Long COVID and Digestive Symptoms: What the Research Tells Us
Research summary exploring digestive manifestations of Long COVID, including gut microbiome changes, IBS risk and potential treatment approaches.
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Table of Contents
Study title: The potential bidirectional relationship between Long Covid and menstrual health
Authors & year: Maybin JA et al., 2025
Journal: Nature Communications
Link to full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62965-7
Key message
Women with Long Covid were more likely to report menstrual changes, with some also reporting worse symptoms around menstruation.
Aim of the study
Long Covid and menstrual health were examined in this study, including changes in menstrual patterns and how symptoms vary across the menstrual cycle.
Who was included
Over 12,000 women in the UK completed a survey on COVID-19 and menstrual health, including:
- women with Long Covid
- women who had recovered from COVID-19
- women who had not had COVID-19
A smaller group of 54 women with Long Covid tracked their symptoms and menstrual cycles over three months. A further small group provided blood and endometrial samples to explore biological differences.
What did the researchers do?
The researchers used three approaches:
- Analysing survey responses comparing menstrual patterns across groups
- Tracked symptoms and menstrual cycles over time in a sub-group
- Analysed biological samples were analysed to assess hormone levels and inflammation
What symptoms or outcomes were most common?
Women with Long Covid experienced:
- Heavier or longer menstrual periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Changes in Long Covid symptoms across the menstrual cycle
- Fatigue
- Brain fog (memory or concentration difficulties)
- Dizziness
- Breathing difficulties
Key findings
| Women with Long Covid were more likely to report heavier periods, longer periods, and bleeding between periods |
| Women who had recovered from Covid or without Long Covid reported fewer menstrual changes |
| In the symptom-tracking group, Long Covid symptoms were worse around menstruation |
| Biological findings suggested higher levels of inflammation during menstruation in women with Long Covid |
| The study did not find evidence that Long Covid affected ovarian function |
How should these results be interpreted?
This study suggests that Long Covid may be associated with changes in menstrual health and fluctuations in symptoms across the menstrual cycle. Findings should be interpreted with caution, as symptoms were self-reported and may be influenced by recall and reporting bias. As an observational study, it shows associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships, and further research is needed to better understand how Long Covid may affect menstrual health.
What these results mean
For people living with Long Covid
- Women with Long Covid may experience changes in menstrual cycles, including heavier or irregular periods
- Symptoms such as fatigue or brain fog may worsen around menstruation
For healthcare workers
- Menstrual health should be considered when assessing Long Covid symptoms
- Symptom patterns may vary across the menstrual cycle
For the healthcare system
- Greater awareness of menstrual health in Long Covid may support better recognition and care
- Further research is needed to understand underlying mechanisms
Important note: This summary is for general information only and does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned about your symptoms, please speak to a healthcare professional.
