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Wesselink AK, Lovett SM, Weinberg J, Geller RJ, Wang TR, Regan AK, Willis MD, Perkins RB, Yland JJ, Koenig MR, Rothman KJ, Hatch EE, Wise LA. COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle characteristics: A prospective cohort study. Vaccine 2023; 41:4327-4334. [PMID: 37301706 PMCID: PMC10239900 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We prospectively examined the association between COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle characteristics in an internet-based prospective cohort study. We included a sample of 1,137 participants who enrolled in Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a preconception cohort study of couples trying to conceive, during January 2021-August 2022. Eligible participants were aged 21-45 years, United States or Canadian residents, and trying to conceive without fertility treatment. At baseline and every 8 weeks for up to 12 months, participants completed questionnaires on which they provided information on COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual cycle characteristics, including cycle regularity, cycle length, bleed length, heaviness of bleed, and menstrual pain. We fit generalized estimating equation (GEE) models with a log link function and Poisson distribution to estimate the adjusted risk ratio (RR) for irregular cycles associated with COVID-19 vaccination. We used linear regression with GEE to estimate adjusted mean differences in menstrual cycle length associated with COVID-19 vaccination. We adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, medical and reproductive factors. Participants had 1.1 day longer menstrual cycles after receiving the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine (95 % CI: 0.4, 1.9) and 1.3 day longer cycles after receiving the second dose (95 % CI: 0.2, 2.5). Associations were attenuated at the second cycle post-vaccination. We did not observe strong associations between COVID-19 vaccination and cycle regularity, bleed length, heaviness of bleed, or menstrual pain. In conclusion, COVID-19 vaccination was associated with a ∼1 day temporary increase in menstrual cycle length, but was not appreciably associated with other menstrual cycle characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia K Wesselink
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States.
| | - Sharonda M Lovett
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Janice Weinberg
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ruth J Geller
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tanran R Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Mary D Willis
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rebecca B Perkins
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedesian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer J Yland
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Martha R Koenig
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kenneth J Rothman
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Elizabeth E Hatch
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lauren A Wise
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States
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Newmyer L, Yabiku ST. Pregnancy scares, pregnancy uncertainty, and abortion attitude change. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2022; 108:102785. [PMID: 36334923 PMCID: PMC10425883 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2022.102785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Women's attitudes towards abortion are often assessed infrequently in their lives. This measurement may not capture how lifetime events, such as reproductive experiences, potentially influence attitudes towards abortion. Although reproductive attitudes can fluctuate with life's circumstances, there is little research on how abortion attitudes may change when a woman suspects she might be pregnant. Using an intensive longitudinal dataset collected in Michigan, the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study (2008-2012), we test the relationship between the timing of pregnancy scares and uncertainty and abortion attitudes using hybrid effects models. We find that women become less supportive of abortion while experiencing a pregnancy scare or uncertainty; however, this association exists only during a scare or uncertainty. These findings highlight that abortion attitudes may change when a woman suspects she might be pregnant. However, attitudinal change may not last past this period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Newmyer
- Department of Sociology and Criminology and the Population Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States.
| | - Scott T Yabiku
- Department of Sociology and Criminology and the Population Research Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, United States
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Edelman A, Boniface ER, Male V, Cameron ST, Benhar E, Han L, Matteson KA, Van Lamsweerde A, Pearson JT, Darney BG. Association between menstrual cycle length and covid-19 vaccination: global, retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. BMJ MEDICINE 2022; 1:e000297. [PMID: 36381261 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000297?] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify whether covid-19 vaccines are associated with menstrual changes in order to address concerns about menstrual cycle disruptions after covid-19 vaccination. DESIGN Global, retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. SETTING International users of the menstrual cycle tracking application, Natural Cycles. PARTICIPANTS 19 622 individuals aged 18-45 years with cycle lengths of 24-38 days and consecutive data for at least three cycles before and one cycle after covid (vaccinated group; n=14 936), and those with at least four consecutive cycles over a similar time period (unvaccinated group; n=4686). