The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (ACOG) and Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine have released official statements regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in terms of male and female fertility and/or women who are already pregnant.
According to ASRM, ACOG and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine, the COVID-19 vaccine should be offered to pregnant and lactating women and does not recommend withholding the vaccine from patients who are planning to conceive. Each organisation has emphasised that “patients undergoing fertility treatment and pregnant patients should be encouraged to receive vaccination based on eligibility criteria”.
For men, the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR) recommend that:
- The COVID-19 vaccine should not be withheld from men desiring fertility who meet criteria for vaccination, and
- COVID-19 vaccines should be offered to men desiring fertility, similar to men not desiring fertility, when they meet criteria for vaccination.
It should be noted that about 16% of men in the Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial experienced fever after the second dose. Fevers can cause temporary declines in sperm production. Thus, if a man experiences fever as the result of the COVID-19 vaccine, he may experience a temporary decline in sperm production, but that would be similar to or less than if the individual experienced fever from developing COVID-19 or for other reasons.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our clinic or visit the WHO or the Australian government’s Department of Health for additional information. Alternatively, please read the Australian government’s COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy.
If you would like an additional sources regarding the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, please visit the following websites:
