Topic: Dispelling Covid-19 Myths: Addressing the Claim that Vaccines Cause Infertility
Misinformation has been circulating online, insisting that the Covid-19 vaccines cause infertility. However, there is evidence to the contrary, and many medical professionals insist that there is no evidence to the claim for either men or women.
The Spread of Misinformation
Unfortunately, the spread of misinformation has contributed to vaccine hesitancy and downright resistance. However, doctors, including maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Michael Tsimis, insist that the vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective and do not affect fertility.
Despite the reassurance of doctors that fertility is not impacted by Covid-19 vaccines, a survey conducted at Indiana University in June noted that of almost 700 participants, 25% of them had fallen prey to this myth.
However, in addition to the CDC’s recommendation for those 12 and older to be vaccinated, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends the same. This includes individuals who are pregnant, attempting to get pregnant, or who may want a family later. Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that there has been no claim of a loss of fertility among vaccine trial participants or the millions of individuals who have already received it. In addition, there has been no loss of fertility reported in animal studies, either.
Instead, many individuals, including those who participated in vaccine trials, have gone on to have successful and healthy pregnancies. For example, the CDC cited a study in June that examined 143 individuals’ fertility levels, showing that early pregnancies were not impacted by infection or vaccination.
In addition, another study cited by the CDC and led by researchers from the University of Miami examined a group of men who were fully vaccinated either with the Modern or Pfizer vaccines. None of them showed a significant decrease in their sperm count after being fully vaccinated.
One source of the Covid-19 misinformation campaign surrounding fertility was the rumor that Covid-19 vaccines have a protein similar to the one found in placentas. However, maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Michael Tsimis has refuted this point, noting that they are not at all the same protein. Instead, Dr. Tsimis stresses that the greater danger is for pregnant women to be unvaccinated since contracting Covid-19 can jeopardize both the mother and the baby.
Key Takeaway
While there have been misinformation campaigns circulating online claiming that Covid-19 vaccines can lead to fertility issues, the greater danger has been shown to be unvaccinated mothers who contract Covid-19, which poses serious risks to both the mother and baby. Currently, the CDC is highly recommending everyone 12 years and older to be vaccinated, including pregnant individuals, those attempting to become pregnant, and those considering getting pregnant in the future.
Discussed Topic: Dispelling Covid-19 Myths: Addressing the Claim that Vaccines Cause Infertility
