Long COVID & Menstrual Disorders: A Bidirectional Link Study Reveals
- A new study reveals a potential bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstrual disorders, with women experiencing long COVID at higher risk of abnormal uterine bleeding.
- Women with long COVID are more likely to experience abnormal uterine bleeding,and their symptoms-including fatigue,headaches,and muscle pain-tend to worsen during the perimenstrual and proliferative phases of their menstrual...
- Importantly, the study found no evidence of abnormalities related to ovarian hormones, suggesting the issue stems from inflammation rather than hormonal imbalances.
Long COVID Linked to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Women, Research Finds
Table of Contents
Published september 18, 2024, at 18:46:21
A new study reveals a potential bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstrual disorders, with women experiencing long COVID at higher risk of abnormal uterine bleeding.
Key Findings of the French-British Study
Women with long COVID are more likely to experience abnormal uterine bleeding,and their symptoms-including fatigue,headaches,and muscle pain-tend to worsen during the perimenstrual and proliferative phases of their menstrual cycle. This connection, discovered by a research team co-led by a researcher at the Center National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, is thought to be driven by an inflammatory reaction. Researchers identified a specific cluster of immune cells within the endometrium of patients undergoing treatment.
Importantly, the study found no evidence of abnormalities related to ovarian hormones, suggesting the issue stems from inflammation rather than hormonal imbalances.
Study Methodology
The findings, published in Nature Communications on September 11, 2024, are based on a comprehensive analysis combining three approaches: a large-scale study of 12,187 British women, three months of follow-up care for 54 women with long COVID, and detailed analysis of blood and endometrial samples. Maybin, J.A., et al.(2025). The potential bidirectional relationship between long COVID and menstruation. Nature Communications.
Implications and Future Research
Given that long COVID affects an estimated 3-7% of the global population and is twice as common in women as in men, this research opens avenues for new therapeutic strategies. The study highlights the need to consider the menstrual cycle when identifying long COVID biomarkers and to develop treatments specifically tailored for women.