Fact or Fiction?
Fertility
FACT: Vaccines do not impact fertility.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, disinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine and fertility circulated on social media.
It was spread by people hoping to take advantage of people’s concerns and create fear.
We’re here to set the record straight: there is no evidence that vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine, impact fertility. Studies have repeatedly confirmed this.
There is no link between vaccines and infertility in men and women.
Fertility is the ability to conceive children or reproduce (i.e. the ability to get pregnant). There is no evidence of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, causing fertility problems in women or men. In fact, one study showed that women who got the COVID-19 vaccine were able to get pregnant at the same rate as women who did not get it. COVID-19 disease itself, however, has been linked to a temporary reduction in male fertility.
The HPV vaccine does not impact fertility, but HPV infection and disease can. Cervical cancer and other complications from HPV infection can make it harder to have a baby.
Vaccines are important for pregnant people.
There are even some vaccines that the CDC recommends people get when they are pregnant to help protect them and their baby from diseases. Vaccinations to protect against whooping cough, flu, COVID-19 and RSV are all recommended for pregnant people.
Scientists, OBGYNs (physicians who care for pregnant people and people with female reproductive systems), and other doctors agree COVID-19 vaccines do not impact fertility. But, catching COVID-19 while pregnant can make you very sick and can cause complications like babies being born too early. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect you and your baby from COVID-19. The vaccine is safe and effective before and during pregnancy. If you get vaccinated while pregnant, the antibodies that develop in your body can transfer through the placenta to help protect your baby from COVID-19 after they are born. The same is true for other vaccines that protect against whooping cough, flu, and RSV.