants, or 2,827, reported alteration in this regard.

Once the House’s investigation is known, the University of Granada has opened an investigation into a group of 120 women which are analyzed before being vaccinated and will be followed up to one year after inoculation. This involves studying the length of menstrual cycles, the bleeding pattern, and other related parameters, such as coagulation profiles or hormone levels, through blood tests, in order to provide a better response. convincing, beyond the perceptions reflected in the surveys by each. women.

For its part, the magazine British medical journal published a letter from Professor of Pharmacy at the University of Huddersfield, Hamid Merchant in which it represents approximately 1000 cases of women with this type of affectation after vaccination. “As of April 5, 2021, there have been 958 cases of post-vaccination menstrual irregularities,” he said.

But data officially released by the UK government indicated some 2,200 reported cases of menstrual disorders after vaccination against COVID-19. It also includes abnormal bleeding, pain and swelling in the breasts, and delayed periods.

At the same time, in the United States, the University of Illinois has started a statistical study to collect information on the subject.

The Spanish study detected 291 reports of women with alterations in their menstrual cycle after vaccination. Experts warn that although this is a reaction that needs to be investigated, it is much lower numbers than other types of general vaccine-related disorders. In Spain, according to official reports, 15,814 general disorders and 10,060 disorders of the nervous system have been reported, according to the Ministry of Health. This organization reported that those who suffer specifically from women “They cannot be regarded as side effects but health problems which have arisen in temporary association with the vaccine.” In addition, says Health, “no relationship has yet been found between this bleeding and the administration of the vaccine.”

Chamber insisted that “at this time, we cannot say that COVID-19 vaccines cause these types of disorders, but we cannot say otherwise.” However, “Everything seems to indicate that these effects are mild and temporary, with little impact on health.”

Another of the effects observed was the increase in breasts. “We are seeing in some cases an enhanced immune response” from vaccines, he said. gynecologist Jackie Calleja. “Sometimes this can cause the lymph nodes to swell, which in turn generates” the subjective perception of breast augmentation. “ The specialist clarified that “to avoid confounding factors when evaluating routine breast imaging tests, we recommend doing them only four to six weeks after vaccination.” Observing this swelling of the lymph nodes on mammograms might raise unnecessary doubts.

Breast augmentation and menstrual alterations are both “Minor, mild and transient effects”, assured the gynecologist and does not question the effectiveness of the vaccination to avoid COVID-19, since no risk of breast cancer, infertility or abortion has been described. The possible changes generated in menstruation and breast are “irrelevant” and occur “also with the use of other types of drugs or stressful situations”. Over the days, “the bleeding and the breast return to normal.”

Chamber agreed the idea is “to give women peace of mind, to warn of mild or temporary symptoms that may occur after vaccination, to avoid fear and unnecessary testing.”

Already last June, Katharine Lee, one of the researchers, who works at Washington University in St. Louis, noted that “the results will not determine whether there is a relationship between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual changes, but could help lay the groundwork for future research,” he said.

If scientists finally find a link between the vaccine and the short-term changes in bleeding, experts say that wouldn’t be a reason to avoid getting the vaccine. “The benefits of getting the vaccine certainly far outweigh a strenuous period, if related,” said Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, gynecologist and professor at Yale University School of Medicine.

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