Fertility: Get vaccinated against Covid-19 if you want to have children or not?

fertility
Get vaccinated against Covid-19 if you want to have children or not?

Does the Covid-19 vaccine lead to infertility?

Does the corona vaccination make you sterile? This question has haunted social media in recent weeks. The alleged reason for this was, from a scientific point of view, rather absurd, but the uncertainty especially among women who wanted to have children was so great that many doctors and scientists were forced to take a stand. The Paul Ehrlich Institute, for example, it is the Federal Institute for Vaccines, refers to the thorough tests of the vaccines and denies the danger: "With this data situation, the best possible security for the exclusion of damage to reproductive organs and impairment is in the context of a drug approval reproduction in humans guaranteed. "

What applies to women who are about to have fertility treatment?

But apart from the fact that the Covid-19 vaccination will most certainly not damage fertility: does it make sense for women who want to have children? The European Society for Reproductive Medicine (ESHRE) has dealt with this question and issued a statement on COVID-19 vaccinations and fertility treatments. Briefly asked: Should women who are planning fertility treatment get vaccinated against the virus? When weighed up, there are several reasons for this: The risk of possible damage from the vaccination is classified as very low. On the other hand, there is the risk of severe disease progression with Covid 19 infections. These are rare in pregnant women, but they do happen. And: a high fever in early pregnancy is a risk factor for the embryo.

There is a recommendation from the experts for two groups of women

The problem: There are no long-term studies on the corona vaccines yet. For this reason, ESHRE does not generally recommend that all women who wish to have children get vaccinated. However, the experts expressly recommend the corona vaccination for two groups, namely women with certain previous illnesses and women who have a higher risk of infection. Quote: "In women with pre-existing conditions that increase the risk of pregnancy complications and / or Covid-19 disease, consideration should be given to encouraging vaccination before conception. The same applies to women who are at increased risk of Sars -CoV-2 infection and cannot avoid it. "

Please wait a little longer after the vaccination

In addition, ESHRE recommends waiting a few days before conception after vaccination. The reason: the vaccine breaks down in the body within a few days. Couples who want to be extra safe should postpone fertility treatment for up to two months.

These recommendations can of course also be applied to couples who are planning a child without fertility treatment. And another tip: If at some point there is enough vaccine for everyone, the partner and close relatives can get vaccinated, thus creating "cocoon protection" and at least reducing the risk of infection for the woman.

sources

ESHRE: COVID-19 vaccination and assisted reproduction.
Paul Ehrlich Institute: FAQ COVID-19 vaccines – safety and effectiveness

This article originally appeared on Eltern.de.