In Spain and Latin America, the messages that warn that these drugs cause infertility or that there is a desire to sterilize the vaccinated have been disseminated by denialist websites and associations, such as Doctors for the Truth or Biologists for the Truth.
But the truth is that there is not even a theoretical approach to suggest that drugs have these effects. That is, there is no logic that supports those lies or fake news disseminated by WhatsApp and social networks.
According to Juan Martínez Hernández, consulted by the EFE agency, neither messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines -such as Pfizer and Moderna-, nor viral vector vaccines -as is the case of the AstraZeneca and Janssen- contain elements that can act in this way in the human organism. And he adds that neither the databases of adverse effects nor the scientific literature reflect reproductive problems linked to the covid-19 vaccines.
Vaccines do not affect fertility in men
In the UK, the Association of Clinical and Reproductive Scientists and the British Fertility Society have jointly published an informational guide stating that “there is absolutely no evidence, nor any theoretical reason, that either vaccine may affect the fertility of women or men “.
Among the investigations carried out, a study prepared by the University of Miami and published on June 17 by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) stands out.
It concludes that Pfizer or Moderna vaccines are “safe for male reproduction” and do not have a negative impact on male fertility. The researchers examined 45 healthy male volunteers between the ages of 18 and 35 and assessed sperm parameters before and after vaccinating them.
The COVID-19 disease does carry reproductive risks
On the contrary, the person in charge of this study, Ranjith Ramasamy, has warned that the disease itself carries more risks, since “Covid-19 could cause male infertility and sexual dysfunction, but vaccines cannot.”
Other studies carried out with animals “do not indicate direct or indirect harmful effects with respect to toxicity for reproduction”, recalls Carlos Fernández Moriano, from the General Council of Pharmaceutical Associations. Fernández Moriano points out, however, that studies are yet to be completed, something also indicated by the US health information service for the media and Health Desk verifiers.
“Until now, no data suggests any damage or risk,” explains this service in response to a query from EFE Verifica. Although it specifies that “Scientists are collecting data to continue studying the relationship between covid-19 vaccines and fertility to ensure that the vaccines do not pose any potential risk or harm to fertility.”
COVID-19 threatens pregnant women the most, they recommend that they get vaccinated
In any case, as the Health Desk itself points out, “the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) has counseled all women over 18 years of age, women planning to become pregnant, all pregnant women and nursing mothers get vaccinated “, while warning of the risks of contracting covid-19 during pregnancy.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that on Wednesday, August 11, the United States health authorities warned that pregnant women who give birth while sick with COVID-19 are up to five times more likely to be hospitalized. And, if they fall into the emergency room, they are ten times more likely to die.
In conclusion, there is no scientific evidence or theoretical approach to suggest that COVID-19 vaccines can cause infertility in women or men, compared to the risks that the disease itself carries, although the researchers are continuing their analysis to find out more information.
With information from EFE