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.

@MrsPear I'm a stupid person for wondering what others opinions are? Yet here you are on the internet being extremely rude to somebody you have never met. Very nasty.

Thanks to everyone who's been helpful.

I am under a recurrent miscarriage clinic yes but decided a break from all things baby will do me and my husband good.

I only wanted to hear others opinions, I don't understand why some people can be so horrible on here.

There's no evidence at all that it will affect fertility. RCOG are very clear on this and that it is safe. They've a useful statement on their website. As for anecdotal evidence.... I had both my vaccines at the end of last year (frontline NHS worker) and I'm now pregnant. Good luck with TTC in future, please get the jab when you're offered it.

Personally I think you're young so you're at low risk even if you do get covid so why risk getting the vaccine. I'm in no rush to get the vaccine although that seems to be blanked out on here and everyone appears to be pro-vaccine. Not that I am anti-vax, I've had the flu jab but have no desire to have a vaccine that the manufacturers take no liability for.

Thank you @Ribeebie, thank you for everything you're doing for us on the front line and congratulations on your pregnancy! 💕

I've had that conversation with my gynaecologist and she's said they cannot say with absolute certainty that it doesn't have an effect. However, that's due to it being new and there not being years of data to rely on and evaluate. She did recommend getting it, though. Pregnancy while having Covid is much more risky.

She also said that I'd be likely to get the AstraZeneca one due to age and that's similar to the flu vaccine, which I had during pregnancy previously (and that resulted in the most gorgeous DS).
We've been ttc #2 for three years now and I had my third ectopic in the summer. We can only keep going and I don't tend to organise my life around ttc.

Biologist here, no impact on fertility. Agree with others that this is a time to listen to medical experts and not laymen. Your friend just isn't qualified to understand these things. I have a DD working for Pfizer, and she is aghast at how many people are telling her nonsense as if they know better.

Sorry OP, that was a little curt. Glad you're thinking of getting it, I cant recommend that you do enough. COVID does affect fertility and can have devastating effects on the body. The vaccine doesn't!

please get vax op -if you do become pregnant & get covid it is more likely to affect you -
Re any vax & infertility - can't say it affected me (thinks of long list of vaccines over lifespan from travelling etc)

No evidence. Doesn't need opinion, particularly not from a stupid 'i heard' type like your mate.

Covid does have all sorts of effects and won't improve your fertility.

I'm currently working as a vaccinator, 3 people asked me the same question this week OP, so there clearly is a myth going around. I'd much rather people asked though, there's no point being worried about something untrue.

Oddly enough though all three were massively obese - which has an enormous effect on fertility!

You know that covid itself can potentially cause infertility right???

Funny how people don’t care so much about the impact of obesity, drinking, drugs, smoking, sexually transmitted infections, chemicals, pollution, etc on their fertility...

My hairdresser has said she had no intention of having it as it might affect her fertility. This has been cited as an example of misinformation that is going the rounds. She won’t have much chance of looking after any children if long Covid has its way. Do I want to have a hairdresser who isn’t vaccinated? Hmmmm!

It’s not really a matter of opinion, it’s about scientific fact which is that there’s no evidence of it affecting fertility. By all means research it but use actual reputable sources not a mate who’s read nonsense on Facebook.

You can't just dismiss someone's concerns by labelling it anti vax misinformation. The problem is the information doesn't exist yet so nobody knows whether infertility might be an issue with these vaccines. You don't need a PhD in microbiology to read the patient information leaflet. You can even (very easily) contact Pfizer and Astra Zeneca and ask them directly.

@MadeOfStarStuff
It’s not really a matter of opinion, it’s about scientific fact which is that there’s no evidence of it affecting fertility.

There's no evidence because the vaccines have just been rolled out. Fertility testing takes more than a few months. They need to monitor rate of pregnancy failure/miscarriage/births in people who have already been vaccinated and compare with rates in a similar but unvaccinated cohort. Unfortunately if they plan on vaccinated every single person in the country they will not have a "placebo" cohort with which to do any meaningful studies.

@HappydaysArehere

My hairdresser has said she had no intention of having it as it might affect her fertility. This has been cited as an example of misinformation that is going the rounds. She won’t have much chance of looking after any children if long Covid has its way. Do I want to have a hairdresser who isn’t vaccinated? Hmmmm!

eh? about the long covid part. Can you explain more please? I have had long covid by the way.

Who is going to be asking their hairdresser if they are vaccinated or not? If you have been and both of you are wearing masks, what’s the problem?

Realistically, the chances of it causing infertility are low. However, they haven't done long term studies on it, so who knows really. The chances are slim though, bit like the chances of most conspiracy theorists having a brain are slim.

However, we also don't know the long term effects of covid. Already seeing many people struggling long after they've had covid, several months after. Breathing problems, depression, joint pain. Who knows if it affects anything more? What if one of the mutations effects fertility? Or it mutates again and causes that? Best to have it really.

Just to clarify, I am without a doubt having the vaccine.

I just wanted to hear others opinions from people around my age/yet to have children.

@Gooo whilst I appreciate your view, neither myself or my husband do drugs, smoke or drink regularly.

I'm a doctor and I'm pregnant after IVF. I've had both doses of the Pfizer vaccine (I'm not in the UK). I'm satisfied it isn't going to make me less fertile (structural issues, not lack of eggs).

I think getting your vaccines taken care of first would be better.... just my feelings that has no logical reasons behind it so don’t ask :)

Personally I think you're young so you're at low risk even if you do get covid so why risk getting the vaccine.

Pregnancy increases the risk though. If I was young and not planning to get pregnant I might not bother . If I was young and planning to get pregnant I would get vaccinated. I would not have it during pregnancy - that is far more likely to cause a problem (although I don't think there's any evidence that it does, but the mechanism is there). I have had other vaccines in pregnancy. I am currently pregnant and have had covid during pregnancy. Not planning any more after this one but if I was I would happily be vaccinated after this baby is born. I don't think there's anything wrong with having questions especially when you are already worried about your fertility. Good luck op hope things work out for you