There’s a reason why the testes are located outside the body, this is to keep them below body temperature, so they do not overheat. The human body is approximately 37 degrees Celsius and in order to produce healthy sperm, the testicles need to hang outside the body to keep them on average about two degrees cooler than the rest of the body.

Heat and sperm do not mix, in fact studies out of Harvard have revealed that increased scrotal temperatures were directly linked to reduced testicular function and sperm quality.

One study published in 2018 revealed that men who wore loose fitting underwear had a sperm concentration 25% higher than those who wore tight fitting underwear. Additionally, looser fitting underwear led to 17% higher total sperm count and a 33% higher motile count compared to the men who wore tighter underwear.

So, are boxers really better for sperm quality than briefs? The research has suggested that underwear choice does make a significant difference.

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Clinical reports have indicated the testicles produce both proteins, it will therefore make them relatively susceptible to viral infection and potential cell damage.

In terms of long COVID, the virus causes lingering damage to organs such as the heart and lungs, additionally it also appears to cause damage in the blood-testis barrier and reduces fertility by impacting sperm count and sperm quality. Negative effects on sperm quality have shown to also lead to birth defects in offspring.

Although there needs to be further investigations into the effect COVID-19 has on male fertility, it does appear that there is evidence to suggest the virus is having a detrimental impact on sperm production and sperm quality.

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Due to the large volume of misinformation circulating on social media, people may fall victim to vaccine-hesitancy and become entangled in the web of wild rumours that have no scientific evidence. The issue is that vaccine hesitancy and misinformation will breed fear and when women find themselves in a situation that places doubt in their mind, especially if you are undergoing fertility treatment.

Reliable research on COVID 19 vaccine impacts on women’s fertility found there is no increased risk of side effects among pregnant women who have received their covid-19 vaccine and none of the covid-19 vaccine currently approved or under review from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) cause infertility or sterilisation.

The purpose of the vaccine, as with all other vaccines, is to help train your body to develop antibodies that will fight against the covid-19 virus. There is currently no evidence that the vaccine causes a negative impact on fertility, pregnancy, or the development of the placenta.

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Scientists have previously established that COVID-19 will infect multiple organs around the body through two major proteins which act as “doors” for the virus: ACE2 receptors and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2).

Clinical reports have indicated the testicles produce both proteins, it will therefore make them relatively susceptible to viral infection and potential cell damage.

In terms of long COVID, the virus causes lingering damage to organs such as the heart and lungs, additionally it also appears to cause damage in the blood-testis barrier and reduces fertility by impacting sperm count and sperm quality. Negative effects on sperm quality have shown to also lead to birth defects in offspring.

Although there needs to be further investigations into the effects COVID-19 has on male fertility, it does appear that there is evidence to suggest the virus is having a detrimental impact on sperm production and sperm quality.

The post New information on the long term effects of COVID-19 on male fertility appeared first on Fertility First.

Pregnant women who are unvaccinated have a higher risk of needing hospitalisation for treatment for COVID than those who are vaccinated and have double the risk of having a stillbirth. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) highly recommends that women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant receive the covid-19 vaccine for the safety of the mother and the baby.

Extensive research has been gathered for practitioners and nursing staff in the maternity sector so they may provide their patients with the most up to date and accurate information. Misinformation will often arise if there are information gaps and as it is part of human nature to question, people will naturally look to seek out information in order to better understand the gaps.

There are two things to watch out for: misinformation and disinformation.

Misinformation is information that is not only false but is shared by people who do not intend to mislead others, whereas disinformation is false information that has been deliberately created with malicious intent.

This dangerous combination has been one of the leading causes of vaccine hesitancy and it is important to know how to address covid-19 vaccine misinformation and ensure you are getting the correct information.

Information from The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health organisation (WHO) and information provided to patients from The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and NSW Health are the sources patients should be relying on for the most up to date, reliable information on vaccines during this pandemic.

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There are numerous links between seafood or the “Mediterranean diet” and fertility, fish oil and omega-3 fatty acids being linked to greater improvement of testicular function and egg quality.

