sex questions

[steven_hedges]

Hi

I'm now on day 8 of the first cycle of the 3xBEP regime. At the beginning, the doctor and nurses all stressed that I must use "a good barrier method of contraception". With every thing going on at the time (and a bit of embarasment) I didn't follow up in detail. And now, it seems like too long has passed without asking...

As my wife is currently pregnant (discovered just before my TC diagnosis, I always have a vision of the sperm as rats leaving a sinking ship....) then the contraception is not really necessary.

I think that the suggestion re barrier contraception was also to do with the current toxicity of my semen, but I'm not sure. Does anyone have any knowledge about whether chemo-ed up semen is bad for my wife? or unborn son? Is it safe for us to engage in any sex acts without a condom?

many thanks for your advice/comments. It's easier posting these questions here than asking my doctor!

[Scott]

Your doctor wouldn't mind answering them at all, but I understand what you mean.

The TCRC advises, "...if you are receiving chemotherapy, we strongly recommend that you use some form of barrier contraception during and shortly after treatments. You do not want to pass any of those chemotherapy drugs to your partner via semen! Generally speaking, we think it would be best to use a condom between the time chemotherapy starts and 2-3 days after the last dose of chemo."