Are you looking for a balanced approach to the Covid Vaccine and Women's Health?
It seems that everywhere you turn there are different opinions on the covid vaccines. If you are looking for a balanced approach to the Covid vaccines and women's health I have tried to compile some reputable sources here.
So how do you filter through all the information? Especially if you want balanced information on the vaccine and women’s health, pregnancy, and fertility. Working primarily in female reproductive & hormone health, these are questions that have been coming up frequently amongst our professional communities. If you are looking for a balanced approach to the covid vaccines and women’s health I have tried to compile some reputable sources here.
Please, read on, and I hope you find this helpful to your decision making journey.
Please note, this was written May 15, 2021 – Covid-19 and Vaccine information is still developing and some things may change. And to be clear, I am not a doctor, I’m simply a reflexology therapist that likes to read and has a thing for evidence-based recommendations.
Weighing the Pros and Cons with Aviva Romm
With a particular focus on Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
First, Aviva Romm, I like how she weighs the pros and cons and gives what I feel is a balanced perspective. She did a live Q&A on her Instagram on Friday, April 23. You can find this at www.instagram.com/dr.avivaromm. To summarize her message, vaccines are still in experimental mode but in most cases benefits outweigh risks. Except for the J&J vaccine. She also has a balanced write up regarding the covid-19 virus in pregnancy to help understand the risks from that side of things. You can read this at: https://avivaromm.com/covid-19-in-pregnancy/
From this article:
“In my practice I am recommending, if at all possible, to wait until after your first trimester to receive the vaccines, if you plan to during pregnancy, and are not at otherwise high risk. Much of the data on pregnancy loss, from the now much cited NEJM article, does focus on those women who received the vaccination in the third trimester. I’m also suggesting that if you can, wait 6 to 12 weeks post vaccine to start trying to conceive or doing fertility treatments. Why not wait a little longer in the face of the unknown?” – Aviva Romm
Does the Covid-19 Vaccine Change Your Period?
This study summary https://www.bmj.com/content/373/bmj.n958/rr-2 (all sources linked within) talks about blood clots and heavy menstrual bleeding as a side effect of the vaccine. Higher risk in AZ but present with both. Risk factors are coagulation disorders or certain medications, so if those apply to you it’s worth factoring into your decision. Also, if anyone experiences heavy menstruation after your vaccine make sure to report that as a side effect.
According to this article: anecdotally these changes last only for the cycle following the vaccine. But more research is needed which is why it’s important to report this as a side effect. https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2021/04/experts-study-covid-19-vaccines-impact-on-menstruation.html
The Vaccine’s Effect on Fertility
On Fertility with the Vaccine: “there is no “plausible biological mechanism” by which the vaccine could affect your fertility, says Prof Lucy Chappell, a professor in obstetrics at King’s College London” – https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56012529
And the animal study investigating safety – from the UK gov medical professional handout for mRNA:
“Reproductive toxicity Reproductive and developmental toxicity were investigated in rats in a combined fertility and developmental toxicity study where female rats were intramuscularly administered with the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 prior to mating and during gestation (receiving 4 full human doses that generate relatively higher levels in rat due to body weight differences, spanning between pre-mating day 21 and gestational day 20). SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses were present in maternal animals from prior to mating to the end of the study on postnatal day 21 as well as in foetuses and offspring. There were no vaccine-related effects on female fertility, pregnancy, or embryo-foetal or offspring development. No data on the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine BNT162b2 are available on vaccine placental transfer or excretion in milk.” – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-pfizer-biontech-vaccine-for-covid-19/information-for-healthcare-professionals-on-pfizerbiontech-covid-19-vaccine
Update (June 23) – A note about PCOS
I’m adding this paragraph a month after writing the original blog post as there have been a number of articles recently talking about more serious effects of a Covid-19 infection in people with PCOS (Poly-Cystic Ovarian Syndrome).
In this observational study, using information derived from a UK primary care database, their data suggests a 51% higher risk of Covid-19 in people with PCOS vs those without PCOS. It also notes that women with PCOS have an increased risk of cardio-metabolic disease, which has been identified as a risk factor for Covid-19. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8052516/
So, as more research comes out I consider this another area to watch.
My Take On It All, If You’re Wondering…
I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine May 15th. I’m very grateful to have access to this, and I hope this is another step towards moving the worst of the pandemic behind us. As far as my advice to anyone out there, always first consider your Dr’s advice as they are your chosen healthcare provider. My take on this from the above information above: if you are low risk of contracting Covid-19, it may be beneficial to avoid a vaccine for at least one cycle before an IVF transfer or during first trimester due to the small risk of vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia. We are still waiting on research to confirm this is what is happening, so these things can change. I feel that for me personally the benefits outweigh the risks. I also feel strongly that it’s important to be empowered in your healthcare journey and make an informed decision that is suitable for you. It is hard when we’re in the midst of the risk, but good research takes time and we have to do the best we can with the information we have.
Here’s to well informed decision making and an empowered health journey. I hope you all stay healthy and happy out there!
Christine McInnis RCRT MARR
Willow Therapies
Headingley, MB Canada
christine@willowtherapies.ca
www.willowtherapies.ca
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