Vaccine and Fertility - Is There Cause for Concern?

We are well into the third year of COVID and there is still rampant misinformation about the virus and the vaccinations available to help fight it. We want to first acknowledge that there are many perspectives on vaccinations. We hear you. We see your fears. However, as medical professionals, it is our belief that vaccination against COVID is the best course of action to prevent significant health effects should you contract the virus. We realize that vaccination is a personal choice, however, as medical professionals, we stand on the side of vaccination to prevent severe illness. Innova Primary Care only has the absolute best interests of our patients at heart, this is especially true for those of childbearing age who are concerned about fertility. Let’s look closer at vaccinations and fertility for those of you who are concerned about this topic.

Vaccine and fertility misinformation

There is so much misinformation surrounding vaccines and fertility. Let’s address some of the rumors. Anxiety and fear surrounding the COVID vaccine and its impact on fertility are believed to have begun around a false rumor surrounding how the mRNA vaccine works against the coronavirus. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines use mRNA technology, rather than traditional vaccination methodology. These vaccines show the body how to create a spike protein, found on the outside surface of the coronavirus. Eventually, our immune systems begin to recognize the protein and create antibodies against it.

According to Johns Hopkins, the issue arose when there was confusion around the spike protein and another spike protein, syncytin-1 which assists the body with the growth and placenta attachment during pregnancy. Naturally, if this were accurate, there would be cause for concern. However, the two proteins are vastly different and do not impact one another.

Cycles post-vaccination

One of the many rumors associating the vaccine with infertility were the reports of heavy mensuration or altered cycles post-vaccination. The reality is that the immune system does affect menstruation cycles so it makes sense that a women’s period may be abnormal after receiving a dose of the vaccination. However, according to Dr. Alice Lu-Culligan, immunity and reproductive health expert at Yale University, this is to be expected.

Lu-Culligan is not the only one who sees the possibility either. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researcher, Kathryn Clancy found through her research survey on the effects of vaccines on menstruation, that thousands of respondents experienced changes to their cycles right after vaccine administration. However, there is no research to suggest that a short-term change in menstruation equates to infertility in any way.

Vaccine shedding

Vaccine shedding does not lead to infertility. Here is where a truth can be blown completely out of proportion and become a rumor. Vaccine shedding is a real thing, but it does not apply to the COVID-19 vaccinations because of their type. Shedding only occurs with live-attenuated vaccinations such as the MMR, Smallpox, and Chickenpox. These types of vaccinations, which contain a small amount of a weakened version of a virus, allow the body to create an immune response for infection by replicating within the body. The replication process that may lead to shedding does not mean that the pathogen is transmitted.

The whole vaccine and fertility story

It is important to know the whole story because false rumors can take root with partial information. Half-truths and misinformation have caused many to live in fear of vaccination. The truth is that research concludes harmful associations between COVID-19 vaccinations and fertility. In a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in January 2022, researchers found that vaccines for COVID-19 do not impair fertility in females or males. This study involved over 2,000 females between the ages of 21-45. The participants answered questionnaires and surveys every 8 weeks from December 2020 to September 2021.

Medical professionals support vaccination against COVID-19 for adolescents and those of childbearing ages among other populations.

The National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists all agree that vaccination against COVID is the best course of action and that vaccination does not impact fertility.

Innova Primary Care only has the bests interests of our patients at heart. We want to see each and every one of you thrive. We know that vaccination is a personal choice. However,we also stand with other medical professionals and health organizations who believe that vaccination is the best course of action.

We do recognize that this is a sensitive topic and welcome any questions you may have. We want you to have the most reliable and current medical information. This allows you the ability to make informed decisions. If you have questions about fertility and vaccination, please contact our office.

Non-Covered Services (08/07/2023)	Innova Fee
Each page of medical paperwork, letters or forms for completion within 5 business days.	$10.00
Expedited processing for medical paperwork, letters or forms for completion within 2 business days.	$25.00
Each Clinical response to a patient portal inquiry outside of an appointment or Medicare e-visit.	$15.00
Results already provided on the portal, printed and mailed outside an appointment	$15.00

Non-Service Fees (8/8/2023)	Innova Fee
Patient late cancellation fee (less than 24 hours notice/10 minutes late for appointment)	$25.00
No-show fee for missing a routine appointment	$50.00
No-Show of an Annual Wellness Visit	$100.00

