Thursday, April 21, 2022

What’s the Deal With COVID Vaccines and Periods?

The Sakura trees in my neighborhood are in full bloom—and so are my allergies.
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By Paola de Varona, News Editor
The Sakura trees in my neighborhood are in full bloom—and so are my allergies. If spring also has you sneezing, we've got some tips. Personally, I've found wearing my mask in areas with extra pollen helps.
Today's Top Story
What's the Deal With COVID Vaccines and Periods?
Last year, people began reporting changes to their menstrual cycle after getting vaccinated. At the time, there was no research examining the possible relationship between the two. But since then, researchers have taken a closer look at the connection.
 
A recent study found that people who don't typically get their period reported breakthrough bleeding and menstrual symptoms like cramps, bloating, and more. This study particularly looked at a gender-diverse sample with transgender, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming respondents.
 
Out of the 552 respondents who used testosterone or other gender-affirming hormones and said that they did not usually menstruate, about 33% reported breakthrough bleeding after getting their COVID shot. Around 46% also had symptoms that are generally associated with periods, such as bloating and cramping.
 
Breakthrough bleeding also occurred among other people who usually do not menstruate, such as post-menopausal people or those who use certain contraceptives like the IUD.
Know More
Experts aren't yet sure what causes the change. But they say periods are easily influenced by minor factors like having a cold, stress, or even changes in diet. They suggest that flu-like symptoms from the vaccine or stress about the pandemic could be the culprit.
Feel Better
These changes are temporary and do not have long-term effects on reproduction.
READ MORE
FDA Approves First Weekly Skin Patch to Treat Dementia
Last month, the FDA approved a weekly skin patch to treat mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer's-related dementia. The drug is the first patch available for dementia and delivers a consistent dose of the medication through the skin. Short-term memory loss is one of the first symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, so relying on a patch that only needs to be swapped out once a week can be a better option than remembering a daily pill.
READ MORE
Meet the COVID Drug That's So Successful Researchers Shut Down Trials Early
A clinical trial of a new medication to treat hospitalized COVID patients was so successful that researchers stopped it early. During the phase 3 trial for the drug, called sabizabulin, researchers determined that it has the potential to cut the risk of death in half for people with severe symptoms. The pharmaceutical company behind the drug is now in talks with the FDA for a potential emergency use authorization.
READ MORE
 
If you now qualify for your second COVID booster shot, Otto Yang, MD, an infectious disease physician and associate chief of infectious disease at UCLA, emphasized in an interview with Verywell that you should go ahead and schedule your shot.
There's almost zero downside to getting a second booster if you had no problem with the prior ones. And there's the very real potential benefit of saving you from being hospitalized or dying—even if it's small, it's a real benefit
Otto Yang, MD
Infectious disease physician and associate chief of infectious disease at UCLA
 
Keep Reading
  The Pandemic Has Been Hard on Our Feet. The New York Times
 
  Better Ventilation Would Create a Healthier Workplace. NPR
 
  6 COVID Mysteries Experts Hope to Unravel. STAT
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