Having children when diagnosed with WG

[Elena]

Are there anyone here who've had a child after getting the diagnosis and treatments? Or at least thinking about having one?

My boyfriend is worrying a lot about how our future is going to look like, and I'm having a hard time answering all his questions.. I mean, we're not planning on having our own family for at least another 5 years or so, but it's kind of nice knowing a little about what we can expect..

First of all he is worrying that the cytoxan I've gotten before and other drugs will harm our future children. And of course we're worrying about my health as well, but I know that I'm going to be really closely looked after when I'm pregnant.
I know I probably should ask my doctors about this, but I feel weird doing that at such a young age, especially with my mum there. I've never really had to think about how WG is going to affect my future before, but now that I've gotten a boyfriend whom I really want to spend my life with, I can really see how much pain my disease, and the uncertainty of it, is putting him through..

Hope there's anyone out there with some knowledge on this subject..

[freakyschizogirl]

My Rheumy talks openly with me about what drugs i'm taking and those he is reluctant to give me because i'm only 25 and of child bearing age, especially since i havent had any yet either. And this subject worries me too, Best person to ask is the medical professionals...but i'm sure a few people on this forum will have some experience with this subject.

[Daggar]

Advice given to us for Holly...

Add a gynaecologist to your "team" of doctors. They should be involved with treatment concerns and will give direction on how to "limit" fertility issues and/or plan for the future.

[NicShaf]

Elena,
When I was diagnosed back in December, my husband and I met with a fertility specialist when I got out of the hospital. We had many questions about our future and starting a family. I have heard of women having children after being diagnosed with Wegs, but it is a high risk pregnancy from the start, so if you are thinking about this in your future, I would see a fertility specialist as soon as possible so you know exactly what your options are.
We were given the option of preserving embryos...if you have already taken Ctx, I don't know if this is still an option, the idea with me was to harvest my healthy eggs before the meds. I chose not to put my treatment off and go through this invasive and costly procedure.
We were then told that if my body recovered from the Ctx and I was drug free and in a solid remission for at least 2 years, we could try and conceive naturally. My understanding is that Ctx could affect your eggs, this is something to bring up to your doctor.
My husband was very supportive in my decision to forgo the embryo preservation, and we take things day by day, that’s the best anyone can do. Adoption is another option that my husband and I talk about quite a bit, there are always babies in the world that need loving parents.
Fertility has been brought up quite a few times that I've seen in the past couple months….a couple times by both my husband and myself…you may be able to find other threads that talk about it too. Hopefully someone else has more helpful advice for you as well.
Best of luck to you!

[Elena]

I never got the option of preserving embryos.. I was 16 when diagnosed and fertility was never much of a topic amongst my doctors. I was there was some risk of infertility with cytoxan, but as I was so young this risk wouldn't be very high.. That's all the information I really got. I got the impression that cytoxan was only risky because it could put you in menopause, not that it would damage my eggs..

I haven't gotten any cytoxan for more than a year and a half now, cause they switched me to Rituximab. Which I've gotten the impression isn't an issue with fertility? I will try to talk to my doctors about it. I've just been moved to the adult ward and not sure really who my primary doctor is. Have never been to a gynaecologist before, but maybe it's about time I mention this as well.. There is just so much to keep track of.

[Jack]

Since I am male I probably react slightly differently to this subject. I have two daughters and neither are mine genetically speaking, one being adopted and the other conceived by AI. I have never for one minute considered them to be anything other than my own and love them both dearly. The inability to conceive is very common indeed for a number of reasons, but there are alternatives and you would not be alone if you had to resort to one of these. However, the first move has to be finding out the exact position that you are in and only a specialist can tell you this.

[Elena]

I do not doubt at all that I would feel exactly the same about a child that I adopted as I would if it were my own : ) Still I want to try everything I can to get pregnant on my own. I realizing I need to figure this out by getting an appoinment with a specialist. Thank you for all your answers

[Sangye]

Elena, ctx is chemo and therefore potentially dangerous to the eggs and sperm. Chemo causes DNA mutation. Rtx is not chemo and does not have an overall toxic effect to the body. It doesn't affect the DNA.

I'm wondering if any of your docs have mentioned shutting down the ovaries with lupron. That's supposed to be somewhat protective of the eggs. I don't know anything more about it.

[Daggar]

Lupron was mentioned to us for Holly but due to her being a "late bloomer" (heredity) they've closely monitored her to make sure that she stays that way while on cytoxan.

The cytoxan/pred combo will also delay it and they're hoping that she won't need another drug.

[Elena]

I've never heard Lupron mentioned by my doctors. I think I read somewhere that being on birth control pills could help protect the ovaries though, does anyone know anything about that?