Impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on women’s reproductive health
Women of reproductive age are often excluded from research studies on new interventions such as medications or vaccines. As a result, information on the safety of such interventions on female reproductive health outcomes is lacking. As SARS-CoV-2 vaccination became widely available in early 2021, so did concerns about the potential impact of vaccination on female reproductive health. Unsubstantiated claims were made on social media that the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could damage the human placenta and result in infertility and miscarriage. This may have heightened vaccine hesitancy in some individuals. Pregnant people, and those who may conceive, are among those identified as having lower SARS-CoV-2 vaccine uptake. Furthermore, certain minority groups have raised concern about the long-term effects of SARS-CoV2 vaccination on fertility, which could be a contributing factor to their lower rates of vaccination. Well-conducted, population-based studies are urgently needed to understand whether there is any adverse effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on women’s reproductive health, with the ultimate goal of improving vaccine uptake, especially among identified high-hesitancy groups.
