The new study, the first to prospectively assess the relationship between preconception shown that COVID-19 vaccines do not cause infertility or increase the risk of pregnancy-related issues, including miscarriages. Despite this evidence, people are still wary of potential negative impacts of the vaccine on pregnancy.
Recently, a study conducted by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) has offered more comprehensive information about the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for individuals who are considering pregnancy.
Published in the journal Human Reproduction, the study found no increased risk of early or late miscarriage as a result of male or female partners getting a COVID-19 vaccine prior to conceiving.
Insights from a New Study on Vaccine Safety in Preconception
The study is the first to evaluate the risk of early miscarriage (less than eight weeks’ gestation) following preconception COVID-19 vaccination, as well as the first to evaluate male vaccination and miscarriage. The researchers hope these results provide useful information for individuals planning to become pregnant, as well as their healthcare providers.
“These findings should be replicated in other populations, but are reassuring for couples who are planning pregnancy,” says lead author Jennifer Yland, an epidemiology PhD student at BUSPH at the time of the study.
Study Details and Findings
For the study, Yland and colleagues analyzed survey data on COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage among female and male participants in the BUSPH-based Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), an ongoing DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead211
The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the National Science Foundation.