Despite persistent rumors, mRNA vaccines for coronavirus have no negative effect on frozen-thawed embryo transfer, a key element of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) fertility treatments, a new study from Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer published this week has found.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
The study tested a cohort of 428 women up to the age of 38 who had undergone IVF treatment, including 672 embryo transfers, and found there to be no difference in the rate of pregnancy from the transfers (23-26%) between the test group and control group.
The study group was comprised of 141 women either vaccinated with two mRNA coronavirus vaccines or recovered from the virus, and therefore all with COVID antibodies.
"One of the concerns raised by women of childbearing age around the world since the introduction of the coronavirus vaccine was that it could negatively impact IVF treatments," said Prof. Raoul Orvieto, Director of Sheba's Infertility and IVF Institute.
"Many concerned women and mothers have approached us on this issue. This groundbreaking study shows that the vaccine does not affect a woman's chance of getting pregnant using the FET method," Orvieto said.
Published in the journal Fertility and Sterility, this retrospective cohort study was initiated and led by Orvieto and included Dr. Adva Aizer, Dr. Meirav Noach-Hirsh, Dr. Olga Dratviman-Storobinsky, Dr. Ravit Nahum, Dr. Ronit Machtinger, Dr. Yuval Yung, and Dr. Jigal Haas as research partners.
The research is part of a series of studies initiated by Sheba Medical Center testing the impact of mRNA coronavirus vaccines on fertility in both women and men.
A study published in the medical journal Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology in May 2021 demonstrated that there was no difference in ovarian stimulation and embryological variables during IVF cycles conducted before and after receiving the mRNA coronavirus vaccine. Another recent study published in the medical journal Human Reproduction found that that the vaccinations had no negative effect on women's ovarian reserve within three months of receiving the vaccine, as expressed by unchanged Anti Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
