ThedaCare doctor advocates vaccine for pregnant women

Divjak claims COVID-19 vaccines won’t impact women’s menstrual cycle or cause erectile dysfunction in men

The vaccines for COVID-19 will not impact a woman’s ability to get pregnant or cause men to suffer erectile dysfunction, according to a family medicine physician in Shawano.

“The Delta variant, which also is proving to be more severe than earlier COVID-19 variants, creates even more urgency around getting vaccinated,” said Dr. Angela Divjak, with ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano. “It’s vital for patients to protect themselves and the community, because we’re not through the pandemic by any means.”

If you are currently trying to become pregnant or would like to get pregnant in the future, you may get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Divjak. There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause any fertility problems for either women or men, she said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that pregnant women should get the COVID-19 vaccine, strengthening past language that stated it was safe for them to get the vaccine.

There is no evidence that the vaccine causes any problems with pregnancy, including with development of the placenta, according to Divjak, but as with all vaccines, the vaccine is being monitored carefully for side effects.

“Research shows pregnant women who contract the COVID-19 virus are at greater risk for certain complications, including a greater likelihood of miscarriage, premature birth or cesarean delivery,” Divjak said. “Additionally, pregnant women who have diabetes or other underlying conditions may be at greater risk of serious illness due to COVID-19.”

Along with similar conversations, vaccinated mothers may safely breastfeed their infants.

“In fact, breast milk is the best way to help your infant both get the nutrition she needs as well as to protect the infant against many kinds of illnesses,” Divjak said. “It will help your baby to build stronger defenses overall.”

Early research indicates infants may receive some antibodies from breast milk that can help protect them from COVID-19, said Divjak.

Mothers who are not vaccinated should take extra precautions around their infants if they suspect they’ve been exposed to the COVID-19 virus, Divjak said. That should include mask-wearing and careful hand-washing and sanitizing any time the mother plans to touch the infant or express breast milk.

Another myth that is currently circulating is that a woman’s menstrual cycle can be impacted by being near someone who received a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Your menstrual cycle can be impacted by a number of factors, including stress, infections, changes to your schedule or changes in diet and exercise or sleep problems,” Divjak said. “Your cycle cannot be affected by being in close proximity to someone who is vaccinated.”

Men can safely get the COVID-19 vaccine without concern about erectile dysfunction. Divjak said that getting vaccinated may help protect men from problems with erectile dysfunction that have been observed after testing positive for the virus.

While the link between COVID-19 and erectile dysfunction hasn’t been proven, the virus can cause blood vessel inflammation, lung damage that reduces oxygen in the blood, changes in sense of smell and infection of testosterone-producing cells — all of which can lead to erectile dysfunction, she said.

“Stress-related mental health effects of the pandemic also can impact erectile function,” said Divjak. “The vaccine itself cannot cause erectile dysfunction.”

Additionally, erectile dysfunction after the COVID-19 virus can be an indicator of greater vascular damage that has been noted as a long-term impact in some people who have had the virus, according to Divjak.

For information about COVID-19, to schedule a vaccine, find a testing location, view online care options and community resources, as well as other important news and updates, visit thedacarecovid19.org.

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