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Mr Parijat Bhattacharjee, Private Consultant Gynaecologist, Harrow, Brentford, Northwood, London, UK / Media / Videos » COVID19 and fertility your questions answered - Online interview

COVID19 and fertility your questions answered - Online interview

COVID19 and fertility your questions answered - Online interview
Posted on: 03-Jul-2026

This online interview video, titled "COVID19 and fertility your questions answered - Online interview" by Gynae Consultant, addresses the intersection of COVID-19 with reproductive health, defines modern concepts of subfertility, and breaks down lifestyle recommendations for optimizing natural and assisted conception.

COVID-19, Pregnancy, and Vaccines

  • Fertility Impact: Current clinical evidence demonstrates that a COVID-19 infection does not impact fertility. It has no negative bearing on spontaneous conception or the success rates of fertility treatments, such as ovulation induction or IVF.
  • Pregnancy and Risks: The vast majority of pregnant women who contract COVID-19 remain entirely asymptomatic or experience mild symptoms. However, a small minority—particularly those in their third trimester or with pre-existing medical conditions—may experience severe complications.
  • Vaccination Guidance: Major bodies like the British Fertility Society (BFS) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) advise against deferring fertility treatments or investigations to wait for a vaccine. While the AstraZeneca vaccine carries a very small statistical risk of severe blood clots (roughly 242 cases out of 22 million first doses in the UK at the time), mRNA vaccines like Pfizer or Moderna are highly preferred for pregnant individuals due to robust reassuring safety data from over 100,000 pregnancies in the US.

Causes of Subfertility

The term "subfertility" is now preferred over "infertility" because most reproductive challenges can be effectively managed with modern medical interventions. Subfertility typically stems from four evenly split categories:

  • Male Factors (25%–30%): Investigated via a semen analysis. Underlying structural issues (like a varicocele or a physical blockage following hernia surgery) can often be surgically repaired. If a blockage is uncorrectable, active sperm can be retrieved via simple day-case procedures. Hormonal imbalances affecting production can be medically managed, and severe cases are bypassed using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).
  • Unexplained Subfertility (25%–30%): Instances where diagnostic testing shows normal baseline functions, which may simply come down to statistical chance. Assisted reproduction (IVF) offers high success rates for this category.
  • Ovulatory Disorders (25%): Most commonly driven by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). This area has seen excellent treatment success using simple oral medications (like clomifene or letrozole), laparoscopic ovarian drilling, or gonadotropin superovulation.
  • Structural and Tubal Defects (10%–15%): Includes fallopian tube damage, uterine septums, endometrial scarring, fibroids, or polyps that distort the uterine cavity. These are typically managed through minimally invasive day-case surgeries.

The Critical Role of Age and Lifestyle Factors

Maternal Age

Maternal age remains the single most important variable in female fertility. Because women are born with a finite pool of eggs that age alongside them, both egg quantity and quality decline significantly after age 35, and drop sharply after ages 38 to 40. Elective egg freezing is highlighted as a viable preventative option for individuals wishing to preserve their younger oocytes for future use.

Lifestyle Optimizations

Rather than over-medicalizing early conception, the video emphasizes core lifestyle factors that naturally improve sperm and egg quality:

  • BMI: Maintaining an ideal Body Mass Index between 19 and 24 supports stable hormonal balance and regular ovulation.
  • Substance Avoidance: Eliminating smoking, recreational drugs, and heavy alcohol intake removes toxic exposures that actively degrade sperm and egg health.
  • Exercise: Moderate regular exercise is highly beneficial, but excessive, exhausting exercise should be avoided as it can alter central hormones and disrupt ovulation.
  • Optimizing Pre-existing Health: Ensuring tight management of underlying conditions like diabetes or thyroid disorders prior to trying to conceive is critical.
  • Occupational and Thermal Exposures: Men should avoid prolonged exposure to intense heat (such as long-distance driving) and toxic chemicals or pesticides, as these environments damage sperm count.
  • Timing: Optimizing intercourse around the peak fertile window—typically between days 8 and 14 of a standard 28-to-30-day cycle—maximizes the chances of spontaneous pregnancy.