Babies?

[Englishgal]

My other half has now finished his treatment (fingers crossed). He had a single dose of carboplation last week.

I am now interested to find out what other people have been told about farthering children, we have been told not to try for babies for at least 6 months, and the use a condom for this time as well.
Have been looking on the web and have found conflicting information. Some says that the chemo should not any baby, even is conceived now and some says that the chemo can cause birth defects for a couple of years after treatment.

Other say that you only need to use a condom for 48 hours after chemo.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

[mk6439]

My husband's doctor told us to use condoms for 6 months after 4xEP, and that most men's sperm count comes back 2-5 years post-chemo, but no guarantees on that.

[Martin]

We got the same response on the condoms.
According to my doctors, on average, 2 years post chemo the spermcount is back to about 50% of it's previous level.
There does not appear to be any proof that becoming pregnant before the two year mark increases the chances of birth defects, yet the topic does seem to be a point of discussion among experts.

You will definitely find couples in this forum who managed to get pregnant and have healthy babies earlier than those two years.

M

[johnseed]

babies

We have a stunningly wonderful daughter concieved a year after chemo, and another due in three weeks.

So I vote for the one year wait period for you...

JS

[Uniball]

My experience so far is slightly different from what's been described here.

I was advised to bank semen post-surgery/pre-chemo (which I did) and then have a semen analysis done at 6 months post-chemo (two rounds of carboplatin).

At 6 months, my motility percentage was about the same as pre-chemo, but raw counts had dropped by around 65%. My doctor tells me that we're okay to start trying now. He's told us that there's a slightly lower chance of conception because of the low count (oligozoospermia) but there should be no other problems.

This is in the US, by the way; I understand some protocols might be different in the UK.

[Pilgrim]

Similar in the UK

Agree with the last post. Banked some sperm but have a check in 6 months to see if it's back to near normal yet.

There is likely to be less toxicity with the single dose carboplatin as used more commonly in the UK. I'm not sure if that will translate to a faster recovery of sperm count or not.

Re: Condoms, we were advised to use them for one month not 6, but that was not in the context of trying for a baby, just generally.

[Michael112]

Is it me or does it seem everyone here is having daughters?
I did some research and read that low sperm count doesnt favour either, but a high sperm count favours having a boy.

[BeachTech]

My wife and I chose to make a withdraw of my pre-chemo deposit and use that instead. After doing a lot of research on post-chemo conception, I felt that was the best idea. My wife and I will try natually after two years post-chemo.

See http://www.tc-cancer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3795
________
Colorado Dispensaries

[Mikey_Mike]

1 year wait!

I was given a single dose of Carboplatin in March this year at Addenbrookes (Cambridge), after banking sperm.

I was told not to have sex without a condom for 48 hours, and preferably not to try for children for a year. After two years I can go back to the Clinic where I banked sperm for semen analysis, but If my Wife hasn't concieved by then that was going to be our course of action anyway!

As a newly wed, my one concern through all this was how my fertility is affected. Not worried so much now, it just won't be as easy as I always imagined, hopefully the end result is all worth it no matter how difficult in ends up being!

[huckchef]

I agree with the bank and check method. I of course didn't have chemo but looked at all realms of infertility and that seems to be the best(i believe). See a fertility specialist and they can shed alot of light on the subject for you. But most will say 6 months I'm sure.

As for Micheals question on daughter/ sons...we attended a reunion last month for our fertility institute. and it was about 68% girls born with their statistics. but that would include alot of other scenarios other than TC patients. But I'm sure some of those were probably low sperm count men as well.

Wishing all the best,

My thoughts and prayers,

Brian

[Uniball]

Proud post-op dad

My doctor tells me that we're okay to start trying now. He's told us that there's a slightly lower chance of conception because of the low count (oligozoospermia) but there should be no other problems.

Bumping my old post, I know, but I had to share. Allie was born April 11, a healthy, happy baby girl (lending more credence to the impression that we're having a lot of girls...).

[Mom]

Well, she certainly put a smile on my face! Congratulations. Now the fun begins!

[amber26]

Congratulations she is gorgeous

[aleksandra]

Hi there from Bulgaria Our little girl was conceived 13 months after the last chemo. Born healthy, thanks God. And yes, it's seems to me that there's more girls after the chemotreatment. I have a friend, /her husband with TC and RPLND/, they have twins girls.
Allie is a sweet little baby! Congrats!

[ssavino]

How about post radiation?

We are over a year out from radiation and trying to conceive. We did not bank and have not tested count yet. Looking for some positive stories post radiation. Any out there?