The COVID-19 vaccine is a game-changer in the fight against the pandemic, but many who remain hesitant to get their jabs cite the vaccine’s alleged impacts on fertility as a reason for skipping the shot. Some women who have declined to get vaccinated claim that they’ve been told that the vaccine caused miscarriages and infertility, while others claim it contains “neurotoxins” that will harm unborn babies. These are certainly terrifying situations, but what does the science say? The exact opposite. Numerous studies have shown that the COVID-19 vaccine has no effect on fertility and doesn’t cause miscarriages, though sometimes the numbers and terminology in those studies can be confusing. Here, doctors and fertility experts break down exactly what the COVID-19 vaccine’s impact on fertility is and why it’s so, so important for anyone who is trying to get pregnant to get the shot.
Can the COVID-19 vaccine affect fertility?
According to the data we have, the COVID-19 vaccine has no impact on fertility one way or the other for women. “There is a lot of false information out there about the vaccines,” Dr. Amy Wetter, OB-GYN, at Northside Women’s Specialists in Atlanta, told Parade. “One common question to clear up: The COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility or miscarriage. The science behind the making of the vaccines makes us confident that the vaccines are not a cause of infertility or miscarriage and a recent study has confirmed this. It showed that women who had the COVID-19 vaccines were able to get pregnant at the same rates as women who did not get the vaccines.” She added, “A CDC analysis of current data from the V-Safe pregnancy registry assessed vaccination early in pregnancy and did not find an increased risk of miscarriage among nearly 2,500 pregnant women who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine before 20 weeks of pregnancy.” What’s more, Dr. Wetter noted, is that miscarriage typically occurs in about 11% to 16% of pregnancies, and the study found miscarriage rates after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine were around 13%—similar to the expected rate of miscarriage in the general population.
Can COVID-19 vaccines cause male fertility problems?
Gentlemen, rest easy and get your shot: The vaccine won’t affect your sperm count. “Available data indicate that COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility in women or men,” Dr. Barry Witt, MD, and medical director of WINFertility, told Parade. “In the randomized blinded Pfizer-BioNTech trial, a similar number of women conceived after receiving the vaccine as those who received the placebo. Claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are unfounded. A recent study found no differences in conception rates with frozen IVF embryo transfers between vaccinated and unvaccinated women.” That said, if you get infected with COVID-19, that may well cause a decrease in sperm count—so getting vaccinated can only keep your swimmers healthy.
Why do some people believe the COVID-19 vaccine can impact fertility?
A plethora of misinformation, combined with the newness of both the coronavirus and vaccine, created a perfect storm of fear among would-be parents. Dr. Wetter explained, “I think the confusion begins with incorrect information being propagated via the internet, friends, relatives, co-workers, etc. While a lot of women have people they trust, those people might not have the specific background of knowledge in the relevant field to be able to evaluate the complex scientific ideas being put forth.” She adds that some confusion arose when a false report surfaced on social media, saying that the spike protein on this coronavirus was the same as another spike protein called syncitin-1 that is involved in the growth and attachment of the placenta during pregnancy. “The false report said that getting the COVID-19 vaccine would cause a woman’s body to fight this different spike protein and affect her fertility,” she explain. “The two spike proteins are completely different and distinct, and getting the COVID-19 vaccine will not affect the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through in vitro fertilization methods.” Dr. Iris Insogna, MD, fertility specialist at Columbia University Fertility Center, believes that some of the vaccine hesitancy comes from the lack of information early on about the COVID-19 vaccine’s potential effects on pregnant women or those trying to conceive—even though all of those fears have, over time, been proven unfounded. “Unfortunately, there has been a lot of miscommunication and doubt surrounding the vaccine. When the vaccine was first introduced, we did not have a lot of information about its use in pregnancy, resulting in some confusion and skepticism,” Dr. Insogna says. “However, we now know from several studies published in highly respected, peer-reviewed journals that the vaccine does not appear to be associated with any effects on fertility and is quite safe in pregnancy. It does not appear to increase the risk of miscarriage.”
Should I get the COVID-19 vaccine if I am planning to get pregnant?
It’s unanimous among experts: If you plan on getting pregnant, you should absolutely get vaccinated against COVID-19. Dr. Wetter reiterates that the COVID-19 vaccines won’t harm you, your eggs, your unborn baby, or anything else related to your reproductive health. “The approved COVID-19 vaccines are very safe. The vaccines came to market quickly, and I know that makes some people nervous,” she says. “The process was faster than other new vaccines because the science behind the COVID-19 vaccines is not new. Thorough safety studies were done when the vaccines were made, and ongoing safety monitoring is the most intense in U.S. history. These safety checks have shown that serious side effects are very rare. Our high confidence in safety keeps growing as millions of people continue to be vaccinated without serious issues.” In fact, not getting the vaccine can cause far more dangers to you and your unborn baby than getting the shot would, Dr. Insogna says. “An infection with COVID-19 in pregnancy can be very severe and life-threatening in some cases,” she warned. “We strongly recommend that women do everything possible to protect themselves against a COVID-19 infection.” Dr. Witt concurs. “Preventing COVID-19 infection is critical for pregnant women since they are at increased risk for more severe illness (increased risk of ICU admission, need for ventilators, and even death),” he pointed out. “The vaccine produces a response that results in antibodies that can be found in the umbilical cord blood and may be protective to the newborn.” Next, find out the truth about mixing and matching COVID-19 booster shots.
Sources
Dr. Iris InsognaDr. Amy WetterDr. Barry WittForbes: COVID-19 compromises sperm count and quality in recovering patientsRemembryo: COVID-19, the vaccine, and pregnancy: A 2021 summary
