Thread by @patientled

1/ New @patientled paper alert!

Reproductive health issues after COVID are well known among #LongCovid patients but are not adequately studied.

For @FrontRehSci, we reviewed studies on repro health impacts of Long COVID & associated conditions in women: doi.org/10.3389/fresc.…

2/ There has been a huge need for this work and we're excited to say it is already the most viewed article published by @FrontRehSci so far in 2023! #LongCovid

3/ Studies show that people with #LongCovid and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and CTDs like EDS report multiple menstrual health issues including disabling periods & severe period pain. #pwME #NEISvoid

4/ Some Long COVID symptoms worsen around menstruation, also reported in ME/CFS & POTS.
Pregnancy can trigger or alter the course of illness in ME/CFS & POTS; some improve & others worsen.
Research is needed to understand how sex hormones affect infection-associated illnesses.

5/ Premenopausal women, trans, and gender non-conforming individuals are disproportionately affected by #LongCovid and associated illnesses. However, research focused on the reproductive health of these populations in Long COVID and overlapping illnesses has been limited.

6/ Average diagnostic delays for reproductive health conditions regularly span many years (up to 11 years for endometriosis).

Research efforts and funding haven’t met the pressing needs of patients for symptom alleviation and treatment.

7/ We recommend research priorities & emphasize the importance of studying reproductive health in #LongCovid & associated illnesses, & to address historic underfunding & the significant impact on cis women, trans women, & gender diverse individuals. doi.org/10.3389/fresc.…

8/ Recommended research priorities:

-Sex hormones/differences; why do infection-associated illnesses predominate in women & trans people
-Menstrual cycle impacts on #LongCovid symptoms
-How reproductive health conditions develop after infection; their role in the pathophysiology

9/ We recommend that rehabilitative care & research on #LongCOVID and associated illnesses like ME/CFS, POTS, & connective tissue disorders like EDS include screening patients for reproductive health symptoms and conditions (e.g., endometriosis), as well as overlapping illnesses.

10/ Thank you to all the co-authors of this paper - @ChronicResearch, @vonSaltza, @LisaAMcCorkell, Lucia Santos, @AshHultman, Alison Cohen at @UCSF_Epibiostat, & @leticiasaurus - and to our amazing editor @PutrinoLab!