The Clinical and Metabolic Profiles in Menstrual Changes Among Reproductive‐Aged Women Post‐COVID‐19

TL;DR

This study explores how menstrual cycles change in women after recovering from COVID-19 and identifies factors like stress and health conditions that may contribute to these changes.

Contribution

The study identifies general medical conditions as the sole independent risk factor for menstrual changes post-COVID-19 and reveals metabolic disruptions linked to these changes.

Findings

Over 60% of participants reported menstrual changes, including longer cycles and lighter bleeding.

General medical conditions were the only independent risk factor for any menstrual changes.

Metabolomic analysis revealed disturbances in steroid hormone biosynthesis and specific metabolites correlated with estradiol and testosterone levels.

Abstract

Menstruation is a key indicator of female reproductive health, yet clinical features and underlying mechanisms associated with menstrual changes following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection remain unclear. Here, we recruited 253 participants through questionnaires, and 73 individuals underwent metabolomic analysis of blood serum. Over 60% reported menstrual changes, primarily experiencing longer cycle and lighter bleeding, which were significantly associated with age, general medical conditions, perceived stress, anxiety scores, and depression scores, as well as COVID‐19 symptoms including fatigue and headache. General medical conditions were the sole independent risk factor for any menstrual changes. Metabolomic analysis highlighted disturbances in steroid hormone biosynthesis. We identified 52 significantly differential metabolites between groups with and without any menstrual changes (AnyC vs. NoC), with high discrimination achieved by combining phenylglyoxylic acid, PC O‐40, traumatic acid, and estrone sulfate. Furthermore, several significantly upregulated metabolites were closely correlated with estradiol (E2) levels, including estrone sulfate, which was also positively correlated with T levels. Specifically, T levels decreased with recovery duration in the AnyC group (p = 0.0015). Collectively, our findings uncovered key clinical factors and metabolic disruptions in menstrual changes, underscoring potential adverse long‐term effects of COVID‐19 on women's health.

This study recruited 253 Chinese women of reproductive age and post‐COVID‐19 infection. Serious factors, including age and perceived stress, contribute to menstrual changes while general medical condition was the only independent risk factor. Notable metabolic change existed in group with any menstruation changes, with special sex hormone: T decreased with recovery duration.

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