Hi there, please bear with me as English is not my first language but I'll do my best.
We could really use some opinions.
We're not here trying to seek medical advice, as we already decided on this matter, but would like to hear some of your testimonials because there's not a lot of people who went through this issue here in Portugal.
**Some background:**
I am a 34 year old female from Portugal.
My husband (54 y.o.) was diagnosed with ET six months ago and started his treatment with Hydroxyurea right away.
So far he has seen 2 different private hematologists (the best ones here), and both have different opinions concerning conceiving a child whilst under this treatment.
We did not know, neither had the public doctor tell us that my husband should consider freeze his sperm before initiate the treatment.
**About having a baby:**
The first doctor is absolutely OK with us trying to conceive, he only stated that the medicine (Hydroxyurea) might eventually affect my husband's fertility so we would think about alternatives if there was no pregnancy after 6 months.
The next doctor we went to for a second opinion said that the treatment would 100% affect the fetus, so his suggestion was to stop it and take a different medicine (some injectable one) for a minimum of 6 months, and only then trying to conceive. Although this new one would increase his symptoms and perhaps bring new ones.
**Looking for people in the same situation to kindly ask you to share your story. Sending a lot of love to you all.**
Written by
SunnyAlice
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Hello SunnyAlice, we have some very useful information on our website about pregnancy and MPNs, including advice regarding medications which might answer some of your questions:
Hydroxyurea can reduce sperm counts very quickly. So if your husband has been taking it for six months, getting pregnant may be difficult.
All the advice I've seen suggests that hydroxy can cause genetic changes to sperm that would pose a risk to the health of the fetus. Contraception is advised when ether partner is taking hydroxy. A pharmacist might be able to give you a better idea of the risks.
Stopping the hydroxy for up to 12 months is advised but that must be done in consultation with the haematologist. Some of the alternatives are also problematic.
MPN patients will tend to be older so the risks and difficulty of having babies will not arise very often . Are there any cancer specialists that you could consult? They might not be familiar with ET but they might have more experience of hydroxy and pregnancy.
Hydroxyurea is a teratogenic substance - it causes birth defects. Men must wait 1 year after taking it before they should resume attempting to have a child. Hydroxyurea can also cause hypogonadism - it can reduce sperm counts, sometimes all the way to zero (oligospermia and azoospermia). There is some research indicating it can also reduce testosterone production, but this finding is not verified nor in common clinical practice.
Hydroxyurea can also pass into semen, so sexually active couples are advised to use condoms to protect the partner from exposure. Women of child-bearing years not on the hydroxyurea are advised to wear gloves if they handle the medication or even the bottle. While the risk might be low, the medication is also a carcinogen and a mutagen so caution is a good idea.
The injectable medication the doctor is referring to is probably some form of PEGylated interferon (e.g. Pegasys). Many doctors prefer this medication for younger patients (particularly those who want children) as the risk/benefit profile is better for them. It is important to understand that all of the medications used to treat ET have both risks and benefits. Your husband will need to choose the medication that is best for him based on his needs and preferences.
You did not mention why your husband started on cytoreduction. At age 54 he is still in the low risk group - unless he has had symptoms related to the ET or another medical condition that puts him at risk. Not sure where you live, but it is helpful to find a doctor who has expertise in MPNs. Not all do. Here is a list of some good docs mpnforum.com/list-hem./
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Have ET, can I claim benefits
Does anyone eith ET have feet pain?
ET , newly diagnosed and have a couple of questions.
Should HRT be taken if you have ET?
Have ET but not the hallmark genes, Jak2, CalR, etc...
