Question about fertility

[PD081]

I had my orchiectomy in February. About a week or so after my IO I had my semen analyzed and they said that I had very little sperm and only some of the swimmers were moving. Is it possible that my remaining testicle will recover a little in time and I will develop a little more of a sperm count? Since my IO, I have had an RPLND but not radiation or chemo.

Any input would be appreciated, Thanks

[AdrianB1971]

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RPLND can cause the imposibility to ejaculate [not nerve sparing RPLND]. Even with low number of swimmers you can ask for assisted insemination

[PD081]

Since my RPLND, I have not had any problems with forward ejaculation. I just have a very low sperm count as of my semen analysis in Feb.

[Margaret]

Since my RPLND, I have not had any problems with forward ejaculation. I just have a very low sperm count as of my semen analysis in Feb.

I am glad you posted. My husband also has not had any problems with forward ejaculation post his bi-RPLND...but I was curious about sperm count. How did you get it tested and what did the dr. say about the chances of getting pregnant after a surgery like this? hope you don't mind me asking.

[PD081]

I went to bank sperm after my orchiectomy, but before my RPLND. They told me that they found very little sperm in the sample that I gave. So this was either caused by the orchiectomy, the testicular cancer itself that made my testicles unhealthy, or this is just how I was born. So at this point, I am just hoping that after some time, now that the unhealthy testicle has been removed, I will maybe develop more of a sperm count so that in the future I can have kids (right now im 25 years old).

To answer your question, since I had my sperm examined before my RPLND, the RPLND surgery had nothing to do with my sperm count issue. In general, in pretty sure an RPLND doesn't affect sperm count. An RPLND can affect ejaculation. In my case, the doctor's didn't really tell me weather I would be able to have kids or not.

[Margaret]

I think the chemo had some effects on my husband's sperm...but the doctor did tell us that every 3 months the sperm is (I am going to use this term but I am not sure if it is correct) re-created. So our doctor told us that 3 months post chemo, his sperm should start coming back...and maybe stronger?? We had expected the worst regarding the bi-lateral RPLND...we felt the chances were very high that he would have retro-grade...and maybe it was because we had a great doctor (which I am sure helped a lot), but a month post surgery his fluid returned. We have decided that we will not get his sperm tested...there is just no point to it. We did not have the opportunity to bank, we already have one child, and we were not willing to go to extreme measures to have a second child. But it would be cool if we were blessed a second time.

Good luck to you

[AdrianB1971]

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Right after IO I was banking sperm and the doc told me that the number and mobility are just ok. Now, I'm at 2 years after 3xBEP and I wondering about my fertility. There are 50-60 % chances that my fertility to be ok. I should do some lab tests for sure. I wish kids and in natural way if it's posible

[enhope]

We are blessed!

This is my first post, but I just wanted to share our story with my husbands TC (non-seminoma) and getting pregnant. He was diagnosed in 10/05 and had I/O within week. He went on surveillance and one month after adopting our first child his cancer came back (1/06) and he had 3xBEP. We banked sperm before he started and they said he had low quality and low count. He finished chemo and Dr. Nichols said his cancer was gone and had almost no chance of returning. We adopted another baby through amazing circumstances and thought all cancer stuff was behind us. We had his sperm checked 12/05 to see if there was any need to keep his sperm at the bank. Our Dr. told us his sperm was actually better than before. We think the cancer was affecting the sperm. In March of '07 he had a routine ct scan and there was a mass by his kidneys. We thought the cancer had come back, but his blood tests came back completely normal. Dr. Nichols (OHSU) decided he needed to have an RPLND. They scheduled the surgery for 2 weeks later. The week before my husbands surgery we found out we were expecting. Kind of crazy, after adopting 2 kids and all the cancer stuff, then we get pregnant. He just had an RPLND on 4/16/07 and it was all teratoma (benign). My husband is slowly recovering and we are hoping this is it for us. Good luck to all. This is off topic, but I was wondering if those who have had the RPLND would let me know how long my husband can expect to be bloated? His stomach is pretty hard and full of fluid.

[Margaret]

Enhope, I am so happy for you and your husband. That is a great story. Who knows, maybe my husband and I will be blessed too.

The bloating lasted about 4 weeks for my husband. After 2 weeks it started going down, but it was a full month before it was gone. Make sure you are checking in with his doctor (which I am sure you are) just in case it is fluid associated with his lymph system. My husband did not have any issues, but I have heard that some do experience some complications with fluid that have to be addressed.

I hope he is feeling better soon!

Take care and best of luck on a happy and healthy 9 months!

Margaret

[Scott]

I was wondering if those who have had the RPLND would let me know how long my husband can expect to be bloated? His stomach is pretty hard and full of fluid.

Have you asked your doctors about this? It will eventually go away, but I had a long struggle with chylous ascites, lymph fluid collecting in my abdomen. If that's what's causing your husband's bloating, it can be helped with a very low-fat diet and, if necessary, paracentesis to drain some of the fluid.