QUESTION

Does malaria affect menstrual cycle?

ANSWER

Malaria usually does not last very long—people usually seek diagnosis and treatment within a few days (since symptoms can be severe) and then treatment and recovery follow swiftly, within another few days (100% recovery may take longer, up to a few weeks). Moreover, malaria does not usually interfere with reproductive organs or hormone production. As such, malaria usually does not interfere with the menstrual cycle. However, malaria can result in anemia; many women also experience mild anemia during and after menstruation, and it is possible that this iron deficiency could be exacerbated by malaria infection.