Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) Pregnancy Rates After COVID-19 Vaccination [ID: 1376042

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Public concern over the potential negative effect of COVID-19 vaccines on fertility has persisted, as confidence in COVID-19 vaccines remains low, especially in certain Midwestern populations. We evaluated the success of intrauterine inseminations (IUIs) in achieving pregnancy in women who self-report receiving at least one dose of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, compared with women who self-report declining the vaccine. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 109 IUI procedures in women receiving fertility treatment at the University of Missouri Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility clinic from October 2021 through September 2022. Participants were grouped based on self-reported COVID-19 vaccination status, prior to their IUI. The primary outcome was pregnancy after IUI, as verified by a serum pregnancy test. This study was performed under University of Missouri IRB approval (IRB #MU2062683). RESULTS: In comparing women self-reporting COVID-19 vaccination versus nonvaccination, no statistical differences were found for positive serum pregnancy tests after IUI (17.3% among vaccinated; 21.7% among nonvaccinated). Although these IUI success rates are higher than the national average, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rates (P=.6331). CONCLUSION: In this limited sample, self-reported COVID-19 vaccination status does not appear to have a significant negative effect on the ability to conceive a pregnancy with IUI. Further prospective studies should evaluate the effect of male partner or sperm donor vaccination, the number and type of COVID-19 vaccines received, pregnancy outcomes, and confounders. This study may help address the ongoing questions of whether the COVID-19 vaccines have a significant negative effect on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.