To ask for your opinion on covid vaccine and fertility?

[wishes1111]

Hi

I'm 28 and have had multiple miscarriages.

I really want to have the vaccine but a friend has mentioned they do not know the affect this has on fertility.

As I'm already struggling to have a healthy pregnancy (I currently have the coil fitted to help with endometriosis and give TTC a break for a year or two) I'm worried about this.

Any opinions on this would be welcomed, thank you.

There is absolutely no reason why it should impact on fertility!

The RCOG and RCM have released a good statement on this and please trust the experts!!

www.rcog.org.uk/en/news/RCOG-and-RCM-respond-to-misinformation-around-Covid-19-vaccine-and-fertility/

I’d be relying on medical experts rather than a friend’s conjecture. You won’t be doing any conceiving if you’re on a ventilator.

Ask yourself does your friend have a PhD in any medical field, trained in immunology? If the answer is no ignore her. Trust people who have spent their lives dealing with this. Remember children in the UK are dead because of one unsubstantiated report on the MMR vaccine

Please contact your GP to discuss your concerns.

I would highly recommend you have the vaccine.

Worries about fertility and the vaccine seem to have stemmed from a conspiracy theory that the vaccine was to mass sterilise the population which trickled down into people saying online maybe it impacts on fertility.

Those companies making the vaccine cannot conclusively come out and say that there is no impact of the vaccine on fertility as to say tjis they would need to have arranged a randomised control trial comprised of women who are TTC, give some the vaccine and not others and establish whether the ones with the vaccine couldn’t get pregnant or were delayed in getting pregnant. Doing this is nigh on impossible as you can see yourself you have suffered several miscarriages (I’m sorry ) so if you were on this trial you might have had a miscarriage and then they wouldn’t be able to tell if this woikd have happened anyway or happened as a result of taking the vaccine. This also doesn’t account for differences in age, fertility, partners fertility and so on. So some people seem to be taking the fact that the companies can’t come outright and say it definitely doesn’t impact on fertility as how this means it might.

But what has been said by all top people in the field - gynaecologists, obstetricians etc is that they don’t believe it has any impact on fertility as there is no mechanism by which it could impact.

Simplest way to explain this is to use example of the AZ vaccine - this is built on the same technology as used in the flu vaccine and this is recommended in pregnancy and has been used for years so why would a covid vaccine be any different - how would it impact fertility in actuality. There is no plausible mechanism why it could.

As to why you should take the vaccine. There is evidence of increased numbers of c sections required and premature births in women with covid. Having a fever is bad for a baby in general. Ireland has opened a query this week into 4 still births in women who had covid where covid caused inflammation of the placenta was present and pretty significant numbers of pregnant women have ended up in ICU due to covid.

If you are already pregnant it’s a bit more of a grey are as to whether to have the vaccine or not but if you are ttc and in your case likely to be a high risk pregnancy then I would strongly recommend you get it and are protected in pregnancy as there is no link between the vaccine and fertility.

Hope this helps. Apologies if it’s long.

Some links:

www.google.ie/amp/s/www.irishtimes.com/news/health/covid-19-and-stillbirth-what-does-the-latest-research-say-about-possible-complications-1.4502384%3fmode=amp

www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/pregnant-women-with-covid-19-are-less-likely-to-have-symptoms-and-may-more-likely-need-intensive-care/

www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/mythbuster-covid-19-vaccines-and-fertility

The recent info (I don’t think it’s peer reviewed yet though) about the possible contribution of COVID to placenta failure during pregnancy would make me keen to have the vaccine before conceiving. (Obviously still a tiny percentage though, so not something to panic over).
Also with the best will in the world, please go with advice from medical experts, not what friends or random folk on the internet think. It only raises anxiety to get so many different ‘opinions’. It’s not what you need.
I’m sorry your having trouble conceiving, it can be all consuming. I hope you find a way through.

Also,
www.theguardian.com/society/2021/feb/28/covid-vaccine-does-not-affect-fertility-but-misinformation-persists

I have a PhD in microbiology. There is nothing to suggest the vaccine has any impact on fertility.

It's just more antivax fear mongering. They say every vaccination causes infertility: the MMR, HPV, now this. They spread these rumours to play on people's fears but it's not based on any facts at all.

Omg why are you asking for opinions this is Mumsnet not Doctorsnet

Since the vast majority of women will have the vaccine, I can't imagine for a second this hasn't been researched extensively. Ending the human race might be good for the planet, but I don't think it's the aim right now.

There is a higher chance of covid affecting your pregnancy than the vaccine. It seems very unlikely that there can be any effects from the vaccines.

Endometriosis is much more likely to affect your ability to conceive, what are the doctor's plans for sorting that out? "Taking a break" won't do anything. I don't quite understand the point of having a coil fitted unless it's that you're waiting for surgery? If it helps you have a good news story, my friend had laparoscopy and got pregnant 2 months later.

Do not make this decision based on either your friend's Facebook feed or mumsnet! Do some proper research yourself. Engage brain. You'll see the fertility issue is a load of shit.

Speak to your GP.

Mumsnet opinions will be no help to you whatsoever, you need qualified medical and scientific fact. What somebody on here thinks about it is irrelevant.

@zzzooomwatcher

Omg why are you asking for opinions this is Mumsnet not Doctorsnet

Why so rude? I asked an opinion not a diagnosis.

I said I am planning on having the vaccine but wanted others opinions.

Thanks everyone, I will go ahead with vaccine and I'm not into this anti vac scaremongering but as you can imagine, 10 miscarriages have taken their toll.

I just wondered what others views were.

Thank you for the links etc 😊

@MRex

There is a higher chance of covid affecting your pregnancy than the vaccine. It seems very unlikely that there can be any effects from the vaccines.

Endometriosis is much more likely to affect your ability to conceive, what are the doctor's plans for sorting that out? "Taking a break" won't do anything. I don't quite understand the point of having a coil fitted unless it's that you're waiting for surgery? If it helps you have a good news story, my friend had laparoscopy and got pregnant 2 months later.

I'm taking a break hence the coil for mental health and to deal with grief (10 miscarriages).

I am able to conceive easily, it's keeping the baby that's the trouble, did you read my post? I've said I've had multiple miscarriages.

Coil is in place to also try and help my endo, I've had 3 surgeries for this, last one was last year and my symptoms have returned.

Sorry to hear about your miscarriages. I understand why you will be feeling the way you are.

In addition to your endo treatment have you been referred to an RMC?

Regarding stillbirths:
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.rte.ie/amp/1201087/

“ No increase in stillbirths worldwide since pandemic'”

jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2774088

www.tommys.org/about-us/charity-news/stillbirth-and-premature-birth-rates-not-affected-covid-19

@wishes1111 - I'm so sorry for all your losses. I am concerned that your doctor has not explained to you fully the impact of endometriosis. Read this: www.obgyncaretx.com/blog/does-endometriosis-put-you-at-risk-for-miscarriage or this www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-33115478. You need to get a referral to have support both before and during pregnancy.

@NurseButtercup

Please contact your GP to discuss your concerns.

This.

Hi OP,

I'm so sorry you've experienced so many miscarriages. Please ignore the rude and hurtful responses from some posters. I had multiple losses before a successful pregnancy, and it's only natural that you start to suspect everything as being a possible cause. I stopped eating gluten in case it was that, worried about plastics, hair dye, living in a city... I could go on but you get the picture! As others have said, speak to your gp for some reassurance. If you are under a miscarriage clinic, which I hope you are, they will be able to give you the facts on this too. You wont be the only one wondering this.