Does COVID-19 infection make premenstrual symptoms worse?

Background and aims: Individuals affected by COVID-19 exhibit a range of symptoms, including, but not limited to, cough and dyspnea. However, there is a limited understanding of the effects of this infection on the physiological well-being of women. Methods: This quasi-experimental investigation aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Participants included Iranian women of reproductive age (18-50 years) who completed a self-reported questionnaire regarding the occurrence of PMS symptoms in the first menstrual cycle following a COVID-19 infection, compared to the occurrence of these symptoms in the menstrual cycles prior to contracting the disease. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23, employing descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and repeated measures analysis. Results: Approximately 63.7% of participants experienced changes in the length of their menstrual cycles following a COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, COVID-19 exacerbated PMS symptoms in 80.65% of the participants. The most pronounced impact was observed on mood-emotional symptoms, followed by behavioral, physical, and personality symptoms, respectively. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in the mean scores among the four symptom categories (P<0.001). Conclusion: The study indicates that COVID-19 may exacerbate both the physical and psychological symptoms of PMS in some women, significantly affecting mood, behavior, and personality. These findings underscore the potential negative effects of the virus on women’s reproductive health and highlight the need for further research to explore the relationship between COVID-19 and women’s health.

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