Guidelines for women if child bearing age (Covid jab)

[SummerBreeze1980]

I got a letter from my GP about the Covid jab. In bold it said that women if child-bearing age must read the guidelines before being vaccinated. It's made me worry but I can't figure out why this was highlighted in the letter. Can anyone explain?

Possibly because if you are of child-bearing age then you are having periods and the vaccine can cause very heavy prolonged flow (google it).

It also makes blood clots more likely I think, I can’t remember the detail but pretty sure women of childbearing age are higher risk for blood clots.

But the risk is still much lower than if you had covid (in which case much more likely to get blood clots).

I think it is also because women in this group could be pregnant and not know it yet. Pregnant women can have the vaccine but are advised to discuss their own health, medical history, risk, etc with their GP

I had my Pfizer jab very early on. As part of the consent process I had to confirm that I wasn't currently pregnant and I wasn't planning to conceive within 3 months of vaccination (ended up being 15 weeks as my second vaccine was moved). I had to give written consent and verbal consent twice for both jabs that I understood. Things have changed now and I know some pregnant women have had the Pfizer vaccination. Back then it wasn't licenced for use in pregnant women or under 18s.

See reading stuff like this makes me anxious, I've had Pfizer and due to have my second in august but I'm also due to start another frozen embryo transfer in august too about a week after

Following because I'm TTC and totally unsure about whether to get the jab

Pfizer is recommended if you're pregnant rather than AZ due to the blood clot risk. Any of the covid jabs can cause temporary period changes too, the lining of the womb is part of your immune system and if you have an immune response to the vaccine then it can cause a heavy/late/early period in some women.

I was also warned when I had my first Pfizer two weeks ago not to get pregnant for 6 months, not that I'm planning to.

I haven't heard of many others being told that so maybe it's a new precaution.

@elsaesmeralda

See reading stuff like this makes me anxious, I've had Pfizer and due to have my second in august but I'm also due to start another frozen embryo transfer in august too about a week after

Pfizer is now licensed for pregnant women though. Back in December/January it just hadn't been licenced yet. Usually it takes years to get vaccines fully licenced, so it was just a precaution as trials were so recent.

Women on the Pfizer trials went on to become pregnant. It's now considered safe and along with Moderna is the recommended vaccine for use in pregnant women.

I've had six periods since my first jab (3 since my second), all totally normal, on time etc. I've also had extensive gynae investigations for pre-existing conditions in the past couple of months and my sex hormones are completely normal and so are my pelvic organs.

Please try not to worry!

@elsaesmeralda if it’s any help I had my first dose of Pfizer end of May and started down-reg for FET 3 days later. Discussed it with the clinic and because I’m in a high risk job for covid I preferred to have it and they strongly supported my choice. I’ve got transfer booked for Friday coming - so far it doesn’t seem to have affected my response to the drugs at all. Will try and remember to report back after OTD in a few weeks if you like?

My dilemma now is whether to have my second dose when offered (which if embryo sticks will be first trimester), or delay til after 12 weeks. I’m a secondary school teacher and school is so far from being a safe environment infection-control wise, it’s hard to know what to do.

OP I think the ‘read the guidance’ stuff is because there is no data from clinical trials on pregnant women. There is, however, quite a large population of pregnant women in America who have had the vaccine and as things stand there is no evidence it causes harm. But I guess ethically it’s important we make our own choices because there isn’t the usual level of data on outcomes yet.

Thank you so much for all the replies - really helpful.

I had the pfizer and was only asked if im currently pregnant, to which i said not to my knowledge. Nurse still gave it me and didn't mention anything about conceiving in the future.