An Instagram post from the popular channel @simone.gisondi, which boasts 275,000 followers, recently gained significant attention by sharing an old video of Dr. Mike Yeadon, a former Pfizer scientist and vocal anti-vaccine activist. In the video, Yeadon describes the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin as “one of the most violent fertility toxins.” This claim has gone viral, accumulating 654,000 views and over 5,000 likes on Instagram, while also spreading to X (formerly Twitter), where it gathered an additional 423,000 views under the provocative caption “Dr Mike Bombshell.”
The video, which originated from a June 28, 2024, speech at a London event hosted by journalist James Delingpole, was further scrutinized by fact-checkers. It has raised questions about the validity of Yeadon’s statement. He claims in the video that “Ivermectin is one of the most violent fertility toxins” and suggests that some studies indicate the drug reduces the ability to conceive and carry pregnancies to term.
However, experts are challenging these claims. First Check reached out to Dr. Shakeel Ur Rahman, General Secretary of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD), who stated that he had never encountered any credible studies linking Ivermectin to infertility. He emphasized that while Ivermectin is an effective anti-parasitic drug, it is not routinely prescribed and was notably trialed as a potential COVID-19 treatment during the pandemic, particularly in regions like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. When the drug failed to show promising results, its use was discontinued.
Dr. Divya Vohora, a Professor of Pharmacology at Jamia Hamdard in New Delhi, also weighed in, noting that while the available data on Ivermectin’s safety during pregnancy is limited, there is insufficient evidence to suggest it directly affects fertility. Dr. Vohora referenced a study conducted across six African countries between 1990 and 2008, which observed 893 pregnant women and 899 pregnancy outcomes. The study concluded that the data did not support Ivermectin’s safety during pregnancy, recommending that pregnant women be excluded from mass drug administration (MDA) programs until further research is conducted.
Regarding male fertility, Dr. Vohora pointed to animal studies that indicated potential effects on sperm count and morphology in rats. However, she clarified that no definitive studies have shown that Ivermectin causes infertility in humans.
It is important to note that over 3.7 billion doses of Ivermectin have been distributed globally in MDA campaigns, yet its use during pregnancy remains controversial due to insufficient safety data. For instance, in a study conducted in Ghana, 14.6% of pregnant women were inadvertently treated with Ivermectin during an MDA program, despite no conclusive evidence supporting its safety during pregnancy. The study concluded that Ivermectin is not currently recommended for use in pregnant women due to a lack of comprehensive safety data.
While the debate over Ivermectin continues, medical professionals urge caution and call for more research to establish its effects on fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
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