--- title: Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles? | Niyora description: Yes, the pandemic was linked to menstrual cycle changes, and women with these changes were more likely to have depression and sleep problems, though the study url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-menstrual-cycle-s-alterations-in-relation-to-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles? Survey study, 2024 # Did COVID-19 stress cause changes in menstrual cycles? Yes, the pandemic was linked to menstrual cycle changes, and women with these changes were more likely to have depression and sleep problems, though the study can't prove stress caused the changes. Moderate study design 293 female medical students, average age 23, at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy ## What they did This observational study included 293 female medical students (average age 23) at a university in Rome, Italy. In March 2021, one year after lockdown started, students reported on changes in their menstrual cycles during the pandemic compared to before. They also completed questionnaires about depression and stress. ## What they found Among women with menstrual cycle changes, 57.1% had depression symptoms and 58.1% had sleep disturbances. Missing periods (amenorrhea) were 3 times more common in women with depression. Premenstrual syndrome showed a significant relationship with both depression and sleep disturbances. Overall, menstrual changes and pandemic stress were significantly associated. ## What it means for you The pandemic appears to have affected menstrual cycles, sleep, and mood in young women, with all three linked together. However, the study can't prove whether stress caused the menstrual changes, or if the changes caused stress and depression. The study included only medical students at one Italian university. 293 Female medical students 57.1% With depression symptoms 3 Times more common missing periods with depression ## About the study Original title The impact of COVID-19 on menstrual cycle's alterations, in relation to depression and sleep disturbances: a prospective observational study in a population of medical students Authors Polese D, Costanzi F, Bianchi P et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2024 Study design Survey study Participants 293 What was tested None Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02971-x](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-024-02971-x) Original abstract Background: The sars-Cov-2 pandemic has determined psychological stress, particularly in the young population of medical students. We studied the impact of the pandemic on menstrual cycle alteration in relation to psychological stress, presence of depression, sleep disturbances and post-traumatic stress, on a population of medical students. Methods: 293 female students at the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of the Sapienza University of Rome (23.08 years old ± 3.8) were enrolled. In March 2021, one year after quarantine, a personal data sheet on menstrual cycle, examining the quality of the menstrual cycle during the pandemic, compared to the previous period. Concomitantly, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Impact of Event Scale have been administered. A Pearson chi-square test was assessed to evaluate the difference between the characteristics of the menstrual cycle and the scores obtained with the questionnaires. Results: A statistically significant association between menstrual alterations and stress during pandemic had been found. The onset of depressive symptoms and sleep disturbances was observed in 57.1% and in 58.1% of young women with cycle's alterations, respectively. Amenorrhea was three times more common in female students with depressive symptoms, premenstrual syndrome had a significant correlation with both depression and sleep disturbances. The pandemic has been related to menstrual alterations, with depressive symptoms and sleep disorders. Amenorrhea is connected to depression, as observed on the functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Conclusions: The pandemic affected the menstrual cycle as well as the depressive symptoms and sleep. Practical implications of the study lead to the development of strategies for psychological intervention during the pandemic experience, in order to help medical trainees, with specific attention to women's needs. Future studies should analyze the impact of other types of social stress events, on sleep, depression and the menstrual cycle beside the pandemic. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [PTSD and trauma](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-ptsd-trauma/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Sleep and insomnia](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-sleep/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/) Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits. Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor. ## Related studies Cohort study, 2026 Is there a link between excessive anxiety and mood changes during the menstrual cycle? 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