Ttc and pfizer

[Alicia870]

What is the official advice around the vaccine and do you need to wait to ttc?

No i dont think you do need to wait after being vaccinated and can get the vaccine in pregnancy too

I had my first Pfizer vaccine while TTC. Didn't conceive that month, but did two cycles later and I'm now almost 11 weeks.

I believe the official advice is to have it, as it's better than getting covid. I had mine on Monday :) x

I've just been having a look at the advice myself, as I've recently just decided to try and conceive but have been nervous about having the jab in case it affects my fertility (if I have problems conceiving, I want to be free from any thoughts that the vaccine had a part to play).
My partner has had it and thinks I should have it but respects that I'm on the fence..well may I have been on the fence until now (see below).

Apparently, according to the BMJ (www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n509), the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists and the British Fertility Society have found there is no evidence that the vaccine affects fertility for men or women. BUT the article says women who are pregnant can still have the vaccine if they are in a risk category, but should delay vaccination until after pregnancy if they are not in a risk category. It also says by catching COVID in pregnancy, the outcome could be worse, presumably if the vaccine had been received. So not entirely clear.

Funnily enough I also just met up with a friend who said his sister caught covid as soon as she went on mat leave (her husband caught it), she got it really ill and had to be hospitalised four times in the last month of maternity leave (poor woman) AND was still suffering from it when labour started. Her husband couldn't be with her during labour and she couldn't have visitors due to still being infectious. That has really made me think twice about putting my worries about the jab to one side because the alternative sounds horrendous and the worry about whether the baby will be ok.

After writing this, I think I'm moving towards getting it!

@Robin17 the new guidance is that all pregnant women can be vaccinated either with Pfizer or moderna.

www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/coronavirus-covid-19-pregnancy-and-womens-health/covid-19-vaccines-and-pregnancy/covid-19-vaccines-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

www.rcog.org.uk/covid-vaccine This links to the most up to date information as I think all pregnant women are now advised to get it rather than just those in a higher risk group

Thank you @kikisparks and @dementedpixie this is really helpful.

@robin17 did you decide to have the vaccine and if so how are you, did it all go OK? I'm struggling to decide what to do for the best. The talk of distrupted cycles has concerned me aswell, as I have PCOS so they are already unpredictable! But some reports of heavy bleeding sound horrendous, it's such a difficult decision. Thank you

@Snoopbeaglebum - I feel you, I've been in turmoil about it for the past few weeks now. I was meant to have it on friday but cancelled as family were visiting (worried that I may feel rough) and re-booked for tomorrow, but with an 8 week gap instead of 12. We are putting TTC on hold until after the second jab anyway (just personal choice) however, I've just read another thread on here where some people have had their periods messed right up. It's such a nightmare isn't it as everywhere I've read says the jab shouldn't affect fertility. I even spoke to my doctor about it, and she said there is no reason for the vaccine to affect hormones or the reproductive system as no other vaccines do...however with the disclaimer that this one hasn't been around for too long and no one really knows the long terms effects.All we do know is that catching covid is likely to be nasty, could affect an unborn baby and that's not to mention long covid being more common in women and is dubbed the new disability.
It does seem to me to be a no-brainer but even now as I type this and have the jab tomorrow, I'm still wary and quite upset knowing that there is a chance it could affect my cycle. Pissed off!

Hope it went well @robin17. And your not suffering too much?! For what it's worth from reading literally every single study/research papers I can find (and I work in health care so have talked to nurses/consultants etc) and they've directed me to papers and studies. I think having the vaccine is for the best. I'm still not sure how I feel about it, but as I'm not pregnant yet I'd rather face the decision now, than when pregnant. Again I know that's safe and its better than the possibility of COVID, I'm just a ridiculously anxious person so I can only deal with one thing at a time haha!
It's all shit though and I wish we didn't have to make these decisions and this virus that's caused so much devastation and divide would just go already!