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The mean change within individuals was assessed by vaccination group for cycle and menses length (mean of three cycles before vaccination to the cycles after first and second dose of vaccine and the subsequent cycle). Mixed effects models were used to estimate the adjusted difference in change in cycle and menses length between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. RESULTS Most people (n=15 713; 80.08%) were younger than 35 years, from the UK (n=6222; 31.71%), US and Canada (28.59%), or Europe (33.55%). Two thirds (9929 (66.48%) of 14 936) of the vaccinated cohort received the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) covid-19 vaccine, 17.46% (n=2608) received Moderna (mRNA-1273), 9.06% (n=1353) received Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), and 1.89% (n=283) received Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S). Individuals who were vaccinated had a less than one day adjusted increase in the length of their first and second vaccine cycles, compared with individuals who were not vaccinated (0.71 day increase (99.3% confidence interval 0.47 to 0.96) for first dose; 0.56 day increase (0.28 to 0.84) for second dose). The adjusted difference was larger in people who received two doses in a cycle (3.70 days increase (2.98 to 4.42)). One cycle after vaccination, cycle length was similar to before the vaccine in individuals who received one dose per cycle (0.02 day change (99.3% confidence interval -0.10 to 0.14), but not yet for individuals who received two doses per cycle (0.85 day change (99.3% confidence interval 0.24 to 1.46)) compared with unvaccinated individuals. Changes in cycle length did not differ by the vaccine's mechanism of action (mRNA, adenovirus vector, or inactivated virus). Menses length was unaffected by vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 vaccination is associated with a small and likely to be temporary change in menstrual cycle length but no change in menses length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Edelman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Emily R Boniface
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Victoria Male
- Department of Metabolism Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sharon T Cameron
- Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Leo Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kristen A Matteson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Blair G Darney
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Edelman A, Boniface ER, Male V, Cameron ST, Benhar E, Han L, Matteson KA, Van Lamsweerde A, Pearson JT, Darney BG. Association between menstrual cycle length and covid-19 vaccination: global, retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. BMJ MEDICINE 2022; 1:e000297. [PMID: 36381261 PMCID: PMC9665108 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To identify whether covid-19 vaccines are associated with menstrual changes in order to address concerns about menstrual cycle disruptions after covid-19 vaccination. DESIGN Global, retrospective cohort study of prospectively collected data. SETTING International users of the menstrual cycle tracking application, Natural Cycles. PARTICIPANTS 19 622 individuals aged 18-45 years with cycle lengths of 24-38 days and consecutive data for at least three cycles before and one cycle after covid (vaccinated group; n=14 936), and those with at least four consecutive cycles over a similar time period (unvaccinated group; n=4686). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The mean change within individuals was assessed by vaccination group for cycle and menses length (mean of three cycles before vaccination to the cycles after first and second dose of vaccine and the subsequent cycle). Mixed effects models were used to estimate the adjusted difference in change in cycle and menses length between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. RESULTS Most people (n=15 713; 80.08%) were younger than 35 years, from the UK (n=6222; 31.71%), US and Canada (28.59%), or Europe (33.55%). Two thirds (9929 (66.48%) of 14 936) of the vaccinated cohort received the Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) covid-19 vaccine, 17.46% (n=2608) received Moderna (mRNA-1273), 9.06% (n=1353) received Oxford-AstraZeneca (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19), and 1.89% (n=283) received Johnson & Johnson (Ad26.COV2.S). Individuals who were vaccinated had a less than one day adjusted increase in the length of their first and second vaccine cycles, compared with individuals who were not vaccinated (0.71 day increase (99.3% confidence interval 0.47 to 0.96) for first dose; 0.56 day increase (0.28 to 0.84) for second dose). The adjusted difference was larger in people who received two doses in a cycle (3.70 days increase (2.98 to 4.42)). One cycle after vaccination, cycle length was similar to before the vaccine in individuals who received one dose per cycle (0.02 day change (99.3% confidence interval -0.10 to 0.14), but not yet for individuals who received two doses per cycle (0.85 day change (99.3% confidence interval 0.24 to 1.46)) compared with unvaccinated individuals. Changes in cycle length did not differ by the vaccine's mechanism of action (mRNA, adenovirus vector, or inactivated virus). Menses length was unaffected by vaccination. CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 vaccination is associated with a small and likely to be temporary change in menstrual cycle length but no change in menses length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Edelman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Emily R Boniface
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Victoria Male
- Department of Metabolism Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Sharon T Cameron
- Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Leo Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Kristen A Matteson
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Blair G Darney
