IVF treatment serves as an objective study model to check ovarian and endometrial function in women who have been vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. 

Early in the beginning of last year, following unsubstantiated claims suggesting a negative impact of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines on female fertility, many women decided to withhold vaccination until more was known about mRNA vaccines and their impact on reproductive function.

Ovarian, as well as endometrial function are the hallmarks of reproductive potential and it is their evaluation which can provide important information regarding any associations with potentially harmful insults. Ovarian steroidogenesis, the endocrine production of reproductive hormones, as well as ovulation and release of mature eggs, are objective parameters reflecting ovarian function. Measurement of estradiol and progesterone provide an easy and reliable method to monitor ovulation. Likewise, endometrial function can be judged through successful implantation of an early developing embryo.

IVF treatment provides a unique opportunity not only to treat infertility, but also to gather useful diagnostic information, both for ovarian and endometrial function. Following conventional hormonal stimulation, the ovarian follicle, the basic machinery unit of the ovary, is being put at test, as reflected by its ability to respond to treatment by producing a number of developing follicles and rising levels of reproductive hormones; then the ability of the endometrium to receive embryos following in vitro fertilisation is evaluated through successful implantation and positive pregnancy testing, as reflected by rising beta-hCG values.

In this context, in order to study whether SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines influence female fertility, researchers have compared IVF treatment cycle outcomes in women who were vaccinated against SARS-CoV2, with those who had not been vaccinated at the time of IVF treatment. So far, results have been very reassuring, as no difference has been shown in ovarian and endometrial function, as a result of SARS-Cov-2 mRNA vaccines. Ovarian steroidogenesis, number of eggs produced, numbers of mature eggs reaching the IVF lab, number of fertilised eggs and good quality embryos, as well as probability of having a positive pregnancy test following embryotransfer, have all been similar in the populations studied. 

these findings are very reassuring that mRNA vaccines do not appear to have a negative impact on reproductive function of women, so every effort should be made to communicate this in all women of reproductive age who contemplate pregnancy and may have been reluctant to do so far.

Through such an objective study model as in IVF treatment, it is easy to evaluate ovarian and endometrial function and highlight any possible associations with events taking place at the time of treatment as in vaccination of women against SARS-Cov-2. Real world data as such, provide reassuring information that mRNA vaccines against SARS-Cov-2 do not affect fertility in women.

Although the number of women studied so far is small and the time interval following vaccination still short, these findings are very reassuring that mRNA vaccines do not appear to have a negative impact on reproductive function of women, so every effort should be made to communicate this in all women of reproductive age who contemplate pregnancy and may have been reluctant to do so far.

©2021, Nicholas Christoforidis, Fertility Matters
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