At this point in the global COVID-19 pandemic, it is no secret that living through a public health crisis has increased our stress levels. But the stress caused by the pandemic could be hurting more than just our mental health.

A new study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has found a link between stress caused by a pandemic and changes in people’s periods. For the study, researchers looked at what 354 cisgender women ages 18–45 said about themselves. In May 2021, participants were asked how stressed they were about the pandemic and if their periods had changed since March 2020, when COVID-19 hit the United States.

More than half of the women who answered the survey said they had “at least one” irregularity with their cycle length, spotting, menstrual flow, or length of their period. Pandemic stress and cycle changes were more likely to happen to younger women and women who already had problems with their mental health. But high pandemic stress was “significantly linked” to both longer and shorter time periods.
Assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and lead author Martina Anto-Ocrah told The Washington Post that she found the results “alarming.” After all, irregular periods are linked to a wide range of health problems, from problems with fertility to problems with mental health.

“This is about more than just periods; it’s about women’s health,” she said.

This is not the first report to say that the pandemic has changed people’s periods. In January of this year, an online survey of 210 cisgender women found a similar link between pandemic stress and periods that don’t come on time. And in September, a study paid for by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) confirmed that many people who got the COVID-19 vaccine had small, temporary changes to their periods.
People who have periods have been talking about changes to their periods since the pandemic started and the COVID-19 vaccine started to be given out. These studies just confirm worries that a lot of us have already had.

“People always tell women, ‘It’s all in your head,'” The Post was told by Anto-Ocrah. “Until we have data that proves what women think is true, the medical community doesn’t really take us seriously and doesn’t believe us.”

People, you heard it here first: Periods that don’t come on time are no joke. If you’re worried about changes to your period because of the COVID-19 pandemic, you might want to keep track of your periods and talk to a doctor. You shouldn’t have to bring medical studies to back up what you know from your own life, but if you run into medical misogyny, these studies might help.

How to do it: Lie on your back and put pillows all around you. Spread your legs out in a butterfly shape with your knees on the pillows. Spread your feet out so that he can get into the missionary position.

Why it’s cool: “Before [your partner] even touches you, you can just lie there and do your breathing and connect with yourself,” Taylor says. “You’re very calm, you’re breathing, and you’re looking at me a lot. They can get to your G spot, which can be a very long-lasting, enjoyable position that lasts for a long time.

Pose of a happy baby

How to do it: Have the person being penetrated lie back with their knees bent and their legs above their head. This is like throwing your legs over your head (or close to it) with your knees close to your ears. Have him come to you like a missionary. Tell him to rock you back and forth instead of jackhammering you.

Why it’s awesome: If you want a deeper, more intense sex experience, this gives you what you want, and it puts your partner in charge. Taylor says that this position gives the person who is penetrating “deep access to your G spot and clitoris, and I really like the rocking motion.”

Cow Pose

How to do it: Get on your hands and knees and arch your back. Have your partner come up behind you and thrust you at different speeds.

Why it’s great: Taylor says, “You’re really going into deep animal space.” “You become multi-orgasmic by playing with your clitoris, not all the time, but I would say by bringing it in.” “It won’t just be pounding, but it gives you both the chance to enjoy this movement of the symphony: the slow and the fast, the soft and the sweet and the intense.”

Tree Stand

What you do: Stand against a wall or in the shower (don’t fall!). Then raise one foot, bend your knee, turn your hip outward, and put your foot on the inner thigh of the opposite leg. Raise your hands straight up, about shoulder width apart, above your head. (If you need to, grab the wall or a bookcase.) Tell him to kneel down at your feet and get on his knees.

Why it’s awesome: If you can keep your balance (see, all those classes are paying off now! ), the new feeling of standing up instead of lying on the bed and passively receiving will make sex feel new and exciting, which will make you more excited.

A Post-Coital Corpse Pose

How to do it: We’re joking, but after you’ve done the deed, you can use the afterglow time to lie back, close your eyes, and play “dead” to really connect your mind with your body, as the name of the pose suggests. Use the time after you’ve been intimate to show your partner how much you appreciate them and get some of that feeling back. Bask it the post ‘gasm goodness, y’all have earned it!

Why it’s awesome: After all that moving around, you’ve definitely earned this relaxing pose. Then snore away, baby!