Scientists have identified a prolonged Covid symptom in women as a new variant spreads throughout the UK. Recent research has revealed the emergence of a new strain of the virus in the UK, leading to concerns about rapid winter transmission.
This strain, known as Stratus, consists of two variants – XFG and XFG. By June, the World Health Organization had placed XFG on ‘monitoring status’ due to its increasing prevalence worldwide, with the Status or XFG variant now being the most widespread based on recent data.
Studies have shown that women experiencing long Covid are facing extended and heavier menstrual periods compared to those who have not been infected with the virus. Research also indicates that the severity of long Covid symptoms fluctuates during different menstrual cycle stages and intensifies around the time of menstruation.
These findings underscore the complex relationship between menstrual health and long Covid, a condition believed to affect around 30% more women than men. Researchers anticipate that this discovery could pave the way for tailored treatments for women with long Covid who are grappling with menstrual irregularities.
The research, conducted by scientists from the universities of Edinburgh, Oxford, and Montpellier, involved analyzing data from an online survey in the UK that included over 10,000 women between March and May 2021. The study encompassed 1,000 women with long Covid, 1,700 individuals who had recovered from acute Covid infection, and 9,000 never-infected participants.
Results revealed that women with long Covid reported experiencing heavier and lengthier periods, as well as increased bleeding between periods compared to those who had not contracted the virus. Conversely, individuals who had recovered from a short-term Covid illness experienced less disruption to their menstrual cycles.
Dr. Jackie Maybin, a reader and consultant gynecologist at the University of Edinburgh’s center for reproductive health and NHS Lothian, emphasized the potential consequences of prolonged and heavy periods, such as iron deficiency. Given the existing symptoms experienced by those with long Covid, prompt identification of menstrual irregularities and effective treatments to prevent associated fatigue, weakness, and breathlessness are crucial.
She highlighted that this study marks the initial step towards developing specific treatments for menstrual disturbances in women with long Covid, potentially leading to customized therapies for female patients with long Covid symptoms.
The research team evaluated the impact of different menstrual cycle stages on long Covid symptoms by tracking daily symptoms in 54 women using an app over a three-month period. They found that symptoms of long Covid, including dizziness, respiratory issues, and cognitive impairment, were most severe during or around the menstrual period, with improvement noted post-ovulation.
Researchers discovered elevated levels of inflammation in the blood of women with long Covid during their menstrual cycle, potentially contributing to abnormal bleeding and influencing symptom severity. In a smaller study subset, scientists analyzed hormone and inflammation levels in women with and without long Covid using blood and uterine tissue samples.
Interestingly, levels of progesterone and oestradiol – hormones produced by the ovaries – were similar in individuals with and without long Covid, indicating minimal impact on ovarian function by long Covid.
Dr. Alexandra Alvergne, a senior researcher from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) at the University of Montpellier, emphasized the bidirectional relationship between disease and menstruation, where symptoms vary across the menstrual cycle and disease impacts cycle parameters.
She noted that this phenomenon also applies to long Covid, associating it with abnormal uterine bleeding and symptom exacerbation around menstruation. The research, supported by Wellcome, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Wellbeing of Women, and UKRI, has been published in the journal Nature Communications.