BPAS comment on BMJ editorial on menstrual changes and COVID-19 vaccination

16 September 2021

Clare Murphy, Chief Executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), said –

“Vaccination against COVID-19 has had the single biggest impact on the numbers of those across the UK and the world experiencing serious illness or death as a result of the current pandemic. Despite this, women of reproductive age have been bombarded with conflicting messages about the safety of vaccination in relation to fertility and pregnancy.

“As Dr Male makes clear – there is absolutely no evidence that there is any impact on fertility or the health and wellbeing of pregnant women as a result of vaccination, and indeed these women are increasingly disproportionately hit by serious illness as a result of vaccine hesitancy.

“BPAS supports the provision of evidence-based healthcare, and we are pleased to see that this week the National Institutes of Health in the USA have awarded $1.67 million to research teams to examine any potential impact on menstruation related to COVID-19 vaccinations. Women’s experiences have been historically under-researched and studies focused on women under-funded – we are pleased that this investment would appear to be a step in the right direction.”

 

ENDS

For more information please contact press@bpas.org or call 07985 351751.

Notes to editors

The full BMJ editorial can be found here – https://www.bmj.com/content/374/bmj.n2211

Information about the NIH investment in studies regarding COVID-19 vaccination and menstrual changes can be found here – https://www.nichd.nih.gov/newsroom/news/083021-COVID-19-vaccination-menstruation

About BPAS

BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/

BPAS will soon launch England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We will provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service will give those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.