Hydroxycarbamide and condoms

[Palace53]

Do you need condoms with Hydroxycarbamide if you are both mid sixty ?

[Chaz1]

Hi, from what I've read you do need to use condoms due to the chemo being in the semen/vaginal secretions & then transferring toxins to your partner. It's to protect on that front rather than due to the risks of conceiving whilst on chemo.

Dare not tell hubby that will be the case once he starts treatment 🙈

[Palace53 in reply to Chaz1]

Thanks I am Male! Could not get a straight answer my cns didn't know she came back to me and said yes but I don't know if she told our age to who ever she asked

[Chaz1 in reply to Palace53]

macmillan.org.uk/cancer-inf...

This is Macmillans advise on it. Age isn't a factor in the fact that the toxins will be in your semen so you need to protect your partner.

[Applesnpears]

You need to speak to your haematologist about this but my understanding is that you need to take precautions to prevent pregnancy when taking hydroxy. But if both partners are in their sixties this is unlikely to be an issue. I cant find any warnings about the toxicity of any hydroxycarbamide that might be found in semen.

[Wyebird]

I agree once again with applesnpears

[Palace53 in reply to Wyebird]

Thanks it seems it's not clear not a subject that is talked about that much

[hunter5582]

You do have to dig into the literature to find this information. Hydroxycarbamide (aka hydroxyurea) does pass into semen and vaginal secretions. Some, but not all, patient education leaflets advise patents on HU to use a condom to protect the non-using partner. Some prescribers do advise their patients of this, while others do not. I expect some prescribers simply do not know this information when they prescribe HU. Others may consider the risk low enough to not bother telling patients. Hard to say which it is.

So this answer to your question about condom use is that it has to do with your level of risk tolerance. What are you willing to risk to avoid condom use? The teratogenic effect of HU is not an issue when you are past child-bearing years. However, HU is both carcinogenic and mutagenic. It works by interfering with DNA activity in your body. It is cytostatic, slowing down cell growth. That is its benefit in that it slows down the aberrant hemopoietic stem cells, reducing hematopoiesis (making blood cells). However, it affects other cells in you body too. HU can break allele strands and interferes with DNA self-repair function. For the person who needs the medication, the risks may be worth the benefits of HU. For someone who does not need treatment, exposure to the toxic effects of HU, even at a low level, may be something that one would wish to avoid.

Many couples choose not to bother with condoms. It is a personal choice. As most know, condoms diminish sensation during sexual activity. As men age, they need more intense stimulation to maintain an erection. This is an unfortunate, but normal, aspect of how aging affects male sexuality. Condom use might present a problem for an older man in a way that it would not for a younger man. This is an important thing for any couple to discuss as sexuality remains an important part of life for us as we age together.

If the potential adverse effects of HU are a concern, it certainly would make sense to discuss with the prescriber. There are other options that can be considered if the patient would rather not use HU. It is important to understand that ALL medications come with risks and benefits. Even aspirin has risks. Carefully evaluating each of the options to determine which risk-benefit profile of each medication is best for the patient - based on the patient's preferences and priorities - is the key to making the best choice.

Hope that helps. All the best to you. Stay well and stay safe.

[Palace53 in reply to hunter5582]

Thanks this is the most advice I have had. Thanks for the information