The COVID Vaccine and Your Fertility

For those concerned about how the COVID-19 vaccine might affect their fertility, a new study adds to growing evidence that there is no connection between the two.

In fact, couples in the study had slightly lower chances of conception if the male partner had been infected with the coronavirus within 60 days — which should encourage those trying to grow their families to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Here’s the recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

The Covid Vaccine Study- Explained

“These findings indicate that male SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with a short-term decline in fertility and that COVID-19 vaccination does not impair fertility in either partner,” Amelia Wesselink and her fellow researchers — from the Boston University School of Public Health and other institutions across the United States — wrote in the study. SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus that causes COVID-19.

“This adds to the evidence from animal studies, studies of humans undergoing fertility treatment, and the COVID-19 vaccine trials, none of which found an association between COVID-19 vaccination and lower fertility,” the researchers wrote. “Similarly, several studies have documented no appreciable association between COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage risk.”

Over 2000 women trying conceive spontaneously from the US and Canada, between the ages of 21 – 45 enrolled in the study from December 2020 through September 2021. The researchers followed up with them through November 2021.

During the study, the women completed online questionnaires every eight weeks regarding their reproductive and medical histories. They were also encouraged to invite their male partners to also complete questionnaires. Among the participants, 73% of the women and 74% of their male partners had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccination did not affect the ability to conceive spontaneously in either partner. Female SARS-CoV-2 also did not affect fertility, while male SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with a short term decline.

If you have any questions about the Covid vaccine and fertility, schedule an appointment with one of our physicians by calling 843-883-5800 or clicking here.