How COVID-19 (and the Vaccine) Can Impact Your Fertility

If you’re hoping to get pregnant, you may have heard rumors that getting the COVID-19 vaccine can cause infertility. Let’s debunk that myth right up front: No credible scientific evidence shows the COVID-19 vaccine has a negative impact on fertility.

“COVID-19 vaccination does not decrease female fertility,” confirms Ob/Gyn and reproductive infectious disease specialist Oluwatosin Goje, MD. What can impact your fertility, though, is getting COVID-19 — which means there’s just one more reason to get your vaccine.

Dr. Goje talks about where the vaccine rumors came from, what the science really says about it and what having COVID-19 can do to your fertility.

Where did this rumor come from?

In December 2020, a German scientist teamed up with a former Pfizer employee to share a hypothesis about the COVID-19 vaccine and infertility. It caught traction among vaccine skeptics and has persisted — even though it has since been disproved by researchers.

The myth is based on an assumption that the vaccine could cause your body to attack syncytin-1, a protein in your placenta that shares a small piece of genetic code with the spike protein of the coronavirus.

Even though this misinformation was proved incorrect, the rumor still took on a life of its own, as it was shared and reshared throughout the internet.

Why the infertility rumor can’t be true

“Most of the data coming out agrees with initial information that vaccines do not affect fertility,” Dr. Goje says. She shares some of the science debunking this myth and explains the COVID-19 vaccine’s safety for people who are pregnant and want to become pregnant.

1. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t impact conception

A January 2022 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology looked at 2,000 couples trying to conceive without fertility treatment. Data shows no differences in the likelihood of conception between vaccinated and unvaccinated couples.

“Researchers found no association between the COVID-19 vaccine and lower fertility rates,” Dr. Goje says.

2. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t affect the placenta

A fetus can’t survive without the placenta, which connects to your uterus during pregnancy. If the vaccine actually attacked the placenta, Dr. Goje explains, we’d be seeing a rise in miscarriages among vaccinated people — which isn’t the case.

“The thought that the vaccine would attack the placenta has been debunked because there has been no increase in miscarriages among vaccinated women,” she says.

3. The COVID-19 vaccine doesn’t affect sperm

Researchers haven’t found any evidence of the vaccine having a negative impact on sperm. “Two studies in couples undergoing fertility treatment found no appreciable difference in semen volume, sperm concentration or motility measured before and after vaccination,” Dr. Goje adds.

How having COVID-19 can affect your fertility

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine won’t impact your fertility, but catching the virus could. Dr. Goje breaks down some of the science about the effect that COVID-19 infection can have on people who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

COVID-19 can impact your pregnancy

Though the myth says the vaccine could negatively impact the placenta, it seems that it’s the virus that actually does so. The vaccine has been shown to be safe for people who are pregnant, while studies show that pregnant people who contract COVID-19 have higher rates of:

• Preterm birth.
• Low birth weight.
• Stillbirth.

“This shows that the relationship to the placenta is actually a concern for pregnant people who get infected, not for pregnant people who get vaccinated,” Dr. Goje says.

COVID-19 can cause male fertility problems

The January 2022 study found that in couples in trying to get pregnant, conception was down 18% in the three months after the male partner (or partner assigned male at birth) was infected with COVID-19.

Dr. Goje says doctors aren’t yet sure why this is, but researchers continue to study COVID-19’s impact on the body, and studies have reported on a few possibilities:

1. The effects of fever: “When people get an infection, whether it’s COVID-19 or any other viral infection, having a fever can impact sperm formation,” she says.
2. Hormonal changes: Certain hormone levels are needed for sperm production, but disruption to the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and gonadal glands could alter those levels.
3. Testicular troubles: “One of the hypotheses is that the virus is able to enter the testicles,” Dr. Goje says. That could cause a temporary disruption in the testicles’ ability to properly function.
4. Inflammation issues: Infections can lead to what doctors call “inflammatory cascade,” a bodily response to fighting off severe illness. “Researchers think that inflammatory cascade can collapse or alter sperm production,” says Dr. Goje.

Within a few months of having COVID-19, male fertility seems to go back to normal. But if you’re trying to get pregnant, it’s important to know how your partner’s infection could temporarily impact your ability to conceive.

COVID-19 can cause thyroid issues

By now, we know that COVID-19 can trigger a variety of health concerns. Studies show that one of those concerns is subacute thyroiditis, an inflammation of the thyroid gland that can happen when your body is fighting off a virus. This leads to over- or under-production of thyroid hormone, which can, in turn, impact your ability to get pregnant.

“Thyroid disorders affect menstrual cycles and fertility, so it’s possible that dysregulation of the thyroid due to COVID-19 can indirectly affect fertility,” Dr. Goje explains.

The science is clear: Get vaccinated

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or just trying to stay healthy, all of the science points in the same direction: Getting your COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to fend off the virus’s most severe impacts. If you’re hoping to conceive, you can get vaccinated with confidence, knowing that it’s one of the best ways to protect your health and your fertility.