Clinical trials for coronavirus vaccines should include examination of any possible effects on women's menstrual cycles -- if only because so many women are worried about possible problems, a British expert argued Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
I agree it should be investigated. But unfortunately THAT kind of evidence will take time to come to any sure conclusions. Right now, we are seeing more anecdotal evidence of women having altered cycles after being infected with COVID. This was even before vaccines. Its only anecdotal. Because the vaccine was approved so fast, we have to wait to see what some of the science shows. Enough time hasn't passed to see real results. Women have altered periods for months sometimes cause--LIFE. I remember a minor car accident throwing my cycle off for a solid 6 months. If I had gotten a specific treatment around the same time, would I have KNOWN for sure it was the accident or the vaccine?
Then you have anecdotal evidence from people like me who have had no issues with my cycle since being vaccinated. And I think I'm part of the majority. Now the question is--who gone sign up for such a study?
No one or few. Few for an incentive (which--may not be ethical, but not uncommon) . So that nixes truly ethical Randomized Controlled Trials, or blinded trials (again, unethical). Which is the gold standard of non-biased research.
So all you have really for quality evidence is observational, prospective studies. Longitudinal studies (following these women for at least a year or more---5 years would net high quality evidence) would be best. It would be super expensive. Then maybe in 10 years someone will do a meta-analysis and truly find out what happened. Or even better, a Systematic Review, one of the highest quality research reviews we have right now.
Time will tell. Which is why right now, so many vaccine hesitant don't know what to do. By the time we truly know if these vaccines were ever really safe...COVID will be a far gone conclusion.
minus a significant percent of the world's population.