Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Abstract

COVID-19 vaccination, especially vaccines that mimic the structure of the COVID-19 virus (mRNA vaccines),may be wrongly assumed to be disrupting factors affecting in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. This study aimsto evaluate any significant impact of COVID-19 vaccination in women undergoing IVF to improve vaccine complianceand promote COVID-19 eradication. This was a systematic review study. We searched studies publishedbetween 2020 and 2022 using databases such as PubMed, Cochrane, PMC, and CINAHL. Selected studies werecarefully analyzed to review the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine on IVF outcomes. Seven retrospective andprospective cohort studies, which involved 3232 female patients undergoing IVF, who also received full dosesof COVID-19 vaccinations (mRNA), were included. All studies in the present review showed that despite presentinganti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies after vaccination, there were no significant differences in IVF outcomes,implantation rates, and pregnancy rates. Contrary to the theory that presumed cross-reactivity between anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and the human syncytin-1 protein could affect syncytiotrophoblast formation and embryoimplantation. The present review concluded that COVID-19 vaccination does not result in any detrimentaleffects on IVF outcomes and is safe for women undergoing IVF treatment. The results of our study are importantto tackle misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccination and infertility that may cause vaccine hesitancy inwomen of reproductive age.

Keywords

• bnt16b2 vaccine
• covid-19 vaccine
• in vitro fertilization
• mrna vaccine
• sars-cov-2 virus