My husband has crohns can we have children while on certain medication

[gemma77]

Hi,
My husband has had Crohn's disease since the age of 15, during the 12 years he has had the disease he has had various medication and 7 years ago a resection. He was ok up untill this year but has about a month ago had a flare up and as a result is now on Entocort (budesonide) azathioprine and pentasa. We want to start a family but are unsure if the medication can cause any fertility problems Or worse still birth defects has any body got any advice on this please?

 

[Jyscall]

Hello,

I'm a Crohn guy willing to have children too, I've not read a lot about it, just asked my Gi. His answer was the fertility of someone with an auto immune disease is reduced, and the medication can only make it better.

Hope is right, and my wife too.

Good luck

 

[Jmrogers4]

We had our first child while my husband was either on Pentasa or Asacol (can't remember which he is 13 now) and our 2nd while he was on azathioprine had just started when I got pregnant while on birth control so I don't know how much his fertility was affected
Best of Luck to You

 

[Jyscall]

Good to hear this, thanks a lot

 

[gemma77]

Thx for the replies already hes seeing the gastro specialist tomorrow so should get some more definitive advice there, but nice to know that things may be ok

 

[KWalker]

I'm not too sure about the others but I know to make sure (for you and all the other trying couples) to make sure the man is NOT on methotrexate as it can cause serious birth defects. I believe the man should stop taking methotrexate either 3 weeks, or 3 months BEFORE trying as well so I hope somebody can confirm.

I know you didn't say your husband was on methotrexate but it's always beneficial to have the list of medicines not to be on when trying to conceive. I am also a man with crohns and still want to try to have children.

 

[Jyscall]

I can confirm that MTX is really bad, especially when the mother takes it. This is quite clear.
They recommend sometimes to stop the MTX 6 months before conceiving

For the father it promotes a lower fertility, this is not irreversible, and some men treated with low dose could have healthy children. (I'll check for free ref if U want). It's hard to know what higher dose did. And it's not often they indicate a lot about how are doing the children.
Moreover the disease itself reduces the fertility, among so many things that can make it better/worse.

And fortunately for me, medication (azathioprine & Humira/hope/diet/I don't have a clew/ still counter balance the bad effects from Crohn. I know it since 2 days, and from my home and with my abdominal/back pain it makes me smile and feeling happy all day long.

I'm being a father in 8 months :ysmile:

And wish the same to all of you.

 

[Jmrogers4]

Congratulations Jyscall :congratualtions:

 

[Riley]

I got pregnant twice while on Remicade with no issues. Always check with your doctor if you are on any medication but for the most part people with Crohn's have healthy babies all time.

 

[StaceyQ]

i was on pentasa and got pregnant, summer is very healthy x