Menstrual Abnormalities After Hepatitis B Vaccine

Abstract

Seventeen hospital employees were inoculated with 40 -μg hepatitis B vaccine as a part of a phase 1 trial in Japan. More than 90 per cent of the subjects developed antibodies against HBsAg after two doses of the vaccine. The third dose had a booster effect. Seven of the 16 vaccinated women experienced menstrual abnormalities after the first and/or second inoculation. These included hypomenorrhea, too short menstruation, oligomenorrhea and polymenorrhea. One subject also suffered from acne after the third inoculation. These abnormalities may be side effects of the hepatitis B vaccine which have not been reported previously. © 1982, Kurume University School of Medicine. All rights reserved.