TTC and the Covid jab

[Miller2021]

Hi all,

I'm TTC (1st cycle) and just over 40, and I've been offered my Covid jab. Given that pregnant women are advised not to have the AZ jab and I can't be sure whether I am pregnant or not (and the 2nd jab needs to be booked at the same time as the 1st and I may be preg by then), I thought it best to speak to my GP about what to do.

You might have seen this, about pregnant women struggling to get a jab as there is no way (yet) to specify what jab you need or can't have: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57007249

My GP has said she'll find out and get back to me, but it's been 4 days now and nothing... is anyone else in a similar situation? What did you do? Is it worth me trying to squeeze the first jab in now (whatever type it is), while I might not be pregnant, so I have some protection?

Any thoughts very much appreciated. Thank you!

On the gov website it says it is recommended now? It's says the others are preferred but not that you can't have the AZ
I had that one and will be having the second in about a month 🤞🏻

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-women-of-childbearing-age-currently-pregnant-planning-a-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding/covid-19-vaccination-a-guide-for-women-of-childbearing-age-pregnant-planning-a-pregnancy-or-breastfeeding

I had AZ1 and have AZ2 this weekend. My call is that if I test positive on Sunday morning then I wont have it

Do you live in an area/country with very high Covid numbers? Do you work in a high risk occupation regarding exposure? If not, personally I'd leave the vaccine.

As someone who was lucky to have babies at 42 and 44, I think TTC at 40 can be both easier than people say, but at the same time you do need to work harder to make sure every single condition is favourable. It Starts With The Egg seems to be the bible on TTC and it lists the most obscure things you can do to up your chances- from not wearing nail varnish to not handling printed receipts. So much is still unknown about fertility so I'd err on the cautious side in case you're someone who does find TTC more challenging.

Have a look at the posts on here about the new vaccines and disturbances to menstrual cycles. The threads are a bit worrying. I'm TTC now (more casually) but I wouldn't to risk that- it sounds alarming to me, but also you want to be able to track your cycle properly.

This is all very useful advice - thank you all.

@PetraRabbit I live in an area with very few cases and I work from home at the moment, although perhaps not for much longer - when I go back I'll be on a uni campus, with students travelling in from all over the UK and internationally when they're allowed. Regardless, there would have to be a proven risk to me or the (theoretical) baby to stop me from requesting a vaccine.

Are you suggesting not having the vaccine at all, or waiting until pregnant and past a particular stage?

I'm not advising anyone else, whether to take the new vaccines is just about weighing the risks as best we can at an uncertain time, including the risk of catching Covid. There are so many factors to weigh up, but just saying I think fertility is a delicate thing and I know how desperate some older women feel when TTC. I saw a post tonight on a local FB group with a woman wondering if other women had had shooting pains in their breasts post-vaccine and she said it was so bad she couldn't breathe. Some will say that's just a normal response but I take the view that when TTC your body needs tranquillity. I had reflexology and accupuncture and they emphasised that your body needs to be focused on conception and it struggles when presented with, say, bowel issues because it diverts all its focus there instead.

@PetraRabbit Ah I see, that makes a lot of sense - thank you very much for clarifying. Tranquility is what I'm aiming for as well - as much as possible anyway!

I've just discovered that I'm out of the TTC game for this month (FRER taken this morning, negative, period now expected in next couple of days) so I've booked my first jab for tomorrow, when I know I'm going to be feeling pretty rubbish anyway and won't be TTC for a few days. I felt that, on balance, if I've had the jab I'll feel more relaxed in the coming months in crowded spaces, hospitals, around family etc, and the timing seemed too good to pass up.

I’m in a similar boat to you @Miller2021. 41 and got my invite a few weeks ago but waiting to see how this cycle pans out before I book. It’s so difficult isn’t it I think about what to do every day! I’m just loathe to do anything to disrupt my cycle as I’ve already waited ages to TTC number 2 due to various life events. Hope your vaccine goes well.

I'm ttc and I'm just going with uk medical advice, which is to have the jab (but not az). It has recently been suggested that all under 40s avoid AZ anyway, so that might be easier to do now? But I think, unlike other nhs appointments, in this situation it's perfectly okay to be 'that' person and waste the appointment if you need to.

Personally I'd prefer to have the jab during my period, or if pg by then maybe wait until 2nd trimester (but would actually just do whatever my doctor recommended), and I want to avoid AZ as suggested. So:
-book the appointment but cancel it/change it if period dates don't work out or you find out you're in early pregnancy
-same for second dose (but speak to doctor first)
-turn up for the appointment but don't have the jab if it turns out to be AZ (reschedule for another day/month if needed)

And bear in mind that getting covid is the worst option...

@Twothirtyam Glad to hear I'm not the only one! It's really been playing on my mind and, as my age group only just got offered the jab, everyone I know is talking about it - when they're booked in and where - and I've just had to keep quiet because I don't want to discuss TTC.

@taytay2020 I managed to book my jab for tomorrow, when I'll probably be on my period. Will request a non-AZ jab if they have one, but I'll probably go ahead with the AZ if not. If I'm pregnant by the time the 2nd jab appointment comes (booked for July), hopefully by then there'll be more provision for people who don't want AZ, as you suggest. Best of both worlds really - at least there's a silver living to this month's BFN!