Impact of COVID-19 and Its Vaccine on Menstrual Cycle Among Medical Staff in Sulaimani Maternity Teaching Hospital

Despite extensive research on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine, detailed reports specifically addressing their impact on the menstrual cycle and the female reproductive system have been lacking. The present study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 virus and its vaccines on the menstrual cycle pattern among Sulaimani Maternity Teaching Hospital medical staff. This cross-sectional study was conducted among female healthcare workers at Sulaimani Maternity Teaching Hospital who contracted COVID-19 or received the COVID-19 vaccine. Demographic data were collected through direct interviews, while clinical information was obtained through medical history reviews, clinical examinations, and relevant investigations. A total of 143 participants were recruited out of an initial 195 candidates, all meeting the study’s inclusion criteria. Data analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 21. The participants’ ages ranged from 20 to 35 years, with over half (60.8%) being married. Among the study participants, 93% had contracted COVID-19, and 72% had received the COVID-19 vaccine. Among the women who had contracted COVID-19, 30.1% reported experiencing menstrual irregularities, with the most common being oligomenorrhea (54.83%). Following vaccination, 8.4% of participants experienced menstrual changes, primarily intermenstrual spotting (58.33%) and oligomenorrhea (25%). However, no significant associations were found between the severity of COVID-19 infection, vaccination status, and menstrual irregularities, with P of 0.773 and 0.676, respectively. Furthermore, thyroid dysfunction was observed in 70% of the women who experienced prolonged menstrual irregularities, suggesting a potential endocrine-related factor contributing to these changes. COVID-19 infection and vaccination were associated with transient menstrual irregularities in some women. These changes were generally short-lived and not significantly linked to the severity of infection or vaccine type.