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 TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 25
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 25 |
Greetings-
I have been away from this message board for sometime. It is nice to be back among friends!
I am 33 years old and have AS. I have been on Enbrel for the past seven years, and the drug continues to work very well for me. My wife and I are ready to start a family. I have tried to read past posts on this board regarding TNFs and male fertility. Most are very similar in that there is no real data on this topic.
I just had a appointment with my rheumy earlier this week, and he confirmed what I had researched. Are there any fathers, or spouses, out there who have fathered children while on any of the TNFs? I'm hesitant to stop the Enbrel injections because I don't want to hurt, but also don't want to cause complications for a, hopefully, soon-to-be little one.
Many thanks for any wisdom you can lend.
Best,
jim
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Re: TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 750 Likes: 6
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Hi Jim, welcome back :-) I don't have personal experience with this issue (never on TNFs). There is limited infor with additional links here: http://www.spondylitis.org/patient_resources/men.aspxBest wishes with fatherhood. It's been a wonderful journey for me! Rich
AS, U C, Iritis, migraines. HLA-B27neg. Yoga (instructor) & spin. No meds at this time. Dx 1989. SAA member/donor since 1993. All my posts are personal opinion/feelings and do not represent the SAA. Help find a cure & support others by donating to the SAA.
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Re: TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1
First time visitor
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1 |
thanks so much for sharing this info, i'm doing a report for a class i'm in and this site is awesome for info.
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Re: TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,551
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Joined: May 2004
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Good to hear from you again Jim!
Being past the age of having more children I haven't given much thought on this. But my 24 year old son is on Humira now. You question leaves me hoping that there isn't any adverse effects in that direction.
AS/PsA DX in 1988
Retired on disability
in 2005 at age 44
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Re: TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,254
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Joined: Dec 2010
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As far as I know there is no counterindication regarding Enbrel and male fertility.
There is no known mechanism by which Enbrel would be able to affect it.
Enbrel isn't a small molecule drug and cannot get absorbed intact into sperm or egg cells as far as anybody knows (these cells have no known receptors for Enbrel), so it should have no effect on the embryo. Enbrel is similar to an antibody, of which we all have a unique profile of thousands of different types in our circulation anyway depending on our history of exposure to pathogens, vaccines, and allergens. There are conditions where specific antibodies (not Enbrel) produced in large quantities in the body of a woman can attack her fetus, but obviously, even in the unlikely case that Enbrel might be harmful to a fetus, there is simply no way in which large molecules like Enbrel circulating in her husband's body cannot possibly attack the fetus.
But talk to a knowledgeable doctor about this.
Last edited by seekonk; 07/08/13 06:41 AM.
Spondylitis since '08, finally diagnosed Feb '11.
Enbrel 50mg/week.
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Re: TNFs and Male Fertility
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 22
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Joined: May 2011
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My nephew also has AS, and he's been on Enbrel/Humira for the past 12 years. His second child in now on the way, and his first is a wonderful girl.
AS symptoms started 1991. Official dx in 2006, with HLA-B27+, SIJ totally fused, bone spurs in back, and extreme rib/hip pain. Other family with SpA. Started Enbrel in 2006 with good results, but stopped in 2010 due to nerve damage. Now getting good results with no-starch diet.
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