13 Apr Debunking Myths about Infertility and COVID Vaccines
Fertility myths are widespread and not enough experts are taking measures to discredit baseless claims. Fertility Specialists Medical Group (FSMG) is taking measures to educate patients and debunk one of the most damaging claims — that the COVID-19 vaccine causes infertility.
During difficult and trying times for intended parents, myths about infertility and the COVID-19 vaccine should be the last thing on their minds. However, due to inaccurate claims made based on no sound research, the frenzy commenced, the confusion was rampant — and the myths accumulated.
While FSMG seeks to put an end to these baseless claims, it is important to also note that three of the leading professional organizations focused on pregnancy and fertility — the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine — all recommend that pregnant people get vaccinated, as well as those considering pregnancy.
Infertility Myths and COVID-19
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine can impact a women’s fertility
The COVID-19 vaccine does NOT impact fertility. In fact, the COVID-19 vaccine encourages the body to create copies of the spike protein found on the coronavirus’s surface, which directs the body’s immune system to fight the virus that has contains the specific spike protein.
The inaccurate claims stated that getting the COVID-19 vaccine would cause a woman’s body to fight different types of spike proteins and cause infertility. Experts confirm that the two spike proteins are completely different and distinct — thus getting the COVID-19 vaccine will NOT alter the fertility of women who are seeking to become pregnant, including through IVF.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine harms the placenta
The COVID-19 vaccine does harm the placenta. Inaccurate claims stated that the COVID-19 vaccine harmed the placenta — the organ that a pregnant woman develops to bring nutrients and oxygen to the fetus and remove waste. Claims purport that the vaccine generates antibodies against part of the coronavirus spike protein and that the same antibodies cross-react with a protein that is made by the placenta called syncytin-1. However, experts confirm there is no similarity between the coronavirus spike protein and placental syncytin-1, thus there is not a concern for cross-reactivity.
Myth: The COVID-19 vaccine changes DNA
The COVID-19 vaccine does not change DNA. Different than vaccines for illnesses like the flu, COVID-19 vaccines don’t contain weakened or inactivated coronavirus. In fact, what the COVID-19 vaccine is doing is introducing small portions of mRNA [messenger RNA] — allowing our own cells to produce some of the protein, also known as the spike protein that’s found on the surface of the COVID-19 virus. This is no way changes our own DNA sequence.