新冠病毒疫苗可能会短暂改变你的月经周期，但你还是应该接种一种

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COVID vaccines¹ may briefly² change your menstrual cycle, but you should still get one

A new scientific study shows that vaccination³ can cause changes to the timing⁴ of menstruation. But it also shows the effects are temporary, more akin⁵ to a sore arm than a serious adverse⁶ event.

"I think it's reassuring⁷ and also validating," says Dr. Alison Edelman, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Ore. who led the study.

The work appeared Thursday in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology. Edelman and other experts stress that individuals should get vaccinated⁸, because the risks from COVID-19 remain high.

Clinical trials for the COVID vaccines looked for side-effects like headaches or fever, but when it came to reproductive health, the main focus was on pregnancy⁹, not menstruation.

"The menstrual cycle is like the stepsister that gets ignored," Edelman says. "It's considered unimportant in the grand scheme of things, but it actually really is important to people day-to-day."

And many people did notice changes to their menstrual cycles. A survey conducted by anthropologists found numerous reports of unusually heavy flows and even breakthrough bleeding among some people who hadn't menstruated in years.

Anti-vaccine activists¹⁰ capitalized on other anecdotal reports from social media–using them to make unfounded claims that the vaccines were being used to spread infertility¹¹ and ultimately depopulate the earth.

Researchers take a closer look at menstruation

Clinical trials and other studies have already established the vaccines are safe and effective for pregnant women, but the rumors¹² that surrounded menstruation made the National Institutes of Health decide to take a closer look.

"There was a need to be able to counsel women on what to expect," says Dr. Diana Bianchi, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, which funded the work.

Edelman's team took data from a popular app known as "Natural Cycles," which people can use to track their menstrual cycles. Looking at data from 3,959 individuals, they were able to see a small shift in the time between bleeding.

"We see a less-than-one-day change in their menstrual cycle length with vaccination," Edelman says.

In other words, people who were vaccinated experienced — on average — a slightly longer menstrual cycle around the time of their first and second doses.

"It's really nothing to get alarmed about," Bianchi says. Nevertheless, she adds, it does prove that the vaccines are affecting menstruation independently of other possible factors such as pandemic stress.

"I think the beauty of the study is that it does affirm what individuals were reporting," she says.

The immune and reproductive systems are linked

Researchers still aren't exactly sure why the changes occur. Edelman says the immune system and the reproductive system are linked, and some signaling immune cells also can affect the body's natural clock. Given that relationship, it's entirely¹³ possible that triggering the immune system through vaccination might change a person's cycles. But whatever's happening seems to be short-lived.

"We haven't seen anything that's concerning regarding fertility or pregnancy in terms of vaccination," she says. Moreover, she says, COVID-19 itself can have a profound effect on health.

"The risk of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women is incredibly serious," said Edelman, who has watched pregnant women end up in intensive care because they're not vaccinated.

Bianchi says that the NIH should have more data on how vaccines alter menstruation in the near future. Last summer, the agency funded five studies including Edelman's work, and the results of the other researchers should provide more data. Bianchi hopes that the additional research can look at a more diverse population than those that use the app, and also start to nail down other reported side-effects, including heavy periods and breakthrough bleeding.

Ultimately, Edelman thinks changes to menstruation probably should be added as a possible minor¹⁴ side-effect of the vaccines, along with headaches and sore arms.

"I think because it rises to a level of importance to the public," she says, "it's something that should be included."

1 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

2 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

3 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

4 timing   

n.时间安排，时间选择

参考例句：

• The timing of the meeting is not convenient.会议的时间安排不合适。
• The timing of our statement is very opportune.我们发表声明选择的时机很恰当。

5 akin   

adj.同族的，类似的

参考例句：

• She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
• Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。

6 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

7 reassuring   

a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的

参考例句：

• He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. 他轻拍了一下她的肩膀让她放心。
• With a reassuring pat on her arm, he left. 他鼓励地拍了拍她的手臂就离开了。

8 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

9 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

10 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句

12 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

14 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。