The effect of COVID-19 vaccinations on menstrual cycle and serum anti-Mullerian hormone levels in reproductive age women

Abstract

The aim of this prospective cohort study was to investigate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinations on menstrual cycle and ovarian reserve in reproductive aged-women. Health care providers (n = 258) vaccinated with inactivated (CoronaVac) and mRNA based (Pfizer-BioNTech®) COVID-19 vaccines were included. All subjects completed a gynaecological and menstrual history questionnaire and Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels were measured in serum samples collected before first vaccination and at 1^st, 3^rd, 6^th and 9^th months. The prevalence of new-onset menstrual dysregulation following vaccination was 20.6% and it was statistically significant compared to baseline (p = 0.001). Menstrual pattern turned back to normal in 59.6% of vaccinated women. Serum AMH levels gradually decreased until 6^th month of follow-up compared to baseline (p < 0.001). A significant increase in serum AMH level was observed at 9^th month of follow-up compared to 6^th month follow-up levels (p < 0.001). The decrease in serum AMH level was statistically significant regardless of serum anti SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels, subgroups of age, occupation, menstrual dysregulation following vaccination and presence of gynaecological diseases. In conclusion, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 causes a transient decrease on serum AMH levels and moderate irregularities in menstrual pattern increasing with age and is mostly reversible.

Keywords:

• Anti-mullerian hormone
• menstrual cycle
• COVID-19 vaccine
• sinovac-coronavac
• Pfizer-biontech

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Celal Bayar University Scientific Research Funding Commission under grant number of 2021-067.