Women’s reproductive health has been disrupted as a result of the psychological burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, and affected women need additional medical and psychological support, according to research presented at the Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Edinburgh last November. The findings indicate that stress and sleep disturbance related to the pandemic have had adverse effects on women’s menstrual cycles. The study suggests that further studies are necessary to establish the longer-term impact of the pandemic on female reproductive health.
Researchers led by Lisa A. Owens, MD, of St. James’s Hospital in Dublin, surveyed more than 1,300 women in April 2021. In addition to standard measures of depression, anxiety and sleep quality, the survey also asked about their menstrual cycles. Menstrual disturbances included irregular, missed, painful or heavy periods and pre-menstrual symptoms. Fifty-six percent of respondents reported an overall change in their menstrual cycles since the beginning of the pandemic, with 64% reporting a worsening in pre-menstrual symptoms and 54% experiencing reduced sex drive. Rates of severe depression, anxiety and poor sleep were more than double those from pre-pandemic levels for women of reproductive age. Menstrual cycle disturbances were associated with increased levels of mental distress and poor sleep amongst the women surveyed.
“Our findings highlight a real need to provide appropriate medical care and mental health support to women affected by menstrual disturbance, given the unprecedented psychological burden associated with the pandemic,” says Michelle Maher, MB, BCh, BAO, also of St. James’s Hospital and first author of the paper.
This is the first study to demonstrate that women continue to experience reproductive health disturbances one year into the pandemic, and that this is associated with increased levels of psychological distress and poor sleep. Further investigation will contribute to greater understanding of the extent of reproductive health disruption and guide our future practice and health policy.
“This study was conducted at a relatively early stage of the COVID-19 vaccination programme, so the length of the pandemic and effectiveness of the vaccine may influence future findings, further investigation with objective, measurable data is needed,” Maher says.
The team now plan to conduct these surveys at six-month intervals, to determine progress and identify any longer-term effects on female reproductive and mental health. In addition to the surveys, more objective measurements of blood pressure, weight, sex hormone levels and ovulation will be collected from the women participating.
“We would encourage women experiencing any reproductive disturbances such as (irregular, missed periods, painful or heavy periods, PMS, or reduced sex drive) as well as mental health disturbances (including symptoms of low mood, anxiety, stress, and poor sleep) to see their GP for advice,” Maher says. “We are planning to provide support for women affected by menstrual cycle abnormalities by developing psychological support workshops at our center.”
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