And menstrual cycle health

July 2021, study conducted by Trocando Fraldas with over 5,000 women between July 8 and 14, 2021: The coronavirus pandemic has changed many people's lives, deeply affecting their routines and bringing to light fears and worries that didn't exist before. All this emotional burden from job loss, decreased income, and uncertainty about the future has affected, and continues to affect, people in many different ways.

As a result of this constant worry, the body responds in different ways, especially in women; as we observed in our most recent study, women are also feeling the impacts of the pandemic in their menstrual cycles. Among our participants, at least half of them noticed or are noticing changes in their cycles since the pandemic began.

Have you noticed changes in your
menstrual cycle during the pandemic?

Changes in the cycle due to stress

The changes in the cycle affected and continue to affect women in different ways, with:

  • 13% of participants noticed an increase in menstrual flow.
  • 24% experienced disrupted cycle regularity, with delays or missed periods.
  • And 18% of respondents felt or are feeling more cramps.

In addition, one of the factors also interfering in the quality of women's cycles is stress. And as we also found in our study, 79% of Brazilian women have been feeling more stressed since the pandemic began. And as a reflection of this stress, they present the following changes in their cycles:

  • The chance of having changes in the cycle was 26% higher among participants who feel stressed compared to those who do not feel stressed.
  • Stress increases the chances of having cramps during menstruation by 49%;
  • It also increases the chances of heavier flow, by the same proportion, 49%.
  • Roraima is the state where the most women felt stressed since the pandemic began, with 88% of participants.
  • In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, at least 80% of participants noticed this change.
  • The state where the fewest women reported stress is Mato Grosso, with 61% of respondents.

Changes in the cycle after Covid infection

Another aspect impacting the health of the female menstrual cycle is coronavirus infection. As we also found in our study, 26% of Brazilian women noticed changes in their cycle after getting the virus. Especially women aged 30 to 34, with 30% of respondents; and those aged 40 to 44, with 36% of participants.

Did you notice these changes after a
Covid-19 infection?

  • The Federal District is the state where the most women reported cycle changes, with 64% of respondents.
  • In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro at least 24% of participants noticed differences in their cycles after coronavirus infection.
  • Sergipe and Amazonas are the states where the fewest respondents noticed differences, with 13% of women.

Ranking of states where Brazilian women noticed cycle changes after infection

  • 1.Federal District
  • 2.Rio Grande do Norte
  • 3.Espírito Santo
  • 4.Rio Grande do Sul
  • 5.Rondônia
  • 6.Paraná
  • 7.Mato Grosso do Sul
  • 8.Alagoas
  • 9.Minas Gerais
  • 10.Amapá
  • 11.Maranhão
  • 12.Ceará
  • 13.São Paulo
  • 14.Acre
  • 15.Goiás
  • 16.Paraíba
  • 17.Rio de Janeiro
  • 18.Roraima
  • 19.Tocantins
  • 20.Pernambuco
  • 21.Piauí
  • 22.Mato Grosso
  • 23.Bahia
  • 24.Pará
  • 25.Santa Catarina
  • 26.Amazonas
  • 27.Sergipe

Cycle changes due to the vaccine

Researchers, such as Professor Kate Clancy at the University of Illinois, are already seeking to better understand the relationship between vaccination and menstrual cycle changes. However, as shown by our study, 19% of Brazilian women noticed changes in their cycle after being vaccinated against Covid.

In addition, changes in the cycle after vaccination have been reported worldwide. For example, in the United Kingdom, the government has already identified 958 cases of cycle irregularities, according to the British Medical Journal.

  • Mainly women aged 40 to 44, with 35% of participants;
  • And those aged 45 to 49, with 27% of them.
  • The percentage is lower among women aged 30 to 35, with 15% of participants.

Percentage of Brazilian women who noticed changes in their cycle during the pandemic, by state

Research Method

The study had national scope and was conducted with more than 5,000 women between July 8 and 14, 2021. The data collection method was an online questionnaire.

The following questions were addressed:

  • Did you notice changes in your menstrual cycle during the pandemic?
  • Did you notice these changes after a Covid-19 infection?
  • Did you notice these changes after taking the Covid-19 vaccine?
  • Did you feel more stressed during the pandemic?

To compare results between regions and states, the answers to yes/no questions were counted in numbers, 1 for "yes" and 0 for "no". Some questions, in order to obtain more qualitative results, were designed with more options.