COVID-19 vaccines do not affect your ability to get pregnant. Large studies comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated women have found no differences in pregnancy success rates, and major medical organizations recommend the vaccine for people who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The concern is understandable, but the evidence across multiple areas of reproductive health is consistently reassuring.
Pregnancy Rates Are the Same for Vaccinated Women
A study of more than 2,000 women aged 21 to 45 and their partners found that COVID-19 vaccination of either partner did not affect the likelihood of becoming pregnant. The CDC notes that recent studies have found no differences in pregnancy success rates among women who had antibodies from COVID-19 vaccines, from a recent COVID-19 infection, or who had no antibodies at all.
A meta-analysis pooling data from multiple studies confirmed these findings with more precision. Clinical pregnancy rates were virtually identical between vaccinated and unvaccinated groups, with no statistically significant difference. Ongoing pregnancy rates followed the same pattern. Whether researchers looked at pregnancies confirmed by blood tests or by ultrasound, vaccination made no measurable difference.
Egg Supply Is Not Affected
One way researchers measure a woman’s remaining egg supply is through a hormone called AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone). Ten studies examined whether COVID-19 vaccination changed AMH levels, and the pooled results showed no significant change. Individual studies from Israel, Turkey, and the Czech Republic all reached the same conclusion: AMH levels before and after vaccination were essentially unchanged.
One Turkish study did observe a temporary dip in AMH levels at six months after vaccination, but levels bounced back by nine months. The overall body of evidence shows that vaccination does not reduce ovarian reserve in any lasting way.
IVF Outcomes Are Unaffected
For people going through in vitro fertilization, the data is equally reassuring. A systematic review of IVF studies found no significant differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients across every key outcome: the number of eggs retrieved, the number of mature eggs, fertilization rates, implantation rates, clinical pregnancy rates, and ongoing pregnancy rates. Multiple research teams independently reached the same conclusion after controlling for other factors that influence IVF success.
Sperm Quality Stays the Same
Fertility involves both partners, and the vaccine’s effect on male reproductive health has also been studied. A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing sperm samples before and after vaccination found no significant differences in sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, or semen volume. If your partner is vaccinated, their fertility is not compromised either.
The Placental Protein Theory Has Been Tested
Early in the vaccine rollout, a claim circulated online that the spike protein in COVID-19 vaccines resembled a protein called syncytin-1, which is essential for placenta formation. The theory suggested that vaccine-generated antibodies might mistakenly attack the placenta and cause infertility. Researchers directly tested this claim.
A study published in PLOS Biology examined blood samples from 96 vaccinated participants across two independent groups and found no increase in antibodies targeting syncytin-1 after vaccination with either of the two major mRNA vaccines. The same study also vaccinated mice during early pregnancy and found no increase in birth defects or growth problems. This was the largest study of its kind, and it found no support for the placental protein theory.
Menstrual Changes Are Minor and Temporary
You may have heard that the vaccine can affect your period, and that part is true, though the effect is small. A U.S. study of nearly 4,000 women found that vaccinated women experienced roughly a one-day shift in cycle length compared to unvaccinated women. A UK study found a similar small delay. In both cases, the change was less than one day on average, which falls below what most cycle-tracking apps would even register as a difference.
These changes were temporary and self-limiting. Cycles returned to their normal patterns within a few months. All major studies on this topic concluded that the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on menstrual cycles has no long-term clinical consequences and does not signal any impact on fertility.
What Health Organizations Recommend
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that patients receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine at any point during pregnancy, when planning to become pregnant, during the postpartum period, or while breastfeeding. The CDC echoes this guidance. These recommendations are based on the accumulated evidence showing no harm to fertility or pregnancy outcomes, combined with the known risks that COVID-19 infection itself poses during pregnancy, including higher rates of preterm birth and severe illness.
There is no recommended waiting period between getting vaccinated and trying to conceive. If you are planning a pregnancy, vaccination is considered safe at any point in that timeline.