COVID vaccines do not affect fertility or pregnancy outcomes, Swedish research shows

There's

no link between COVID-19 vaccines and fertility problems or pregnancy complications, a new study has concluded. Despite online rumours, researchers found that vaccinated and unvaccinated women had nearly identical rates of childbirth and miscarriage.

COVID vaccine and fertility: What the Sweden study examined

The study came from Linköping University, where Toomas Timpka and his team looked at health records from almost 60,000 Swedish women between 18 and 45. Sweden's comprehensive national health system made it possible to track births, miscarriages, and vaccination history over several years. Around 75% of the women had received COVID shots between 2021 and 2024. Of those vaccinated, 97% had an mRNA vaccine.

Miscarriage and childbirth rates among vaccinated women

The numbers were close. Adjusted analysis showed a hazard ratio of 1.03 for childbirth and 0.86 for miscarriage among vaccinated women. Researchers said those differences are not statistically significant - meaning the variation could be due to chance rather than vaccine effects.

Timpka pointed out that despite what you might see on social media, there's still no real evidence connecting vaccines to infertility. He said that it is “very highly unlikely” that COVID vaccines have any meaningful negative effect on fertility or birth rates.

Findings match earlier research

The findings back up what earlier research has shown. Viki Male, a reproductive immunologist at Imperial College London who was not involved in the study, noted that many previous reports focused on couples undergoing fertility treatment. This study looked at the general population, which she said strengthens the conclusions.

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Researchers also adjusted for age and existing medical conditions - factors that can influence pregnancy outcomes.

COVID risk during pregnancy

Doctors continue to stress that the COVID-19 infection itself poses risks in pregnancy. Kevin Ault of Western Michigan University said patients still raise fertility questions - though large studies make those concerns easier to address.

Separate research published in JAMA found vaccinated pregnant women who later contracted COVID were less likely to be hospitalised or require intensive care compared with unvaccinated patients.

Birth rate trends over the years

Falling birth rates during the pandemic helped fuel vaccine myths. Study authors said social and economic factors - lockdowns, inflation, job uncertainty - are more plausible explanations. US fertility rates had already been declining for years before COVID vaccines became available.

Researchers said the overall evidence continues to show that vaccination benefits outweigh risks, particularly for women planning pregnancy.

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