By Sue-Ann Wayow
THE Covid-19 vaccine may indeed affect the menstrual cycle of women according to a recent medical publication in the US, admits Director of Women’s Health, Dr Adesh Sirjusingh.
However, he said, the changes were short-lived and had no long-term effect on health or fertility.
Dr Sirjusingh was asked about the effect of the vaccine on women during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Wednesday since some women have reported such incidents and were hesitant to take their booster shot as a result.
He responded that previous studies did not indicate any major changes until one study findings published this month but still further research was needed.
Dr Sirjusingh said, “There is one large study that was recently published. It is the largest study to date. It just came out in January of this year and this came in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. It is a US population. They would have published data on what’s called 24,000 cycles for 4,000 women in their study group.
“And they found there was a slight increase in this study of approximately less than a day, 0.71 days actually for women who would have taken the vaccine after their second dose which would have cleared up after by month six for those who were studied.”
Dr Sirjusingh added that generally for menstrual cycles disturbances were not really widely studied and published.
In Trinidad and Tobago there were many varying factors that contribute to an irregular menstrual cycle such as polycystic ovaries and fibroids.
He said, “All I can do is to assure the public that the data we see, if it is, it is short-lived and number one, it does not affect your long-term health nor your fertility.”
He also spoke about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as the ministry attempts to raise awareness on cervical cancer.
Dr Sirjusingh said, “We would like to give these vaccines before the onset of sexual activity in the sense that it is a preventative method in the way it works so the target group is from nine years preferably, the younger you are, you get a better response. You only need two doses of you are under 15, if you are over 15, you need three doses.”
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
