COVID-19 Vaccination and Fertility: What to Know

The COVID-19 vaccination should not be a concern for women hoping to become pregnant in the future.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has updated its position on COVID-19 vaccination to say that the group “strongly recommends” that all pregnant and breastfeeding women get vaccinated. The group also stated that “claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are unfounded and have no scientific evidence supporting them.” This group had previously supported vaccination but is now speaking out even more strongly. COVID-19 poses serious risks to pregnant women if they contract it and are not vaccinated.

Tara Bennett, MD, Memorial Medical Center’s chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology and an OB-GYN with our healthcare partner Springfield Clinic, weighs in.

“An mRNA vaccine contains mRNA, which is a genetic material that encodes the COVID-19 spike S protein. The mRNA is destroyed by the body within 10-20 days. It does not enter the cell’s nucleus and does not alter DNA in people who receive it,” said Bennett. “Therefore, women should not worry that vaccination will affect their fertility.”

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has stated that it is not necessary to delay pregnancy after completing both doses of COVID-19 vaccine. It also is not necessary to receive a pregnancy test before being vaccinated.

Please contact your doctor with any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility.

References:
Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine: COVID Vaccine Advice if You are Pregnant or Breastfeeding, SMFM: Provider Considerations for Engaging in COVID-19 Vaccine Counseling with Pregnant and Lactating Patients 12/15/2020.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Vaccinating Pregnant and Lactating Patients Against COVID-19, Practice Advisory, December 2020.