Hundreds of women are facing a new consequence of the coronavirus: premature menopause. The Daily Mail drew attention to their stories.
For example, 46-year-old Dawn Knight from Somerset contracted the coronavirus in March after returning from a trip to Thailand. The symptoms of the disease – coughing fits, shortness of breath and weakness – lasted for several weeks in the Englishwoman. At this time, her menstruation stopped. “My COVID-19 symptoms were so dire and lasted for months that I could hardly get off the couch, so missing my period was the least of my problems,” she admitted.
A few months later, it turned out that Knight had developed a lingering COVID-19 – she was no longer dangerous to others, but a number of symptoms persisted. In June, she developed new complications – a rapid pulse and a burning sensation in her arms and legs, and then the woman visited a doctor. Blood test results showed that the reproductive hormones estrogen, progesterone, and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were at “postmenopausal” levels. “The doctor diagnosed me as postmenopausal,” Knight concluded, noting that her female relatives did not experience cessation of menstruation until the age of 50.
Other women were also familiar with such a consequence of the transferred COVID-19. In a Facebook group for those who have symptoms that persist for a long time, many women discuss the sudden cessation of their periods. In a survey of over 100 people, about 80 percent reported changing or stopping their menstrual cycle. According to the founder of the community Claire Hastie, members from all over the world face premature menopause.
Louise Newson, a general practitioner specializing in women's health, explained that symptoms of lingering COVID-19, such as dizziness, fatigue and confusion, are common in menopause, which could mean there is a connection between these phenomena. “The most common group of people with long-term COVID-19 is people in their 50s, so menopause or perimenopause may be their symptoms,” she concluded.
