Tag: menstrual problems

The impact of “long COVID” on menstruation in Chinese female college students and the intervention of acupuncture

Abstract:

This study aimed to explore the potential application value of acupuncture in alleviating the impact of long COVID on women’s menstrual cycles, by investigating the occurrence of long COVID among female college students, its effects on menstruation, and the intervention of acupuncture. This cross-sectional study surveyed female college students with a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) before April 10, 2023.

A questionnaire was used to analyze demographic characteristics, post-COVID sequelaes, duration of symptoms, and treatments received during that period. Among the 731 participants enrolled in the survey, 468 were female undergraduate students who met the analysis criteria. Among them, 85 individuals fit the definition of “Long COVID” (18.16%).

Within the group of patients with long COVID, 69 individuals experienced changes in their overall menstrual patterns compared to the 6 months prior to contracting the novel coronavirus (81.18%). Additionally, 17 individuals opted for acupuncture treatment following the onset of COVID-19 (20.00%), which resulted in less impact on their menstrual cycle (41.18% vs 64.71% without receiving acupuncture, OR = 2.62), menstrual period duration (41.18% vs 64.71%, OR = 2.62), menstrual flow (47.06% vs 69.18%, OR = 2.52), and the color of menstrual blood (41.18% vs 63.24%, OR = 2.46) among these patients. Long COVID had a certain impact on menstruation.

Acupuncture potentially alleviates the clinical symptoms of long COVID and reduces its impact on women’s menstrual cycle, thus having potential therapeutic value in the treatment of long COVID.

Source: Dong J, Ni J, Zhang Z, Yan H, Xu J, Zhao J. The impact of “long COVID” on menstruation in Chinese female college students and the intervention of acupuncture. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Feb 9;103(6):e36818. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000036818. PMID: 38335408; PMCID: PMC10860984. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10860984/ (Full text)

Clinical characteristics of female long COVID patients with menstrual symptoms: a retrospective study from a Japanese outpatient clinic

Abstract:

Purpose: To elucidate the impact of long COVID on menstruation and mental health, medical records of patients with long COVID were evaluated.

Methods: Symptoms of long COVID, QOL, mental health, and related endocrine data were compared between two groups with and without menstrual disturbances.

Results: Of 349 female patients who visited our clinic between February 2021 and March 2023, 223 patients with long COVID (aged 18-50 years) were included. Forty-four (19.7%) of the patients had menstrual symptoms associated with long COVID. The patients with menstrual symptoms were older than those without menstrual symptoms (42.5 vs. 38 years). The percentage of patients with menstrual symptoms was higher during the Omicron phase (24%) than during the Preceding (13%) and Delta (12%) phases. Cycle irregularity was the most frequent (in 63.6% of the patients), followed by severe pain (25%), heavy bleeding (20.5%), perimenopausal symptoms (18.2%), and premenstrual syndrome (15.9%). Fatigue and depression were the most frequent complications. Scores for fatigue and for QOL were significantly worse in long COVID patients with menstrual symptoms. Results of endocrine examinations showed significantly increased cortisol levels in patients with menstrual complaints.

Conclusion: Long COVID has an impact on menstrual conditions and on QOL related to menstrual conditions.

Source: Sakurada Y, Matsuda Y, Motohashi K, Hasegawa T, Otsuka Y, Nakano Y, Tokumasu K, Yamamoto K, Sunada N, Honda H, Hagiya H, Ueda K, Otsuka F. Clinical characteristics of female long COVID patients with menstrual symptoms: a retrospective study from a Japanese outpatient clinic. J Psychosom Obstet Gynaecol. 2024 Dec;45(1):2305899. doi: 10.1080/0167482X.2024.2305899. Epub 2024 Jan 25. PMID: 38270210. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0167482X.2024.2305899 (Full text)

Approaches towards menstrual cycle disorder therapy in reproductive-aged women with long COVID

Abstract:

Background. The mirror of a female’s reproductive health is the menstrual cycle. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic itself acts as a significant stressor. This leads to women’s overall health and life quality disturbance. Moreover, patients struggle with long COVID effects, which is a prolongation of symptoms after recovery. Due to the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme type 2 receptors in the intestinal mucosa and inflammation, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also triggered by the virus.

