Crohns, Remicade, and having kids.

[KittyRN]

Hi everyone
Just wondering if there are any men out there that have conceived children while on Remicade. Me and DH havent decided if we even want children yet, but I know his GI told us not to attempt getting pregnant while on Remicade. I am not willing for him to take a break from it to attempt as I dont want him to develop antibodies while off and then not be able to take it again as I have heard that can happen.

Anyone out there conceived while on Remicade? Any negative side effects?

Thanks!

 

[DanM]

I specifically asked my doctor about 6-mp, Humira, and male fertility and birth defects. She told me that there is no known link or relationship between the two and that we should not worry.

Dan

 

[Mark33180]

what about remicade and male sterility or low sperm count? any iinfo on that?

 

[jjmurph]

Im not really sure about the effects on male fertility. I was diagnosed with Crohns at 18 weeks pregnant, I am currently 32 weeks pregnant. I spent 6 weeks in the hospital after I was diagnosed. They started out treating me with predisone and after getting an intestinal blockage, almost having to have surgery and losing the baby, my GI and OBGYN consulted with an infamous high risk pregnancy doctor they started me on Remicade. I made improvements within the week. I have had 2 treatments since my first round, and I have just been getting better and better.
Im not sure if this is helpful at all, but I thought I would just add my story....

 

[Mazen]

I don't know about Remicade, but I asked my GI about Imuran, since me and my wife are planning on having a baby next year. He said there are no evidence of effects on the baby.

But through my research on the net , some sites said that imuran should be stopped 3 months before trying to get preganant!!!!

http://www.arthritis.org.sg/101/treat/immuno.html

Male patients should wait three months after stopping azathioprine before having children as it can affect the quality and/or amount of sperm.

http://www.conceptionkit.com/s-130-drug-checker.aspx

http://www.prometheuslabs.com/Resources/PI/Imuran.pdf

So now i'm confused. I guess I can risk my health, but not the health of my baby .......

 

[Lom]

Don't know if this is any use but the nurse who done my Remicade infusions said 'Don't get anyone pregnant. . . their has been 300 children born from parents on Remicade and although none of them have had any 'problems' we can't be sure it's safe until 10,000 are born'

 

[KittyRN]

Just an update for everyone.
We just came from the specialist and asked about having kids while DH is on Remicade. She said, go ahead! There have been several children conceived while on Remicade (fathers and mothers) and that the children have all been healthy (or with any abnormalities in rates matching the general population). I asked about having a semen analysis on DH and she said it is unnecessary and just to give it a try! LOL!

She did say for females getting pregnant that they try to time the last Remicade infusion while pregnant during the 32 week so that when the baby is born it has the lowest possible concentration circulation. She said that the Remicade can be detected in the newborn for up to 6 months after birth, but so far no bad side effects.

The oldest child conceived from someoneon Remicade is now 7 years old and completely healthy!!

Good news!!

 

[danman]

Hi Kitty,
I'm sorry I didn't see this thread.

We conceived twice while I was on Infliximab/Remy.
While there was complications with the first pregnancy, our baby had physical and mental disabilities and died after birth, this was never related to Infliximab.
The second pregnancy was smooth.

My wife gave birth to a baby boy, he was 10 weeks early, but this was related to my wife's side of the family (she was 14 week prem herself).

I was diagnosed as infertile last summer and the docs were worried about 6-MP (I was on it for 10 years). It was caused by fistulas in my scrotum. I've had an illeostomy since then and my fertility tests show I'm back to normal again.

While I was researching infertility, I came across a piece of research with said that Infliximab increased fertility in men. When I mentioned this to my consultant, he said it was early days in the research.

Sorry, Infliximab is the same as Remicide. It's the version we get here in Europe.

Have a read of my story, all my details are in there. Also type male infertility into the search option.

 

[brianncc]

Thanks for the info! I am engaged and about to start Remicade and wondered if I should bank sperm before starting because my doc believes I will always be on Remi. Thanks for the info!