Changes in menstrual cycles during the pandemic are not caused by Covid-19, but by stress associated with self-isolation.

A new study they took part in researchers from the Santa Creu i Sant Pau Hospital in Barcelona came to the conclusion that The Covid-19 infection, its intensity or duration, is not the reason why some women experienced changes in their menstrual cycle during childbirth. Rather, it was stress and changes in emotional state that significantly influenced menstrual irregularities during Covid-19.

During childbirth, most women are required to stay at home. flaws for example, having to take care of children 24 hours a day, seven days a week, do household chores, share a small space with the whole family, live with your partner 24 hours a day, and work on the Internet.

At the same time, a smaller part of society was involved in the so-called “main” events: the most significant, provision of medical carebut also public transport, dispensing of pharmaceutical products, access to food and health essentials in supermarkets, etc. For this subgroup, contact with the public implied a higher risk of infection.

Added to this risk was the fear of spreading the disease to family members and infecting loved ones, as well as work overload, and some chose to avoid contact with their families. Work overload was particularly acute among health care workers caring for people with COVID-19.

This group included doctors, nurses, cleaning and transport staff in a hospital or primary care centre, as well as caregivers in nursing homes. Moreover, for many people, the process of isolation entailed temporary or permanent loss of work or a significant reduction in income.

All these circumstances constitute relevant stressors This negatively impacts the psychological well-being of prisoners and, as a result, alters the menstrual cycle of women.

To clarify the existence of these menstrual changes, their importance and characteristics, the researchers conducted an online survey of menstruating women who had experienced different situations during their stay in Spain due to COVID-19.

In Spain, an online survey was conducted among menstruating women from 15 to 55 years old, not infected with COVID-19. It collected information on activities during childbirth, sexual activity, perception of emotional state, changes in menstrual characteristics, and impact on quality of life. Analysis of menstrual changes was limited to respondents who did not use hormonal contraception.

A total of 6,449 women responded to the survey. A total of 4989 surveys were valid for the final analysis. 92.3 percent of women had at least one menstrual period during labor, and 7.7 percent had amenorrhea. Menstruation-related quality of life (QOL) worsened in 19 percent of women, remained unchanged in 71.7 percent, and improved in 1.6 percent. Overall quality of life worsened during quarantine for 50.1 percent of women, with 41.3 percent remaining about the same and 8.7 percent reporting improvement.

Sexual activity during childbirth decreased in 49.8 percent of respondents. it remained unchanged at 40.7 percent and increased by 9.5 percent. As for menstrual changes, when assessing the duration and characteristics of isolation, the perception of the impact of COVID-19 and the economic or employment situation.

In contrast, statistically significant differences were found depending on the intensity of changes in emotional state due to childbirth stressors and changes in the regularity, duration and severity of menstruation.