Tuna, salmon, oysters, lobster, and mussels are great sources of zinc and vitamin B12, which have also been linked to reducing the levels of DNA fragmentation in sperm.

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One common piece of information circulating is that the covid-19 vaccine can alter your DNA, which is incorrect. The advanced technology in mRNA vaccines such as Pfizer and Moderna give your body instructions on how to make the coronavirus spike protein and teaches your immune system what to do to help protect your body if you were to encounter the virus.

The mRNA cannot insert itself into your DNA for two reasons:

Firstly, the molecules have different chemistry. If this was possible, and mRNAs could randomly insert themselves into your DNA, this would scramble your genome and pass this onto future cells and generations, which would result in lifeforms being unable to survive.

Secondly, mRNA and DNA occur in two different parts of our cells (mRNA exits in the cytoplasm and DNA exists in the nucleus) and there are no transporter cells known to science that can carry mRNA into the nucleus.

According to RANZCOG, global evidence has shown that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe for pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive. In fact, the information published this year by the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists and the British Fertility Society was released amidst concerns that misinformation circulating was causing vaccine hesitancy amongst women looking to fall pregnant.

Kamlesh Khunti, professor of primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester stated that “There is absolutely no evidence, and no theoretical reason, that any of the vaccines can affect the fertility of women or men”.

The post Can I still get pregnant after getting the covid-19 vaccine? appeared first on Fertility First.

According to a recent article at the ABC, vaccine hesitancy and increased over the past two weeks and a lack of trust in the vaccines regarding their safety and effectiveness has been sited as the main reasons. One of the main causes for concern in women of reproductive age is if the vaccine has the potential to impact their fertility.

Obviously, we are learning more about the virus each day, and one of the top priorities was to develop and effective vaccine to help protect us from the effects the virus.

One piece of misinformation which continues to circulate is the suggestion that the COVID-19 vaccine could trigger antibodies that could attack the reproductive system, a claim that was debunked by the scientific community.

As we remain in lockdown and have limitless access to the internet, it comes as no surprise that many people may be falling down the misinformation rabbit hole and many of these false claims continue to circulate on social media platforms.

For peace of mind, the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists issued a statement in January which addressed this misinformation, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that the COVID-19 vaccines will affect fertility and that the claims are merely speculative and not supported by data.

Since this statement, scientists have continued to find no link between any menstrual changes and long term fertility and the vaccines, and there was no increased risk of miscarriages or placental abnormalities in women who received the Pfizer vaccine.

The effects of the COVID-19 virus, however, can have serious consequences in a healthy pregnancy.

While most people fortunately experience only mild symptoms if they contract the virus, pregnant women have a much higher risk of developing serious complications and being admitted to hospital, in extreme cases, some need ventilation. There is an increased risk of having a premature birth if you become unwell with COVID-19, although fortunately at this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the virus increases the likelihood of miscarriage or birth defects.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and your unborn baby from the COVID-19 virus is to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Professional medical advice from Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) has advised that pregnant women should be offered Pfizer at any stage in their pregnancy. The potential long-term effects of the COVID-19 virus are much more severe than the misinformation circulating about the vaccines.

As a team who dedicate our work to looking after our patients and helping them achieve their dream of creating a family, we want to reiterate the importance of getting your vaccination, whether you’re currently pregnant or wanting to fall pregnant. The health, safety and wellbeing of our patients is our top priority.

Please stay safe and stay well.

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One of the reasons why people may hesitate to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is the potential negative impact it may have on fertility as reproductive toxicity was not initially evaluated during the early clinical trials.

A recent study released this month has assessed the sperm parameters before and after the mRNA vaccine administration and has shown that after two doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine, there was no significant impact.

While these are preliminary findings and obviously there is much more to the COVID-19 virus we have yet to learn, the study’s timeframe includes the full lifecycle of the sperm and is a piece of reassuring news for patients looking to fall pregnant.

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