ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination and its association with sociodemographic factors on the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women and on postmenopausal bleeding. METHODS: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted between September 22, 2022, and November 30, 2022, via a questionnaire distributed to 359 health care workers (HCWs) at Lebanese American University Medical Center-Rizk Hospital and St John's Hospital. Inclusion criteria included female Lebanese HCWs who were vaccinated and aged 18 to 65 years. RESULTS: Change in cycle length was significantly associated with age (P = 0.025 after the first dose and P = 0.017 after the second dose), level of education (P = 0.013 after the first dose and P = 0.012 after the second dose), and fibroids (P = 0.006 after the second dose and P = 0.003 after the third dose). The change in cycle flow was significantly associated with age (P = 0.028), fibroids (P = 0.002 after the second dose and P = 0.002 after the third dose), bleeding disorders (P = 0.000), and chronic medications (P = 0.007). The change in symptoms was associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (P = 0.021), chronic medications (P = 0.019 after the second dose and P = 0.045 after the third dose), and fibroids (P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccination can influence the menstrual cycle. Age, body mass index, level of education, underlying comorbidities, and use of chronic medications are significantly associated with changes in menstrual length, flow, and symptoms following vaccination.
ABSTRACT
The mass vaccination against novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) requires to dynamically evaluate risks of adverse events following immunization to prevent them and develop vaccination tactics for various population groups. We describe a clinical case of reaction following administration of the second dose of the heterologous recombinant adenovirus based COVID-19 vaccine Gam-COVID-Vac (Sputnik V) in 48-year-old female healthcare worker. No adverse events after administration of the first dose were recorded. After vaccination, the patient complained of weakness, malaise, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea that lasted for a single day. Reaction at the injection site appeared 10 hours after vaccination manifested as pruritic erythema, induration area up to 1.5 cm size, sharp pain, which resolved within 24 hours. On the second day post-vaccination, an inflammation area up to 1.5 cm size within the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) scar site was noted and manifested as erythema, induration, painful to palpate, pruritus located 2 cm away from the injection site. BCG scar reaction with dull pain and severe pruritus lasted for three weeks. Erythema and induration at the BCG scar site resolved two months after the onset, which were resolved by using antihistaminic agent. The patient was vaccinated according to the Russian Federation Immunization Program, not associated with any adverse events following immunization. The patient had comorbidities such as vasomotor rhinitis, urolithiasis, stomach, duodenal ulcer, type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, and her body mass index of 35.2. The patient permanently receives antihypertensive and antihyperglycemic drugs, and has allergic reaction in the form of urticaria to Berodual. The patient has menopause during two years, but a five-day postmenopausal bleeding three days after vaccination with the second dose was noted. Thus, a high-quality surveillance of any local and systemic reactions associated with vaccination is needed to reveal adverse events to the vaccines against COVID-19 and elaborate a safe immunization program for preventing COVID-19.