No, Being Near a Vaccinated Individual Will Not Disrupt Your Menstrual Cycle

The myths surrounding COVID-19 began circulating almost immediately after the World Health Organization declared the pandemic. Misinformation spread rapidly, with various dubious claims, including the misconception that the COVID vaccine itself could lead to contracting the virus. (Spoiler: it can’t.) Another prevalent myth was the idea that the vaccine is a cover for implanting microchips to track individuals. (In reality, your smartphone does that just fine without any help.)

Now, a new falsehood has arisen from the depths of conspiracy theories: the notion that being around someone who has been vaccinated can cause disruptions in a person’s menstrual cycle. This stems from unfounded claims that vaccinated individuals are “shedding” the COVID virus or its spike protein, which is simply not true.

Understanding Vaccine Shedding

Let’s clarify what vaccine shedding entails. Viral shedding occurs when cells infected with a virus release infectious particles into the environment, typically when a person talks, coughs, or sneezes. Vaccine shedding extends this concept, suggesting that individuals who receive a vaccine somehow shed the vaccine contents as if they were infected.

The core issue with this claim is that the FDA-authorized vaccines do not contain the actual COVID virus, meaning there is nothing to shed. These vaccines provide instructions for your cells to create a harmless version of the COVID spike protein, enabling your immune system to recognize and combat the real virus if you are exposed. The ingredients in the vaccine cannot replicate, which means they cannot spread from one person to another.

“They’re injected into your arm, and that’s where they stay,” said Dr. Alice Carter, an epidemiologist at a renowned health institute. The mRNA from the vaccine stays localized, instructing your muscle cells to produce the spike protein, which then prompts an immune response, after which the mRNA is cleared from the body within 24 to 48 hours. Therefore, vaccinated individuals are not shedding anything, because “there’s nothing to shed,” explains Dr. Mark Thompson, a leading expert in infectious diseases.

Other Myths Surrounding Vaccine Shedding

Besides menstrual irregularities, conspiracy theorists have linked vaccine shedding to various serious issues, such as miscarriages and infertility. In fact, a private school in Miami made headlines for banning vaccinated employees based on a baseless allegation that “tens of thousands of women worldwide” faced reproductive challenges from being near vaccinated individuals.

If vaccine shedding is impossible, then it certainly cannot be responsible for any reproductive issues. Dr. Emily Roberts, an infectious disease epidemiologist, confirmed this with the New York Times, stating, “Transferring anything from the vaccine from one person to another is biologically impossible.”

The Dangers of Misinformation

We cannot simply dismiss the spread of these myths. Misleading information can have harmful real-world effects. On an individual level, it could deter pregnant individuals from getting vaccinated, despite their heightened risk for severe COVID-19 and associated pregnancy complications.

On a larger scale, these myths create doubt among the general public, leading to vaccine hesitancy. Vaccination is crucial in controlling the pandemic, which has claimed countless lives. Dr. Sara Jones, Vice President for Practice Activities at a prominent health organization, emphasized that vaccines are “our best tool for confronting a global pandemic.” Any narrative that discourages vaccination is detrimental.

The vaccines are safe and effective. There is no biological basis for the idea that being near a vaccinated person impacts a woman’s menstrual cycle or fertility. To believe otherwise is to accept misinformation, which ultimately prolongs the pandemic and increases risks to oneself and the community.

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