Does suboxone affect the reproductive system?

[mom_of_irish_twins]

Hello, I am 35 years old and on 4 mgs of suboxone a day and am slowly tapering off. I would like to conceive a child in the future and am concerned about the effects the suboxone might have on my ability to conceive. Can you please tell me if suboxone adversely affects fertility in people?

Also, I went for an ultrasound today just to check up my reproductive organs and although the ultrasound tech wouldn't give me any answers she did ask me two odd questions during the exam. One, if I had a lot of cramping/bleeding during menstruation and then she asked me if I was on birth control or took any hormones. (???) (I'm not) I'm trying to play detective and figure out what she saw that would prompt her to ask that but have come up with nothing. When I asked her if something was wrong she said I don't *think* so (emphasized the word "think") and just said I'd get results in a few days from the doctor.

I guess I'm just worried that taking suboxone (I've only been on it a few months) might have had some kind of an adverse effect on my reproductive system. Please, I need some answers. I have been able to find nothing on the internet in terms of subs effect on fertility/reproductive system.

I plan on being off sub when I conceive as I'm afraid of having a baby born and going through wds but oddly enough I have been reading about many women who take sub throughout their pregnancy and the babies have no wd whatsoever. I was pretty shocked to read that, how is that even possible? I would think a baby exposed in utero to suboxone would definitely experience some wds. These women also claim to have breast fed and also had no ill effects happen to the baby when they stopped. Very strange. Wonder if you could comment on that too..

Thank you so much in advance for answering my questions. I really appreciate it!

Jodie

[mom_of_irish_twins]

Thank you so much for your wonderful response. I feel more relieved now and yes, I agree that already being considered high risk, I want to do everything I can to minimize that risk. Thanks again, your answer helped me feel more at ease.

[Julia M Aharonov, DO]

Dear mom of Irish twins.  First, how wonderful is it that you are on your way to getting off of Suboxone.  You are doing great!  I want to reassure you that whatever it is that the tech saw on your ultrasound has nothing to do with you taking Suboxone.   Neither narcotic agonists (opiates) nor antagonists such as Naloxone or Naltrexone and, as you probably know, Suboxone is a combination medication of the above, are known to affect the female reproductive organs to any measurable degree.
I cannot possibly guess what it was that the tech saw on the ultrasound, but I am sure you will find out shortly.  
What I do what to mention is that it is really commendable that you want to be off of the Suboxone prior to pregnancy and nursing.  Even though it is possible to go through have a health child on Suboxone, as a mother, you want to be your healthiest for the pregnancy.    As your OB/GYN will tell you, it is harder to get pregnant and carry a healthy pregnancy to term as we age.  So, of course you need to be in the best shape possible.   That means being off of all medication that can adversely affect the outcome of the pregnancy.    Yes, it is better to be on Suboxone during pregnancy than methadone, but it is even better to not be on anything at all.
I hope you hear good news from the OB/GYN doctor and are able to get pregnant in good time.  It sounds like you are on the right track.
Good luck to you, my fellow mom.