Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality
The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected population mental health. Periods of psychological distress can induce menstrual dysfunction. We previously demonstrated a significant disruption in women’s reproductive health during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The present study investigates long...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.838886/full |
| _version_ | 1811328819032752128 |
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| author | Michelle Maher Michelle Maher Aedín O’ Keeffe Aedín O’ Keeffe Niamh Phelan Niamh Phelan Lucy Ann Behan Lucy Ann Behan Sonya Collier David Hevey Lisa Owens Lisa Owens |
| author_facet | Michelle Maher Michelle Maher Aedín O’ Keeffe Aedín O’ Keeffe Niamh Phelan Niamh Phelan Lucy Ann Behan Lucy Ann Behan Sonya Collier David Hevey Lisa Owens Lisa Owens |
| author_sort | Michelle Maher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected population mental health. Periods of psychological distress can induce menstrual dysfunction. We previously demonstrated a significant disruption in women’s reproductive health during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The present study investigates longer-term reproductive and mental health disturbances. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1335 women of reproductive age in April 2021. It included validated standardized measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and sleep quality (PSQI). 581 (56%) of women reported an overall change in their menstrual cycle since the beginning of the pandemic. There was no change in median cycle length [28 days (28-30)] or days of menses [5 (4-5)], but there was a wider variability in minimum (p<0.0001) and maximum (p<0.0001) cycle length. There was a significant increase in heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods and missed periods compared to pre-pandemic (all p<0.0001). 64% of women reported worsening pre-menstrual symptoms. Rates of severe depression, anxiety and poor sleep were more than double those from large scale representative community samples. Poor sleep quality was an independent predictor of overall change in menstrual cycle (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.05-1.18), and missed periods (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.03-1.19) during the pandemic. Increased anxiety was independently associated with a change from non-painful to painful periods (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11) and worsening of pre-menstrual symptoms (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.07) during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bear a significant impact on female reproductive health. Increased levels of psychological distress and poor sleep are associated with menstrual cycle disruption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:32:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d69612776d14235992bc82fa1a2502c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-2392 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T15:32:49Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d69612776d14235992bc82fa1a2502c2022-12-22T02:41:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922022-04-011310.3389/fendo.2022.838886838886Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep QualityMichelle Maher0Michelle Maher1Aedín O’ Keeffe2Aedín O’ Keeffe3Niamh Phelan4Niamh Phelan5Lucy Ann Behan6Lucy Ann Behan7Sonya Collier8David Hevey9Lisa Owens10Lisa Owens11Department of Endocrinology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, Tallaght University Hospital, Dublin, IrelandPsychological Medicine Service, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandDepartment of Endocrinology, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin, IrelandSchool of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandThe COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected population mental health. Periods of psychological distress can induce menstrual dysfunction. We previously demonstrated a significant disruption in women’s reproductive health during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The present study investigates longer-term reproductive and mental health disturbances. A cross-sectional online survey was completed by 1335 women of reproductive age in April 2021. It included validated standardized measures of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and sleep quality (PSQI). 581 (56%) of women reported an overall change in their menstrual cycle since the beginning of the pandemic. There was no change in median cycle length [28 days (28-30)] or days of menses [5 (4-5)], but there was a wider variability in minimum (p<0.0001) and maximum (p<0.0001) cycle length. There was a significant increase in heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods and missed periods compared to pre-pandemic (all p<0.0001). 64% of women reported worsening pre-menstrual symptoms. Rates of severe depression, anxiety and poor sleep were more than double those from large scale representative community samples. Poor sleep quality was an independent predictor of overall change in menstrual cycle (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.05-1.18), and missed periods (OR=1.11, 95%CI 1.03-1.19) during the pandemic. Increased anxiety was independently associated with a change from non-painful to painful periods (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11) and worsening of pre-menstrual symptoms (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.07) during the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bear a significant impact on female reproductive health. Increased levels of psychological distress and poor sleep are associated with menstrual cycle disruption.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.838886/fullCOVID-19reproductive healthmenstrual abnormalitieslibidodysmenorrheaheavy menstrual bleeding |
| spellingShingle | Michelle Maher Michelle Maher Aedín O’ Keeffe Aedín O’ Keeffe Niamh Phelan Niamh Phelan Lucy Ann Behan Lucy Ann Behan Sonya Collier David Hevey Lisa Owens Lisa Owens Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality Frontiers in Endocrinology COVID-19 reproductive health menstrual abnormalities libido dysmenorrhea heavy menstrual bleeding |
| title | Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality |
| title_full | Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality |
| title_fullStr | Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality |
| title_short | Female Reproductive Health Disturbance Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic Correlates With Mental Health Disturbance and Sleep Quality |
| title_sort | female reproductive health disturbance experienced during the covid 19 pandemic correlates with mental health disturbance and sleep quality |
| topic | COVID-19 reproductive health menstrual abnormalities libido dysmenorrhea heavy menstrual bleeding |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2022.838886/full |
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