Menstrual Cycle Characteristics of Healthcare Professionals Working at COVID-19 Pandemic Clinics

Abstract

Objective: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the reproductive system is still not known. We aimed to investigate the menstrual characteristics of healthcare professionals employed in the coronavirus disease2019 (COVID-19) clinics and to investigate whether COVID-19 alters the pattern of the menstrual cycle. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 275 healthcare professionals. Results: During the pandemic, 12% of the cases experienced irregular cycles, and 33.8% of the cases reported that their amount of bleeding had changed. Also, 23.6% of the cases had an increase in dysmenorrhea. The ratio of dysmenorrhea, irregular cycle, changes in bleeding time, and amount of bleeding were similar in doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals (p>0.05). Among all cases, 20.4% (n=56) had SARS-CoV-2 infection. The ratio of increase at dysmenorrhea was found to be significantly higher in women who had SARS-CoV-2 infection (35.7% vs 20.5%) (p=0.022; p0.05). Conclusion: The menstrual pattern and cycle length did not change significantly during the pandemic. Also, SARS-CoV-2 infected cases reported a difference in the amount of bleeding and increased dysmenorrhea after infection. This study provides first step to establish whether COVID-19 has an immediate impact on menstrual function.