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244315 tn?1209956751

Can a woman get pregnant directly before husband's treatment?

I was wondering if anyone knows if a woman can get pregnant directly before her husband starts treatment for Hep. C. Is it bad for the woman to handle the drugs? Would there be any other reason why she couldn't do it?
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Avatar universal
I want a child and my husband has a Hip C! he doesnt want to get me sick so we are using condoms, if i decide to get pregnant how can i do it safely for me and my baby? Some websites states that semen doesnt have the virus and some say that it does, please Help!
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Avatar universal
I am 7 months pregnant with my 2nd child.  My husband started the triple therapy for Hep C one month after I conceived.  Found out I was pregnant 1 day before he started treatment.  His doctor just told us to use a condom for intercourse and don't handle the medication without gloves.  I administer the medication weekly.  He is now done but we have to be this careful for the next 6 months.

This pregnancy took us by surprise and he still wanted to get the treatment done so we did it but it is very hard on me because I have to put my feelings aside and think of him & support him and that's hard to do when you are pregnant.  Also, there is the constant worrying about weather the medication is getting to the baby somehow.  So far everything seems to be fine with the baby, I guess we will find out when the baby is born on or around Nov20th.  We trust that God does everything perfect and at the right time so that keeps us going.

Good luck to all!
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Avatar universal
The other thing you should know is that ribavirin takes about six months to clear from your husband's system...so becoming pregnant within six months after his treatment has ended is not advised.  

Good luck to both of you.

Trish
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think what you want to know is if you can safely conceive before your husband starts treatment and is there any risk to the baby if you do... and if there is any risk to the baby while he's on treatment from any direction.

From a pure transmission standpoint, the risk of the baby acquiring HCV is extremely low from your husband to the baby.

http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/risks-hepatitis-c-in-pregnancy.html

However.  this article out of Australia (who I find puts out really good information for whatever reason) states that Ribavirin can be passed from the male to the female during intercourse and strongly suggests that a male partner on treatment needs to wear a condom if his partner is pregnant.  Check page 5.

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mhcs/publication_pdfs/7010/AHS-7010-ENG.pdf

Really... I wouldn't do it.  Condoms break, things happen.  Babies are too precious.  To give you an idea how serious this is considered to be with regards to pregnancy, I had my tubes tied 21 years ago.  And yet, I must still submit to a pregnancy test before treatment and I am still required to use protection for the chance of that fluke that could happen.

Beyond that, Jim's point is an excellent one.  The demands on both of you while your husband is on treatment will be sufficient and frankly, you don't know what treatment will bring your way.  I'd say focus on his treatment, get that out of the way...and then when he's got a cure, you don't have his HCV hanging over your head while you plan a family, do you.  I'm not very patient when I know what I want....I simply want to get at it and get it done.  But on THAT one... not at all fair to the child to risk THEIR best shot at decent health. There's a direct answer for you.

Good luck to you both.

Trish
Helpful - 0
212705 tn?1221620650
that was funny! sperms...

Hey I wish i could speak or write any 2nd language as well as you.

Hope you are doing ok....i try to keep up but i don't have the incredible memory that you have.btw...with tx...do or are you experiencing any fog???

Sending warm thoughts across the ocean.

y
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Avatar universal
Maybe, in the semen is a more correct word.
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Avatar universal
Guys, don't you think it might be that the medication might actually be in the sperms of the man, so if a pregnant woman has unprotected sex with her husband then the baby might get exposed to the drugs this way?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
"Extreme care must be taken to avoid pregnancy during treatment with interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin and for 6 months following the completion of treatment in women taking this medication and women partners of men being treated with this medication."

http://tinyurl.com/2pe5zr

---------------
Here is a typical exerpt on riba and pregnancy. The way it reads to me is that you should not be pregnant while your husband is taking ribavirin or for six months after he takes his last ribavirin pill. Again, a liver specialist (hepatologist) is the one to discuss how this specifically relates to your situation.
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Avatar universal
The phrase "ribavirin should not be used by women who are pregnant or by male partners of pregnant women" is frequently used in terms of HCV treatment.

I've haven't seen the reason explained in detail -- so I can only guess it's because the ribavirin will somehow get transfered in saliva and/or sweat. You certainly never want to handle the ribavirin.  Defiintely discuss with a reputable hepatologist (liver specialist) to find out what the actual risks are as this is such an important decision.  Your family doctor or even a GI may not know.

The other thing to keep in mind is that treatment can sometimes be very difficult for the person treating. So the other question to ask is this really the best time to get pregnant when both you and your husband will have special needs and it's possible that neither will be in the best condition to take care of the other.

-- Jim
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244315 tn?1209956751
Of course I know how to get pregnant. It's just that the doctor told me she would give me a pregnancy test before he starts his treatment. For what? Why does she need to know if I am pregnant before he starts it? So I got to thinking maybe I am not supposed to be near the medicine. So maybe if I don't give him the shots or pills then maybe she would say it's ok. But then again I don't know about the medicine coming through the pores. So we will ask her. We called the doctor and naturally she never called back.
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Avatar universal
yes LOL u have to have sex to get that..LOL.. Just teasing
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179856 tn?1333547362
You absolutely cannot go near the medications AT ALL.  Women who are on treatment are advised to even use two separate types of birth control because these drugs cause horrible birth defects.

If you were to get pregnant before he went on them it would be not any problem as long as you NEVER touch these meds however I do know that a certain amount of them seem to come out through our pores - to the point you can smell them so I'm not really sure how wise it would be although I've never heard anything about it.

Do not get pregnant once he is on treatment.
Helpful - 0
362971 tn?1201987034
Why would it be bad for you? He is the one on treatment.

"I was wondering if anyone knows if a woman can get pregnant directly before her husband starts treatment for Hep. C. "  

If you have sex then you can get pregnant!   I don't meant to be a wise acre but what exactly are you asking. If he wasn't on any medication yet then you and the baby should be fine.

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