How the Covid vaccine can affect your period and signs to look out for

Thousands of women are reporting changes to their menstrual cycle after having had the Covid vaccine.

Women reported having period issues after having a dose of the vaccine, with some saying their period lasted longer or their cycle was disrupted.

Other suspected side-effects include late periods, heavier bleeding, and unexpected bleeding after all three Covid vaccines.

More than 30,000 women - from out of more than 47 million doses given to females in the UK to date - recorded changes, as reported in Medical News Today.

Women reported having period issues after having a dose of the vaccine, with some saying their period lasted longer or their cycle was disrupted. (Getty Images)

However health chiefs insist there is no evidence the vaccine has any impact on pregnancy or fertility.

Trials have shown that the jab did not change a woman's chances of becoming pregnant naturally or during fertility treatment.

Similar research into male fertility following the vaccination also indicated no impact on sperm quality.

Dr Victoria Male, from Imperial College London, wrote in the British Medical Journal to urge more research into the link to calm any fears among women.

She said: "Vaccine hesitancy among young women is largely driven by false claims that Covid-19 vaccines could harm their chances of future pregnancy.

"Failing to thoroughly investigate reports of menstrual changes after vaccination is likely to fuel these fears.

"If a link between vaccination and menstrual changes is confirmed, this information will allow people to plan for potentially altered cycles."

Scientists say the reason for any period changes were likely the body's immune response as opposed to something in the vaccines.

The BBC reports that other vaccines, such as HPV or human papillomavirus, have also been linked to similar menstrual changes - but as yet there has been very little research on how or why it happens.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), said, while slightly alarming, changes to periods following the covid jab, generally lasted only one or two cycles.

Dr Jo Mountfield, vice-president of the RCOG emphasised there was no risk of long-term harm to fertility.

She said: "There is no evidence to suggest that these temporary changes will have any impact on a person's future fertility, or their ability to have children."

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