COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility, study finds

Date:
January 20, 2022
Source:
Boston University School of Medicine
Summary:
New findings indicate that COVID-19 vaccination does not impair
fertility, but males who become infected by the coronavirus may
experience short-term reduced fertility.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== COVID-19 vaccination in either partner does not appear to affect
fertility, according to new research led by Boston University School of
Public Health (BUSPH) investigators.


========================================================================== Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the prospective
study of couples trying to conceive found no association between
COVID-19 vaccination and fecundability -- the probability of conception
per menstrual cycle -- in female or male partners who received the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

In contrast, the findings indicate that COVID-19 infection among males
may temporarily reduce fertility -- an outcome that could be avoidable
through vaccination.

"Many reproductive-aged individuals have cited concerns about fertility as
a reason for remaining unvaccinated," says study lead author Dr. Amelia Wesselink, research assistant professor of epidemiology at BUSPH. "Our
study shows for the first time that COVID-19 vaccination in either
partner is unrelated to fertility among couples trying to conceive
through intercourse.

Time-to-pregnancy was very similar regardless of vaccination status."
Wesselink and colleagues analyzed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and infection, and fecundability, among female and male participants in the
BUSPH- based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing NIH-funded study
that enrolls women trying to conceive, and follows them from preconception through six months after delivery. Participants included 2,126 women
in the US and Canada who provided information on sociodemographics,
lifestyle, medical factors, and characteristics of their partners from
December 2020 to September 2021, and the participants were followed in
the study through November 2021.

The researchers calculated the per menstrual cycle probability
of conception using self-reported dates of participants' last
menstrual period, typical menstrual cycle length, and pregnancy
status. Fertility rates among female participants who received at least
one dose of a vaccine were nearly identical to unvaccinated female participants. Fecundability was also similar for male partners who
had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine compared with
unvaccinated male participants. Additional analyses that considered
the number of vaccine doses, brand of vaccine, infertility history,
occupation, and geographic region also indicated no effect of vaccination
on fertility.

While COVID-19 infection was not strongly associated with fertility, men
who tested positive for COVID within 60 days of a given cycle had reduced fertility compared to men who never tested positive, or men who tested
positive at least 60 days prior. This data supports previous research
that has linked COVID-19 infection in men with poor sperm quality and
other reproductive dysfunction.

"These data provide reassuring evidence that COVID vaccination in either partner does not affect fertility among couples trying to conceive,"
says study senior author Dr. Lauren Wise, professor of epidemiology
at BUSPH. "The prospective study design, large sample size, and
geographically heterogeneous study population are study strengths, as
was our control for many variables such as age, socioeconomic status, preexisting health conditions, occupation, and stress levels." The new
data also help quell concerns about COVID-19 vaccines and fertility that
arose from anecdotal reports of females experiencing menstrual cycle
changes following vaccination.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by
Boston_University_School_of_Medicine. Original written by Jillian
McKoy. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Amelia K Wesselink, Elizabeth E Hatch, Kenneth J Rothman, Tanran
R Wang,
Mary D Willis, Jennifer Yland, Holly M Crowe, Ruth J Geller, Sydney
K Willis, Rebecca B Perkins, Annette K Regan, Jessica Levinson,
Ellen M Mikkelsen, Lauren A Wise. A prospective cohort study of
COVID-19 vaccination, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and fertility. American
Journal of Epidemiology, 2022; DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac011 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/01/220120135142.htm

--- up 6 weeks, 5 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)