How long does it take for sperm to improve after taking Carbimazole?

[Curious323]

My husband was just diagnosed with Graves Disease and we found out he has low sperm count. We are hoping to conceive in the next year, so we're wondering how long it might take for his sperm count to increase? He is taking 9 pills per day, which equates to 45mg per day and they told him he should start feeling better in 10 days, but said nothing about his fertility.

[humanbean]

I can't tell you anything about sperm counts. However, thyroid disease, whether hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism will severely deplete nutrient levels. So it is common for people to have low levels of vitamin D, ferritin (iron stores), vitamin B12 and folate. If ferritin is low then serum iron should be checked too. There may be other deficiencies too e.g. zinc, magnesium.

Low nutrients will reduce fertility in women, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if the same is true of fertility in men.

I found these articles that mention male sexual health in hyperthyroidism

healthline.com/health/mens-...

verywellhealth.com/thyroid-...

A general article on Graves's Disease :

draxe.com/health/graves-dis...

The best website I know of which deals with Graves' Disease is this one - but I don't know if it has info specifically about male fertility :

elaine-moore.com/

I would strongly recommend your husband gets hold of any blood test results from any tests he's had done from about a year or two before his diagnosis onwards. He's entitled to them by law. Ask the receptionists, not the doctors. Take proof of identity when asking.

It isn't uncommon for people to be told they have Graves' Disease when what they actually have is Hashimoto's Thyroiditis which gives people hyperthyroid episodes in its early stages but eventually leads to hypothyroidism. You'll need those blood test results to find out which blood tests have been done. If your husband was seen by an endocrinologist in a hospital he should apply for copies of his results from the hospital too. Double checking the blood test results (and asking for help on here) should give you the confidence that you have the correct diagnosis.

Some doctors tell people they have Graves when what they actually mean is that the patient is hyperthyroid - but there are multiple causes of hyperthyroidism and some of them are temporary.

elaine-moore.com/Articles/G...

For info on our rights to our results see posts by DJR1 :

healthunlocked.com/user/djr1

Please make sure that your husband learns as much about his condition as possible. He will probably find himself under pressure to have treatment with radioactive iodine (RAI). This is not for his benefit but for his doctors' benefit - it gets him off their books and referred back to his GP. Don't do anything in a hurry and resist being pushed into something he will later regret.

Just be aware that if your husband refuses the RAI or refuses to have his thyroid removed, he can't be denied treatment with anti-thyroid drugs. Don't allow yourself to be rushed. Life without a thyroid isn't nearly as easy as doctors would have the patient believe.

You should find this recent thread on Graves and its treatment of interest :

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...