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Anyone conceived whilst DH taking methotrexate?
My partner is on methotrexate for psoriasis as this is the only med that gives him a little relief, although he still suffers badly. (He takes 7 tablets once a week of 2.5mg each 17.5mg in total). We managed unexpectedly to get pregnant last year, but sadly there were many complications and I had a D&E at 19 weeks. We have been ttc since Nov 09, but no joy as yet and as we are both 40 this year we are concerned that time is not on our side. I was just wondering how many women got pregnant with their partners on methotrexate - did you need extra help due to sperm mobility? Were the pregnancies and babies healthy? Also how long did it take to conceive? Any advice would be gratefully received.
To answer your first post (sorry I did this back to front!) I don't think physically my DH taking metho had any affect on my boy, but we wouldn't have known for sure until our 20 week scan and further scans after that. However the lack of information and misinformation was mentally stressing. I bled throughout my pregnancy and felt that I didn't get the reassurance and explanations to help me deal with that aspect. Looking back I could have been a better advocate for myself, but sadly pregnancy for me wasn't a pleasant experience. I was in constant pain and would have no control over on average a small of blood pouring out of me most days of the week, all of which I found hard to take emotionally and not knowing whether metho was doing this at the time made matters worse, this is why I am trying to find others out there.
Just to put some perspective on my situation, I was pregnant before (in my early 20's) and bled then (but not as much) and was advised to have a d&c at 8 weeks, so it is difficult for me to know what is just me and what is down to the metho (if anything). The little literature out there that I have read does seem to indicate that women taking metho is more of a risk, however I have been advised that it does affect sperm motility and quality and surely therefore could cause defects. The only consistant thing we were told is that my DH shouldn't have been able to get me pregnant in the first place!
It is so frustrating the lack of information out there and even doctors I have seen contridict each other, one said that my boy may have been healthy the other said that I would have lost him anyway. I am ttc again and feel that I will be able to cope emotionally more this time and if I am lucky enough to conceive then see how things are at the scans is all we can do. My DH cannot take any other meds as even the metho does not really have much affect on his condition, but does help a little. Thank you for passing on your info and if I find anything else out myself I will let you know.
Just to put some perspective on my situation, I was pregnant before (in my early 20's) and bled then (but not as much) and was advised to have a d&c at 8 weeks, so it is difficult for me to know what is just me and what is down to the metho (if anything). The little literature out there that I have read does seem to indicate that women taking metho is more of a risk, however I have been advised that it does affect sperm motility and quality and surely therefore could cause defects. The only consistant thing we were told is that my DH shouldn't have been able to get me pregnant in the first place!
It is so frustrating the lack of information out there and even doctors I have seen contridict each other, one said that my boy may have been healthy the other said that I would have lost him anyway. I am ttc again and feel that I will be able to cope emotionally more this time and if I am lucky enough to conceive then see how things are at the scans is all we can do. My DH cannot take any other meds as even the metho does not really have much affect on his condition, but does help a little. Thank you for passing on your info and if I find anything else out myself I will let you know.
We weren't told a lot of detail but 2 or 3 had healthy babies and 2 opted for an abortion (we weren't given the reason why), 1 had a mc and i don't know about the other sorry.
ps
do you have more info on the 7 reported conceptions in the Uk that resulted in a few healthy babies? Did the others conceive and have miscarriages? what happened?
do you have more info on the 7 reported conceptions in the Uk that resulted in a few healthy babies? Did the others conceive and have miscarriages? what happened?
Do you think your complications arose due to the metho your husband used? What did the dr's say?
I have done alot of reading on this as my husband takes 20 mg a week for psoriatic arthritis. He doesn't want a second child, however.. (and I do) So there is all this info not to take the metho for 3 - 6 months before conception for males. But after doing more research, it seems it is theoretical ; possibly the drug companies wanting to protect themselves from lawsuits if there ever was a problem.
I called a council on drugs in pregnancy and they said that no drug will cause birth defects taken by the male - that either the sperm will be healthy enough to conceive or not. However, it could cause a miscarriage - probably early. This stance seems alittle exteme, but it was a reputable council called the Terengeotic society or something - i can't find it again at the moment.
Basically, there have been very few studies on the subject, but no evidence supporting that it does cause birth defects. Also, google the Motherisk and metho in males links. There is a study of men on low dose metho for psorosis- it doesn''t specify what low does is - who had their sperm studied and it was normal.
Also, I have a medical book at work that speaks of a 34 yr old male who fathered a healthy baby on metho.
Most of the damage seems to occur when a pregnant women takes metho at a crucial early developmental stage. Then the birth defect results are very bad, if the baby survives at all.
So it seems that if your husband is willing to have a baby, maybe he could find some alternative drug to go on just until you get pregnant just to be on the safe side?
Best of luck to you.
I have done alot of reading on this as my husband takes 20 mg a week for psoriatic arthritis. He doesn't want a second child, however.. (and I do) So there is all this info not to take the metho for 3 - 6 months before conception for males. But after doing more research, it seems it is theoretical ; possibly the drug companies wanting to protect themselves from lawsuits if there ever was a problem.
I called a council on drugs in pregnancy and they said that no drug will cause birth defects taken by the male - that either the sperm will be healthy enough to conceive or not. However, it could cause a miscarriage - probably early. This stance seems alittle exteme, but it was a reputable council called the Terengeotic society or something - i can't find it again at the moment.
Basically, there have been very few studies on the subject, but no evidence supporting that it does cause birth defects. Also, google the Motherisk and metho in males links. There is a study of men on low dose metho for psorosis- it doesn''t specify what low does is - who had their sperm studied and it was normal.
Also, I have a medical book at work that speaks of a 34 yr old male who fathered a healthy baby on metho.
Most of the damage seems to occur when a pregnant women takes metho at a crucial early developmental stage. Then the birth defect results are very bad, if the baby survives at all.
So it seems that if your husband is willing to have a baby, maybe he could find some alternative drug to go on just until you get pregnant just to be on the safe side?
Best of luck to you.
Not much information out there and we have seen a few medical professionals who seem to contridict each other thats why I thought I'd ask on here. we've been told that in the uk only 7 reported conceptions with Metho in males of which only a couple resulted in healthy babies. some say it just affects sperm mobility and therefor fertility whereas others say that it could cause birth defects. very confusing and frustrating for us both, so if anyone has any info please let me know.
What has your ob-gyn said about it? I have never heard that methotrexate can travel into the sperm and then affect another person in any way.
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