While for many people the COVID pandemic is a distant memory, for the two million who are still living with long COVID, the impact is felt daily.
There are still huge numbers of people living with long-term side effects from the virus, including chronic fatigue, brain fog, respiratory issues and more.
Thankfully, lots of research is ongoing and each day brings scientists closer to knowing more about the condition and how best to support patients with it.
This week, new research from the University of Edinburgh was published identifying a surprising new long COVID symptom and it's something which only impacts women.
While many think of the condition as primarily having an impact on energy levels, new data has found that long COVID can also impact the menstrual cycle, leading to longer and heavier periods. The study also found other long COVID symptoms can fluctuate depending on where a woman is at in her cycle, with an uptick in severity during the menstrual bleed.
As part of the research, scientists surveyed 12,000 women – 1,000 of whom had long COVID and 1,700 others who were infected by COVID-19.
It’s thought that the longer, heavier periods experienced by those with long COVID could be a result of overall increased inflammation in the body and hormonal changes, but further research is needed.
Elsewhere in this space, Professor Mark Faghy and his team at the University of Derby are continuing on with a study into whether or not anti-viral medications could offer an effective treatment option . Earlier this year, Faghy told the BBC “positive indicators” had already been noted, but that he was remaining cautiously optimistic as “we have to do the analysis on a study level”. The trial is set to run until 2030.
Another study, published by Nature, which looked at the benefits of a no-sugar diet and intermittent fasting for those with long COVID, found a marked reduction in symptoms by the end of a 10-week period, with those taking part saying their joint pain, muscle pain, concentration problems and difficulties sleeping had improved by changing their eating patterns.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