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Kimport K, Littlejohn KE. What are We Forgetting? Sexuality, Sex, and Embodiment in Abortion Research. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2021; 58:863-873. [PMID: 34080946 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2021.1925620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Abortion has been alternately legalized and criminalized, tacitly approved of, and stigmatized, in various settings over time. The contours of its treatment are dependent on social and political contexts, including concern over women's sexuality, but it is not clear that existing conceptual frameworks enable expansive examination of the relationship between abortion and sexuality. We conduct a critical interpretive synthesis review of the literature that jointly engages with sexuality and abortion, focusing on the U.S., to highlight the frameworks that authors use to understand the relationship between the two. We find two conceptual frameworks of abortion and sexuality in operation: one that treats the two as discrete, causal variables that operate at the individual level; and another that focuses on how beliefs about what constitutes (in)appropriate sexuality explain ideological positions on abortion. We identify limitations of both frameworks and propose a new conceptual framework - one that highlights sexual embodiment - to inspire future research in this area and generate opportunities for knowledge extension. Such an approach, we contend, can elucidate broader social forces that shape both abortion and sexuality and bring research on abortion into conversation with recent scholarship on the important role of sexuality in other sexual and reproductive domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina Kimport
- Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, University of California
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Changes in pregnancy desire after a pregnancy scare in a random sample of young adult women in a Michigan county. Contraception 2021; 104:388-393. [PMID: 34214581 DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2021.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We examined whether and how long young women became more or less likely to desire a pregnancy after experiencing a "pregnancy scare." STUDY DESIGN We used data from the Relationship Dynamics and Social Life (RDSL) study, based on a random, population-based sample of 992 young women from a county in Michigan. They were interviewed weekly for 2.5 years. We used fixed-effects logistic regression models to predict pregnancy desire after a pregnancy scare. RESULTS Of the 759 sexually experienced women we analyzed, 103 (14%) experienced 128 pregnancy scares. A woman's (adjusted) odds of desiring a pregnancy were 3.70 (95% CI 2.27-6.02) times higher during the week after, 3.04 (95% CI 2.30-4.10) times higher during the month after a pregnancy scare, and 2.31 (95% CI 1.71-3.11) times higher during all weeks after the pregnancy scare, compared to her other weeks during the study period. In a final model directly comparing each period to all weeks before the pregnancy scare, the odds of pregnancy desire were highest (aOR 5.08, 95% CI 3.06-8.42) during the first week, slightly smaller (aOR 3.01, 95% CI 2.11 - 4.30) during the subsequent three weeks, and remained elevated (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.19-2.09) throughout the remainder of the study period. CONCLUSIONS Our analyses suggest that the experience of a pregnancy "scare" does not scare young women away from wanting pregnancies. On the contrary, the state of possibly being pregnant actually made young women in our study more likely to want to be pregnant, on average. IMPLICATIONS Very few young women desire a pregnancy during the transition to adulthood; however, a salient life event like a pregnancy scare can abruptly generate a desire for pregnancy. Our study contributes to efforts to help women implement their pregnancy desires by furthering our understanding of those desires and the contexts in which they are formed.
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Guzzo KB, Hayford SR. Pathways to Parenthood in Social and Family Context: Decade in Review, 2020. JOURNAL OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 2020; 82:117-144. [PMID: 34012172 PMCID: PMC8130890 DOI: 10.1111/jomf.12618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This article reviews research from the past decade on patterns, trends, and differentials in the pathway to parenthood. BACKGROUND Whether, and under what circumstances, people become parents has implications for individual identity, family relationships, the well-being of adults and children, and population growth and age structure. Understanding the factors that influence pathways to parenthood is central to the study of families and can inform policies aimed at changing childbearing behaviors. METHOD This review summarizes recent trends in fertility as well as research on the predictors and correlates of childbearing, with a focus on the United States and on research most relevant to family scholars. We document fertility differentials and prevailing explanations for variation across sub-groups and discuss alternative pathways to parenthood, such as adoption. The article suggests avenues for future research, outlines emerging theoretical developments, and concludes with a discussion of fertility policy. RESULTS U.S. fertility has declined in recent years; whether fertility rates will increase is unclear. Elements of the broader social context such as the Great Recession and increasing economic inequality have impacted pathways to parenthood, and there is growing divergence in behaviors across social class. Scholars of childbearing have developed theories to better understand how childbearing is shaped by life course processes and social context. CONCLUSION Future research on the pathways to parenthood should continue to study group differentials, refine measurement and theories, and better integrate men and couples. Childbearing research is relevant for social policy, but ideological factors impact the application of research to policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Benjamin Guzzo
- Department of Sociology, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0222
| | - Sarah R Hayford
- Department of Sociology, The Ohio State University 1885 Neil Avenue Mall Columbus, OH, 43210
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