*Some of the most commonly provided services at Innova	Innova Fee	CPT Code
*Established Patient Office Visit Level 3	$111.00	99213
*Established Patient Office Visit Level 4	$157.00	99214
*Injection in deep muscle or subcutis	$29.00	96372
*Medical Service provided on holiday eve, holiday or weekend	$28.00	99051
*Chronic Care Management (Medicare program)	$61.00	99490
*Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 18 - 39 years old	$123.00	99395
*Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 40-64 years old	$134.00	99396
*In office Flu Swab	$17.00	87804
*Immunization injection administered	$29.00	90471
*Steroid (Injectable) Medication	$8.00	J0702
Treatment of used to clear a skin lesion of pus to start the healing process	$177.00	10060
Treatment of used to clear a skin lesion of pus to start the healing process	$306.00	10061
Procedure where a small round piece of tissue is sent to the lab for biopsy	$180.00	11104
Skin tag removal of 1 lesion	$128.00	11200
Skin tag removal of more than 1 lesion	$27.00	11201
Shave removal of skin lesion on midsection less than 0.5 cm	$145.00	11300
Shave removal of skin lesion on midsection 0.6 cm to 1.0 cm	$174.00	11301
Shave removal of skin lesion on midsection 1.0 to 1.2 cm	$197.00	11302
Shaving of epidermal or dermal lesion, single lesion, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia	$153.00	11305
Shave removal of a single lesion, scalp, neck, hands, feet, genitalia	$175.00	11306
Shave removal of a single lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips less than 0.5 cm	$166.00	11310
Shave removal of a single lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips 0.6 cm to 1 cm	$196.00	11311
Shave removal of a single lesion, face, ears, eyelids, nose, lips 1.0 cm to 2.0 cm	$223.00	11312
Excision of benign (normal) lesion including margins 0.6 cm to 1 cm	$223.00	11401
Nailbed removal	$164.00	11730
Removal of Implanted Device	$191.00	11982
Wound or cut greater or equal to 2 cm	$134.00	12001
Simple repair of superficial wounds of scalp, neck, axillae, external genitalia, trunk and/or extremities (including hands and feet)	$162.00	12002
Other Repair (Closure) Procedures on the Integumentary System	$99.00	15851
Removal of first lesion	$96.00	17000
Removal of 2 to 14 skin lesions (1 additional unit for each)	$10.00	17003
Removal of 15 or more skin lesions	$238.00	17004
Removal of skin lesions	$485.00	17106
Removal of 1 to 14 skin lesions	$160.00	17110
Destruction (laser surgery, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, chemosurgery, surgical curettement), of benign lesions other than skin tags	$187.00	17111
Chemical Cauterization of Skin	$127.00	17250
Cryo (freezing) treatment of skin	$76.00	17340
Small joint or bursa injection	$73.00	20600
Intermediate joint or bursa injection	$79.00	20605
Marge joint or bursa injection	$93.00	20610
Ablation, soft tissue of inferior turbinates, unilateral or bilateral, any method	$398.00	30802
Incision Procedures on the Vulva, Perineum and Introitus	$215.00	56405
Nerve Block Injection	$109.00	64405
Removal of unspecified object from eye	$70.00	65205
Removal of unspecified object from ear	$114.00	69200
Removal of impacted ear wax	$21.00	69209
Ear Cleaning	$69.00	69210
Imaging Exam	$43.00	76000
Ultrasound of abdomen complete including kidneys	$114.00	76770
Ultrasound of tendon or a muscle	$59.00	76882
Urine Drug Screening	$12.00	80305
In office urinalysis	$3.00	81002
In office urine pregnancy test	$3.00	81025
In office blood sugar test	$3.00	82962
Skin injection to test for tuberculosis	$6.00	86580
In office blood test for Mono	$12.00	87449
COVID-19 infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay (quick test)	$36.00	87426
COVID-19/Flu-A/Flu-B infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay (quick test)	$39.00	87428
In office flu swab	$12.00	87804
In office Strep Swab	$12.00	87880
Pediatric injection administered (given)	$29.00	90460
Additional pediatric injection administered	$20.00	90461
Additional Immunization injections administered	$22.00	90472
Menactra Vaccine	$157.00	90619
Hepatitis A vaccine injection for pediatric and adolescent	$37.00	90633
Hepatitis A and B Vaccine Adult	$122.00	90636
HIB Vaccine	$13.00	90648
Gardasil or HPV vaccine for ages 9 to 26	$161.00	90649
Gardasil Vaccine	$288.00	90651
Flu Shot for patients 3 years old and older	$20.00	90656
Flu shot for pediatric patient age 6 months to 35 months old	$7.00	90657
High Dose Flu Vaccine for patients over 65 years old	$74.00	90662
Pneumonia Vaccine in vial	$227.00	90670
Pneumonia vaccine injection, 20 valent	$284.00	90677
Rotavirus vaccine	$96.00	90680
Fluzone Vaccine	$23.00	90686
Dtap vaccine for ages 6 and younger	$29.00	90700
MMR Vaccine Injection	$90.00	90707
IPV Vaccine Injection	$41.00	90713
Tetanus and Whooping Cough Vaccine Injection	$39.00	90715
Chickenpox Vaccine Injection	$175.00	90716
Pediarix Vaccine Injection	$91.00	90723
Pneumonia Vaccine Injection	$118.00	90732
Menactra Vaccine Injection	$142.00	90734
Hepatitis B Pediatric Dose or Adult Dose	$28.00	90744
Hepatitis B Vaccine for Adult Injection	$67.00	90746
Shingles Vaccine Injection	$184.00	90750
