30,000 Cases of Menstrual Irregularities Reported After Vaccination in the UK... Calls for Investigation

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] As irregular menstruation has been reported as an adverse reaction to COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea, over 30,000 cases of irregular menstruation and abnormal bleeding have also been reported in the UK.

According to UK health authorities on the 15th (local time), more than 30,000 adverse events such as unexpected abnormal bleeding, increased menstrual flow, and prolonged duration have been reported following vaccination among 47 million doses administered to women, BBC reported.

The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) stated after reviewing the reports that it cannot confirm a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and menstrual irregularities.

However, Dr. Victoria Male, a prominent immunologist at Imperial College London (ICL), urged in an article for the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that the relationship between vaccines and menstrual irregularities should be investigated more thoroughly.

Dr. Male said, "If there is a connection, it is more likely due to the immune response to the vaccine rather than a specific component of the vaccine," adding, "There are also studies showing that some women infected with the COVID-19 virus experienced menstrual irregularities."

However, Dr. Male pointed out, "There is no evidence that the vaccine affects pregnancy or childbirth," and "False claims that vaccines could affect future fertility discourage young women from getting vaccinated."

Scientists have not yet precisely determined how vaccines cause changes in the menstrual cycle, BBC reported.

It may be related to the effect of the immune system stimulated by the vaccine on the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, but it could also be due to immune cells in the uterine lining.

BBC added that other vaccines, such as the cervical cancer vaccine, are also associated with changes in the menstrual cycle, but there is little research on how or why these symptoms occur.

Scientists report that vaccines do not affect female fertility or male reproductive ability. Dr. Jo Mountfield, Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in the UK, emphasized, "Changes in menstruation can be concerning, but they generally last only one or two cycles," and added, "Those experiencing unusual heavy bleeding after menopause are advised to consult a specialist, but there is no long-term risk."