General practitioner consultation for postmenopausal bleeding after COVID-19 vaccination-a self-controlled cohort...

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Vaccinology
• Public Health

Background:

• Postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) incidence is rising globally.
• The association between COVID-19 vaccination and PMB remains largely uncharacterized.
• Understanding potential side effects of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the risk of postmenopausal bleeding (PMB) following COVID-19 vaccination.
• To analyze PMB incidence in women aged 50 years and older after COVID-19 vaccination using primary care data.
• To assess potential associations across different vaccine types, brands, and doses.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective self-controlled cohort study design was employed.
• Inclusion criteria: Women aged ≥50 years vaccinated in 2021, registered in Dutch GP databases.
• Comparison of PMB consultations in the 28 days post-vaccination versus non-exposed periods, with adjustments for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Main Results:

• A total of 692,760 vaccinated women aged ≥50 years were analyzed.
• No overall increase in GP consultations for PMB was detected across all COVID-19 vaccines.
• Specific vaccine brands (mRNA vs. vector) and doses (Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech) did not show statistically significant associations with increased PMB risk.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 vaccination in women aged 50 and older is not associated with an increased incidence of postmenopausal bleeding in primary care.
• Findings apply to all analyzed COVID-19 vaccine brands, doses, and potential risk groups.
• Routine general practitioner data confirms the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines regarding PMB.