“There is no evidence that vaccines, and in particular the COVID-19 vaccines, impact fertility,” said Dr Jill Rabin. An OB-GYN professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in Manhasset, New York. Rabin recommends the COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant patients, planning to become pregnant in the future and who are breastfeeding. The MRNA coronavirus vaccines teach our cells to make a protein or part of a protein that then triggers an immune response. The immune response produces antibodies and protects us from viral infection. That genetic material is discarded once our immune system activates
According to Metz, mRNA is not stable. It doesn’t replicate or reproduce and is quickly degraded by the body. “Once our muscle cells make the spike protein, the instruction manual is ‘thrown away’ or degraded. It does not stay around and, more importantly, does not enter the special place in our cells where our DNA resides,” Mayorga said.
Combatting fears
Physicians and healthcare professionals are on a mission to share accurate and vetted scientific information with patients. Therefore assure them there’s no evidence the vaccine can lead to a loss of fertility, said Rabin. COVID-19 can be a life-threatening disease with severe short and long-term health consequences. However, the reactions and side effects caused by the vaccines are manageable. “My advice for teens and parents concerned that the vaccine could impact fertility administration is to reassure them that the science does not show this,” Rabin said.
Mayorga said he’s made himself available to address these myths and answer his patient’s questions about the vaccines. Mayorga has shared videos and images of what happens in the body after complete vaccination. He also hosted a seminar for teens interested in the COVID-19 vaccines. During the talk, he answered their questions, explained how the mRNA vaccines work and spoke on the benefits of vaccination. “As I reflect on this talk, I realized that as physicians, we need to continue to approach each patient differently and try different tactics to help educate, empower, and debunk the circulating myths,” Mayorga said. If you have any concerns about the vaccines, talk with your doctor. They’ll be able to explain how the vaccines work and how there’s no link between the shot and infertility.
The bottom line
Misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine and its ability to impact fertility has been around since the vaccine rollout. Despite these misconceptions, scientists continue to assure people that there’s no link between COVID-19 vaccines and infertility.
To combat concerns, healthcare professionals are trying to teach people how vaccines work and are hosting seminars to address some of the more common myths and misconceptions about the shots.
