BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

Largest Study to Show COVID-19 Vaccine Doesn’t Impact Fertility

“Our findings that vaccination had no impact on these outcomes should be reassuring to those who are trying to conceive or are in early pregnancy.”
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published January 26, 2022
close up of doctor hands with blue gloves holding covid vaccine vial and needle
Image: Getty Images

The onset of the pandemic may have been almost two years ago, but experts are continuing to learn as much as they can about the novel coronavirus and how we can best protect against it. Since the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020, experts have maintained it offers the best form of protection. To help allay some fears around how the vaccine may affect fertility, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and early pregnancy, researchers have published one of the largest studies to date on the topic.

The study was published in Obstetrics & Gynecology and adds to the growing body of evidence that the COVID-19 vaccine does not affect fertility. Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York compared rates of fertilization, pregnancy, and early miscarriage in IVF patients who had received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines against those of nonvaccinated patients.

The study involved patients undergoing IVF, including both people that had embryos fertilized in a lab and placed into the womb and people who underwent treatment to stimulate the development of eggs. Of the patients who had an embryo transferred, 214 were vaccinated and 733 unvaccinated. These patients were found to have similar rates of pregnancy and early pregnancy loss. For the group who underwent ovarian stimulation, 222 were vaccinated and 983 were unvaccinated. These patients were also found to have similar rates of eggs retrieved, fertilization, and embryos with normal numbers of chromosomes, among several other measures.

“This is one of the largest studies to review fertility and IVF cycle outcomes in patients who received COVID-19 vaccinations. The study found no significant differences in response to ovarian stimulation, egg quality, embryo development, or pregnancy outcomes between the vaccinated compared to unvaccinated patients,” Devora A. Aharon, MD, first author of the study and a fellow in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Icahn Mount Sinai and RMA of New York, said in a press release. “Our findings that vaccination had no impact on these outcomes should be reassuring to those who are trying to conceive or are in early pregnancy.”

The authors hope the findings from the study help ease some of the anxiety many considering pregnancy have been feeling around getting the vaccine. “By leveraging science and big data, we can help reassure patients of reproductive age and enable them to make the best decisions for themselves. It will give people comfort to know that the COVID-19 vaccine does not affect their reproductive potential,” senior author Alan B. Copperman, MD, FACOG, division director and clinical professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science at Icahn Mount Sinai and director of RMA of New York, also said.

Previous research has shown the vaccine is safe and can even pass protective antibodies to baby. Plus, it can help protect pregnant people, who have been found to be at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. While the new research is promising, the topic of fertility can be a sensitive one. For your specific circumstances and for answers to any questions, always speak to your healthcare provider to make an informed decision that is right for you.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

young woman sick on the couch at home
1 in 10 People Who Had Covid While Pregnant Will Develop Long Covid
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman receiving covid-19 vaccine
Mom’s COVID-19 Shot Lowers Preterm Birth Risk, Stanford Study Shows
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman receiving a vaccination
Should Pregnant People Get the COVID Vaccine?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman standing in kitchen and looking at phone
What All Moms-to-Be Should Know About COVID in Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
doctor vaccinating black pregnant woman
Why COVID Vaccines and Boosters Are Critical for Black Birthing People
By Rachel Villanueva, MD
toddler at home playing with magnetic letters, spelling out home
COVID-19 Resources for Pregnancy and Parenting
By The Bump Editors
Pregnant woman outside wearing a mask and holding her belly.
CDC Now Recommends Pregnant People Get the COVID-19 Vaccine
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Pregnant woman wearing a face mask and looking down.
Pregnant Women Are Being Denied the COVID-19 Vaccine Despite Eligibility
By Nehal Aggarwal
pregnant woman packing hospital bag during pandemic
Moms Share Stories of Being Pregnant and Giving Birth in a Pandemic
By Ashlee Neuman
mom holds newborn baby after birth
Vaccinated Moms-to-Be Can Pass COVID-19 Antibodies to Baby, Studies Show
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Pregnant woman at doctor's office getting her blood pressure checked.
Pregnant Women to Be Included in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials, Pfizer Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
cropped smiling face of new mom looking at and holding her newborn baby
Study: COVID-Positive Moms Can Pass Protective Antibodies to Their Newborns
By Dina DiMaggio, MD, and Anthony F. Porto, MD, MPH
jungle themed decorations for baby shower
How to Throw a Virtual Baby Shower and Still Make It Special
By Lynsey Eidell
ADVERTISEMENT
dad holding his newborn baby while burping him
A Year Into COVID-19 Shows Why a Baby Boom Isn’t All That Likely
By Nehal Aggarwal
outdoor tables at baby shower
How to Host a Social Distancing Baby Shower During COVID-19
By Brittany Anderson
pregnant woman in serious indoor setting sitting on bed and looking out the window
Pregnant Women More Likely to Face Higher Risks From COVID-19, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
pregnant woman touching her belly against backdrop of palm trees
ACOG Releases Statement on New CDC Data for COVID-19 and Pregnancy
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
close-up of mom holding her newborn baby with dad in the background
COVID-19 Is Negatively Affecting New Moms’ Mental Health, Survey Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
newborn baby and nurse in hospital after delivery
Transmission of COVID-19 to Baby During Birth Is Uncommon, Study Says
By Nehal Aggarwal
during pregnancy eating foods such as pasta with choline may lower risk of covid-19 in baby
Extra Choline May Help Moms-to-Be Protect Baby From COVID-19
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.