---
title: Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods?
description: Yes, clearly. Both COVID-19 infection and moderate to severe depression were linked to menstrual changes. About 38% of the female students experienced menstru
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/coronavirus-infection-and-depression-as-predictors-of-menstrual-dysfunction-in-2026/
---

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- Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods?

Survey study, 2026

# Does COVID-19 infection or depression affect menstrual periods?

Yes, clearly. Both COVID-19 infection and moderate to severe depression were linked to menstrual changes. About 38% of the female students experienced menstrual dysfunction.

 Moderate study design

1,671 female university students from Russia, Georgia, and Uzbekistan

## What they did

Cross-sectional survey of 1,671 female university students from Russia, Georgia, and Uzbekistan. Researchers grouped students by COVID-19 status and vaccination status, then examined menstrual changes.

## What they found

38% experienced menstrual dysfunction. Extended menstrual cycle was most common (25% with COVID-19, 22.4% in control group). Increased menstrual pain was second (20.2%, more common with COVID-19). Increased PMS symptoms was third. Increased menstrual blood loss was fourth (11.3%, more common after COVID-19). COVID-19 confirmed by testing and depression were linked to dysfunction; vaccination appeared protective.

## What it means for you

COVID-19 and depression appear linked to menstrual changes in university-aged women, with extended cycle being the most common change. This shows associations but cannot prove cause and effect. The sample is from Russia and neighboring countries, so findings may not apply everywhere.

1,671

female students

38%

with menstrual dysfunction

25%

extended cycle with COVID-19

## About the study

Original title Coronavirus infection and depression as predictors of menstrual dysfunction in female students during the COVID-19 Pandemic Authors Горбачева Т. И., Mariya Gennadevna Nikolaeva, Alexander E. Stroganov et al. Journal Russian Bulletin of Obstetrician-Gynecologist Year 2026 Study design Survey study Participants 1,036 What was tested Observational comparison by COVID-19 status and vaccination Read the paper [doi.org/10.17116/rosakush20262602129](https://doi.org/10.17116/rosakush20262602129)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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