JamiiTalks
JF Advocacy Team
- Aug 7, 2018
- 625
- 938
Wataalamu wa Afya wanaeleza kuwa nadharia zote zinazozihusisha Chanjo za #Coronavirus na kupunguza nguvu za kiume na mfumo wa uzazi kwa mwanaume sio za kweli.
Aidha kutokana na tafiti mbalimbali zilizofanywa juu ya suala hili Wataalamu wanabainisha kuwa Chanjo za corona zimetengenezwa ili kujenga mfumo wa kinga mwilini wakati mfumo wa uzazi unajitegemea.
Hivyo, wataalamu wanasisitiza kuwa chnjo haiongezi wala kupunguza nguvu za kiume.
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As of May 2021, we have evidence that the mRNA vaccines do not affect male fertility.
A study (still in preprint) of 43 male IVF patients at a hospital in Israel compared their semen parameters before and after receiving two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers found no decrease in sperm count or motility (the percentage of sperm that are “swimming”) after vaccination. This was true for men with and without male-factor infertility.
About 16% of vaccine recipients experience a mild-moderate fever. We know from studies on influenza and other febrile (fever-causing) illnesses that a fever can cause a temporary drop in sperm production. However, the studies explored above do not demonstrate any effect of fever on sperm count or motility.
While these parameters are correlated with your likelihood of conception, they are imperfect predictors of fertility. The studies above are small, and don’t look at sperm morphology (the percentage of sperm that are the proper shape and structure) or genetic health (sperm DNA fragmentation). Nonetheless, they add to the bank of scientific knowledge that reassures us that COVID-19 vaccination will not impact male fertility.
One preprint study, submitted in May 2021, found no difference in sperm characteristics of 43 men before and after vaccination with Pfizer. The volunteers came from a pool of men receiving IVF services, and 32% of the participants already had ineffective sperm.
Another study published in JAMA quantified sperm volume of 45 men before and after two doses of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer or Moderna) and saw no decrease in sperm count 70 days – the life cycle of a sperm – following the second dose. In fact, it found that semen volume, sperm count and sperm motility all significantly increased.
Eight of the men had low sperm count prior to vaccination, but this increased to normal levels after.
“Because the vaccines contain mRNA and not the live virus, it is unlikely that the vaccine would affect sperm parameters,” the authors point out in the paper.
In 2017, about seven in 1000 men of reproductive age were affected by male infertility. With 2.8 billion people fully vaccinated globally, we would expect to see a significant and large increase in reported male infertility in 2021 – except we haven’t seen this reported.
The International Federation of Fertility Societies, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the British Fertility Society and the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists have all released statements that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility.
There were no Therapeutic Goods Administration reports of infertility or fertility issues following the administration of 28.7 million vaccine doses in Australia, but there were six mentions of penile discomfort. There was no established link, however, between the vaccine and the discomfort.
Regardless, public concern does remind us that research about COVID-19, vaccines and male fertility is crucial.
Aidha kutokana na tafiti mbalimbali zilizofanywa juu ya suala hili Wataalamu wanabainisha kuwa Chanjo za corona zimetengenezwa ili kujenga mfumo wa kinga mwilini wakati mfumo wa uzazi unajitegemea.
Hivyo, wataalamu wanasisitiza kuwa chnjo haiongezi wala kupunguza nguvu za kiume.
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Do any of the COVID-19 vaccines affect male fertility?
Research on COVID-19 vaccines and male fertility
As of May 2021, we have evidence that the mRNA vaccines do not affect male fertility.
A study (still in preprint) of 43 male IVF patients at a hospital in Israel compared their semen parameters before and after receiving two doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Researchers found no decrease in sperm count or motility (the percentage of sperm that are “swimming”) after vaccination. This was true for men with and without male-factor infertility.
The bigger picture
Initially, while organizations like the Society for Male Fertility and Urology and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction were not concerned about long-term effects of the COVID-19 vaccine on male fertility, they did warn about the possibility of a short-term impact on sperm count after the COVID-19 vaccine due to fever.About 16% of vaccine recipients experience a mild-moderate fever. We know from studies on influenza and other febrile (fever-causing) illnesses that a fever can cause a temporary drop in sperm production. However, the studies explored above do not demonstrate any effect of fever on sperm count or motility.
While these parameters are correlated with your likelihood of conception, they are imperfect predictors of fertility. The studies above are small, and don’t look at sperm morphology (the percentage of sperm that are the proper shape and structure) or genetic health (sperm DNA fragmentation). Nonetheless, they add to the bank of scientific knowledge that reassures us that COVID-19 vaccination will not impact male fertility.
Do vaccines cause infertility in males?
Currently there is no evidence that sperm count, semen volume and sperm motility are negatively affected by a vaccine. In fact, there is no evidence that any vaccine at all causes infertility in either males or females.One preprint study, submitted in May 2021, found no difference in sperm characteristics of 43 men before and after vaccination with Pfizer. The volunteers came from a pool of men receiving IVF services, and 32% of the participants already had ineffective sperm.
Another study published in JAMA quantified sperm volume of 45 men before and after two doses of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer or Moderna) and saw no decrease in sperm count 70 days – the life cycle of a sperm – following the second dose. In fact, it found that semen volume, sperm count and sperm motility all significantly increased.
Eight of the men had low sperm count prior to vaccination, but this increased to normal levels after.
“Because the vaccines contain mRNA and not the live virus, it is unlikely that the vaccine would affect sperm parameters,” the authors point out in the paper.
In 2017, about seven in 1000 men of reproductive age were affected by male infertility. With 2.8 billion people fully vaccinated globally, we would expect to see a significant and large increase in reported male infertility in 2021 – except we haven’t seen this reported.
The International Federation of Fertility Societies, the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the British Fertility Society and the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists have all released statements that there is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility.
There were no Therapeutic Goods Administration reports of infertility or fertility issues following the administration of 28.7 million vaccine doses in Australia, but there were six mentions of penile discomfort. There was no established link, however, between the vaccine and the discomfort.
Regardless, public concern does remind us that research about COVID-19, vaccines and male fertility is crucial.
