Effect of the COVID-19 infection on the menstrual function in women of reproductive age

Aim: to assess the effect of the COVID-19 infection on the menstrual function in women of reproductive age. Patients and Methods: the study group included 20 women who experienced COVID-19 and presented with menstrual disorders after infection. The study group was divided into two subgroups, i.e., women with mild (n=10) or severe (n=10) COVID-19 infection (subgroups 1 and 2, respectively). The control group included ten women without a history of COVID-19 infection and menstrual disorders. Hormone levels and hemostasis were evaluated, Doppler ultrasound (US) of basal and spiral arteries and ovarian arteries was performed in all women. Results: the mean age was 28.5±1.28 years in both groups. The period duration was 28.3±1.21 days in the control group and 53.1±0.84 days in the study group (i.e., 1.9-times greater, p<0.05). The rate of ovulatory cycles was 100% in the study group. The rate of anovulatory cycles was 25.8% in subgroup 1 and 77.8% in subgroup 2. Endometrial thickness (by US) was 10.64 [10.4; 11.1] mm in the control group, 6.31 [6.12; 6.87] mm in subgroup 1 and 3.20 [3.12; 3.45] mm in subgroup 2 (p<0.05). Significant abnormalities in hormone levels, endometrial hemodynamics, and hemogram parameters were detected in the study group compared to the control group. Moreover, in women with severe COVID-19 infection, these abnormalities were much more significant. Conclusion: in women of reproductive age who experienced COVID-19 infection, menstrual disorders were revealed based on hormone levels, hemostasis, and pelvic hemodynamics. KEYWORDS: coronavirus infection, COVID-19, menstrual function, reproductive period, Doppler ultrasound, hemodynamics, thrombosis, hemostasis. FOR CITATION: Mal’tseva A.N. Effect of the COVID-19 infection on the menstrual function in women of reproductive age. Russian Journal of Woman and Child Health. 2022;5(2):112–117 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2618-8430-2022-5-2-112-117.