Recent research from Boston University indicates that COVID-19 vaccines do not heighten the risk of miscarriage in those planning to conceive. This conclusion aligns with current health guidelines, encouraging vaccination for individuals intending to become pregnant.
This groundbreaking study is the first to prospectively examine the link between COVID-19 vaccination before conception in couples and the incidence of miscarriage, suggesting a slightly lower miscarriage risk in vaccinated couples trying to conceive.
Despite numerous studies debunking the myth of COVID-19 vaccines causing infertility or elevating pregnancy complications, including miscarriages, apprehensions about the vaccine’s effect on pregnancy persist.
The Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH) recently conducted a study providing more in-depth insights into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines for prospective parents.
Published in “Human Reproduction,” the research found no correlation between the vaccination of either partner before conception and an increased occurrence of early or late miscarriages.
Insights from the Latest Research on Preconception Vaccine Safety
This unique study investigates the likelihood of early miscarriage (before eight weeks of pregnancy) following vaccination against COVID-19 prior to conception and is the first to consider the impact of male vaccination on miscarriage rates. The researchers aim to offer valuable data for individuals planning pregnancy and their healthcare providers.
Jennifer Yland, a former epidemiology PhD student at BUSPH and the study’s lead author, believes these findings, though needing validation in other groups, offer reassurance for couples contemplating pregnancy.
Details and Results of the Study
In this investigation, Yland and her team analyzed data from the BUSPH-managed Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), a comprehensive National Institutes of Health-funded study that tracks women from preconception through six months post-delivery. This specific analysis involved 1,815 women from the United States and Canada, monitored from December 2020 to November 2022, from their first positive pregnancy test to a miscarriage or other outcomes like induced abortion or reaching 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Of the female participants, 75% had been vaccinated against COVID-19 before pregnancy. About a quarter experienced miscarriages, predominantly before 8 weeks of pregnancy, but no elevated risk was linked to vaccination.
Miscarriage risks varied: 26.6% in unvaccinated women, 23.9% in those who received one vaccine dose before conception, 24.5% in those who completed the primary vaccine series before conception, 22.1% in those vaccinated three months prior to conception, and 20.1% in those who had only one dose of a two-dose vaccine before conception.
Yland notes that not only was the miscarriage rate among vaccinated women similar to that of women who conceived pre-pandemic, but the data also suggested a marginally lower miscarriage risk in vaccinated individuals compared to their unvaccinated counterparts.
Federal health authorities continue to advocate for COVID-19 vaccination in individuals planning to conceive, emphasizing the vaccine’s benefits over potential preconception or pregnancy-related vaccination risks.
The study, titled “A prospective cohort study of preconception COVID-19 vaccination and miscarriage” by Jennifer J Yland and colleagues, was published on October 20, 2023, in “Human Reproduction” (DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead211). Funding was provided 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about COVID-19 vaccine miscarriage study
Does the COVID-19 Vaccine Increase Miscarriage Risk in Preconception?
No, the study by Boston University researchers found no increased risk of miscarriage associated with COVID-19 vaccines in individuals planning to conceive. This aligns with health recommendations for vaccination in those planning pregnancy.
What Are the Key Findings of the Boston University Study on COVID-19 Vaccination and Miscarriage?
The study, first of its kind, found a marginally reduced risk of miscarriage among partners who were vaccinated and trying to conceive. It analyzed data from the Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO), involving 1,815 female participants in the US and Canada.
What Does the Study Say About Early Miscarriage Risk and Vaccination?
The research showed no correlation between early or late miscarriage and the vaccination of either partner before conception. It’s the first study to evaluate the risk of early miscarriage (less than eight weeks’ gestation) following preconception COVID-19 vaccination.
How Does This Study Impact Public Health Recommendations?
This study reinforces federal health officials’ recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in individuals planning to conceive, highlighting the vaccine’s safety during preconception or pregnancy and its benefits over potential risks.
Who Conducted the Study and Where Was It Published?
The study was conducted by researchers from the Boston University School of Public Health and published in the journal “Human Reproduction.” The lead author was Jennifer Yland, an epidemiology PhD student at BUSPH at the time of the study.
More about COVID-19 vaccine miscarriage study
- Boston University School of Public Health
- Human Reproduction Journal
- Pregnancy Study Online (PRESTO)
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- National Science Foundation
5 comments
Is this study really reliable? How can we be sure that the data is accurate? Just curious…
great news for couples planning to start a family. I was worried about this for a long time
did they consider other factors that might affect miscarriage risk? like age, health conditions etc.?
wow, really interesting to see how vaccines are safe even before conception, didn’t expect that!
So glad to read this, it’s been a topic of debate in so many forums. Finally, some clear answers.