Diabetic retinal screening	$44.00	92250
Complete EKG	$17.00	93000
EKG recorded and reviewed	$229.00	93268
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring	$53.00	93784
Cerebrovascular Arterial Ultrasound	$319.00	93890
Limited bilateral noninvasive physiologic studies of upper or lower extremity arteries	$98.00	93922
Complete bilateral noninvasive physiologic studies of extremity arteries, 3 or more levels	$152.00	93923
Noninvasive physiologic studies of lower extremity arteries	$188.00	93924
Evaluation of arterial inflow and venous outflow of abdomen and/or pelvic organs	$319.00	93975
Lower extremity ultrasound with doppler	$140.00	93979
In office test used to assess how well your lungs work to diagnosis asthma and COPD	$31.00	94010
Nebulizer treatment in office	$13.00	94640
Pulse Oxygen	$4.00	94760
Immunotherapy Injection	$13.00	95117
Immunotherapy Observation	$162.00	95180
Blood Glucose Monitoring	$162.00	95250
Blood Glucose Monitoring	$68.00	95249
Glucose monitor for continuous	$42.00	95251
Brief emotional or behavioral assessment	$8.00	96127
IV initial	$48.00	96360
IV add on	$19.00	96361
Injection	$28.00	96373
After hours call/consult after 10PM	$28.00	99050
Screening Vision Test	$4.00	99173
New Patient Office Visit Level 2	$97.00	99202
New Patient Office Visit Level 3	$151.00	99203
New Patient Office Visit Level 4	$225.00	99204
New patient office visit level 5	$297.00	99205
Established Patient Office Visit Level 1	$34.00	99211
Established Patient Office Visit Level 2	$69.00	99212
Established Patient Office Visit Level 5	$220.00	99215
New Patient Preventive Care for Age 1-4 years old	$158.00	99382
New Patient Preventive Care for Age 5-11 years old	$164.00	99383
New Patient Preventive Care for Age 12-17 years old	$186.00	99384
New Patient Preventive Care for Age 18 -39 years old	$180.00	99385
New Patient Preventive Care for Age 40 - 64 years old	$165.00	99386
Established Patient Preventive Care for less than 1 year old	$111.00	99391
Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 1-4 years old	$119.00	99392
Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 5-11 years old	$119.00	99393
Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 12-17 years old	$130.00	99394
Established Patient Preventive Care for Age 65 and over	$151.00	99397
Smoking and tobacco use counseling to the patient for 3-10 minutes	$21.00	99406
E-visit 5-10 minutes via portal	$15.00	99421
E-visit 11-20 minutes via portal	$30.00	99422
E-visit 21+ minutes via portal	$50.00	99423
CCM (Chronic Care Management) staff time additional 20 minutes	$64.00	99439
Provider Phone Evaluation	$98.00	99443
Providing care planning to individuals with cognitive impairment	$355.00	99483
First 60 minutes of non-face-to-face care by clinical staff for complex chonic care	$127.00	99487
Additional 30 minutes of non-face-to-face care by clinical staff for complex chronic care	$67.00	99489
Chronic Care (Medicare Program)	$65.00	99490
Chronic Care Management (Medicare program) Provider Call	$91.00	99491
Transition of Care Management Communication within 14 days of discharge	$274.00	99495
Transition of Care Management Communication within 7 days of discharge	$371.00	99496
Advanced Care Plan	$119.00	99497
Administration of Flu Vaccine	$29.00	G0008
Administration of Pneumonia Vaccine	$29.00	G0009
Administration of Hepatitis B Vaccine	$29.00	G0010
Diabetes self-management training services, group session (2 or more), per 30 minutes	$25.00	G0109
Physician service required to document the need for a power mobility device	$15.00	G0372
Initial Preventive Examination; face-to-face visit, new CMS patient during first 12mths	$231.00	G0402
EKG at the Welcome to Medicare Preventive Visit	$17.00	G0403
Annual Wellness Visit Initial Visit	$231.00	G0438
Annual Wellness Visit Visit	$180.00	G0439
Screening for alcohol misuse and brief behavioral counseling	$28.00	G0442
Screening for alcohol misuse and brief behavioral counseling	$42.00	G0443
Annual depression screening	$28.00	G0444
Personally performing CCM (Chronic Care Management) care planning	$64.00	G0506
Remote image submit by pt	$19.00	G2010
Brief check in by md/qhp	$23.00	G2012
Visit occuring in Primary Care setting	$17.00	G2211
Antibiotic medication injection	$1.00	J0696
Steroid (injectable) medication	$7.00	J0702
Osteoporosis treatment injection	$25.00	J0897
Steroid, anti-inflammatory (injectable) medication	$11.00	J1040
Testosterone medication injection	$1.00	J1071
Betamix Medication for injection	$1.00	J1100
Toradol medication injection- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to treat pain	$1.00	J1885
Anti-nausea medication injection	$4.00	J2550
Vitamin B-12 Injection	$2.00	J3420
Saline solution for wound care cleaning	$3.00	J7030
CCM (Chronic Care Management) staff time additional 20 minutes	$47.00	99439
Diabetic Retinal Screening	$53.00	92250
Monoclonal Antibody Covid-19 Infusion	$403.00	M0243

Vaccine and Fertility – Is There Cause for Concern?

Vaccine and fertility misinformation

Cycles post-vaccination

Vaccine shedding

The whole vaccine and fertility story

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