Objectives. To assess the efficacy of the chosen treatment approach in women with changes in premenstrual syndrome and cyclicity due to long COVID with or without GI symptoms.

Material and methods. A single-centre longitudinal interventional study was organized. Were studied data from the conducted tests (progesterone level, ultrasound follicle scan, etc.) and surveys. Then the effectiveness of the suggested treatment with the use of oral and vaginal forms of progesterone was evaluated. The study was held in the Kyiv City Center of Reproductive and Perinatal Medicine (Ukraine) from January to June 2021.

Results. On average 78% patients without GI symptoms experienced relief after 3 months and 89% patients after 6 months of suggested treatment. 71% patients with GI symptoms experienced improvement after 3 and 87% of them after 6 months. The vaginal progesterone had better results compared to oral form. Averagely 6–8% experienced side effects (nausea, hypotension, less compliance) due to progesterone intake. The vaginal micronised progesterone also presented better results than oral with fewer side effects compared to the total number of participants.

Conclusions. The proposed approach has shown particular correction of the menstrual cycle disturbances in women with long COVID. Vaginal micronized progesterone offers more promising outcomes in patients with GI symptoms and disrupted absorption, compared to the oral form.
Further investigation is required for a more reasonable conclusion.

Source: Kaminskyi, V., Serbeniuk, A., & Kumpanenko, Y. (2023). Approaches towards menstrual cycle disorder therapy in reproductive-aged women with long COVID. REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY, (68), 44–47. https://doi.org/10.18370/2309-4117.2023.68.44-47 http://reproduct-endo.com/article/view/284093

Early menopause and other gynecologic risk indicators for chronic fatigue syndrome in women

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine whether gynecologic conditions are associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODS: This study includes a subset of 157 women from a population-based case-control study in Georgia, United States, conducted in 2004-2009. Gynecologic history was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs and ORs adjusted for body mass index and other covariates, where relevant, were estimated for gynecologic conditions between 84 CFS cases and 73 healthy controls.

RESULTS: Cases and controls were of similar age. Women with CFS reported significantly more gynecologic conditions and surgical operations than controls: menopause status (61.9% vs 37.0%; OR, 2.37; 95% CI, 1.21-4.66), earlier mean age at menopause onset (37.6 vs 48.6 y; adjusted OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.09-1.36), excessive menstrual bleeding (73.8% vs 42.5%; adjusted OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.66-6.70), bleeding between periods (48.8% vs 23.3%; adjusted OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 1.60-6.86), endometriosis (29.8% vs 12.3%; adjusted OR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.53-8.84), use of noncontraceptive hormonal preparations (57.1% vs 26.0%; adjusted OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.36-6.38), nonmenstrual pelvic pain (26.2% vs 2.7%; adjusted OR, 11.98; 95% CI, 2.57-55.81), and gynecologic surgical operation (65.5% vs 31.5%; adjusted OR, 3.33; 95% CI, 1.66-6.67), especially hysterectomy (54.8% vs 19.2%; adjusted OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.46-7.17). Hysterectomy and oophorectomy occurred at a significantly younger mean age in the CFS group than in controls and occurred before CFS onset in 71% of women with records of date of surgical operation and date of CFS onset.

CONCLUSIONS: Menstrual abnormalities, endometriosis, pelvic pain, hysterectomy, and early/surgical menopause are all associated with CFS. Clinicians should be aware of the association between common gynecologic problems and CFS in women. Further work is warranted to determine whether these conditions contribute to the development and/or perpetuation of CFS in some women.

 

Source: Boneva RS, Lin JM, Unger ER. Early menopause and other gynecologic risk indicators for chronic fatigue syndrome in women. Menopause. 2015 Aug;22(8):826-34. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000411. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25647777