Study: Covid-19 shots don't affect fertility, but the disease might

Vaccines for the coronavirus don't affect the fertility of men or women, but the virus "could cause short-term fertility problems in men," Robert Preidt reports for HealthDay News.

The study debunks a fear that has been an obstacle to vaccination for some people who want to have children.

"Many reproductive-aged individuals have cited concerns about fertility as a reason for remaining unvaccinated," said lead study author Amelia Wesselink, a research assistant professor of epidemiology at the Boston University School of Public Health.

"Wesselink's team analyzed data from more than 2,100 American and Canadian women and their male partners in an ongoing study of women trying to conceive," Preidt reports. Senior researcher Lauren Wise, a BU epidemiology professor, said the study's large sample and diverse population make it strong.

"The researchers found that the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines had no effect on male or female fertility," Preidt reports. However, men infected with Covid-19 may have a temporary decline in their fertility, the investigators found."

The study, published Jan. 20 in the American Journal of Epidemiology, supports previous research linking Covid-19 infection in men with reproductive dysfunction, including poor sperm quality. The researchers said the findings should ease concerns prompted by anecdotal reports of women having menstrual cycle changes after getting a coronavirus vaccination.