Can COVID-19 trigger menopause?

Q:

I had COVID in January, and I still have symptoms like fatigue and loss of smell. And I haven’t had my period since my diagnosis. I’m 50, and I know I’m not pregnant. Could COVID have put me in menopause?

A:

You’re not menopausal until you haven’t had a period for 12 months, so this could be a long, erratic cycle typical of late perimenopause. In fact, in a study, the average cycle length in the year prior to menopause was 80 days.

It’s reasonable to suspect COVID since periods can be disrupted by emotional or physical stress, and COVID can cause both. What’s more, in a survey of patients with a prolonged COVID recovery, menstrual changes like missed periods were reported. But low estrogen, which is common at your age, also causes missed periods. Scientists are investigating the role of low estrogen in COVID complications, but they don’t have answers yet. The bottom line? While the timing may feel strange, this is an expected and natural phenomenon for your stage of life.