what are the odds that my sperm are still viable?

David - sorry I just misread that as "my wife oversees my testes"
Mine would need her reading glasses.
Alf

Purgatory said...
sancarolos - i dont think i could ever eat a prune again after that, lol, the dr said that was probaby what my radiation destroyed bladder would like like now that it has been bypassed for 5 months

ed - biologist, that's cool too. makes sense. as a nurse, my wife oversees all my tests and procedures too.

David,

Sorry about that. How about a fresh pomegranate?

Physicians who do seed implants warn about the danger of ejaculating the radioactive seeds, but I would assume that this advice would only be relevant for a short period of several weeks after the seed implant operation when, 1) the seeds would still be radioactive, and 2) the cells in the prostate, both cancer and normal, would not have begun to die off from the radiation.

Sancarlos

I found this:
Changes in Ejaculate
Since the prostate fluid, normally secreted by the prostate gland, forms a significant part of semen, changes in the prostate gland due to brachytherapy can affect ejaculate. The Prostate Cancer Charity indicates that men who have undergone prostate brachytherapy typically produce less fluid during ejaculation. This may be due to decrease prostate activity, leading to an overall decrease in the production of prostate fluid. Although changes in the volume of ejaculate after prostate brachytherapy are common, the effects of brachytherapy on the fertility and mobility of sperm in ejaculate is not yet known. Men concerned with fertility following prostate brachytherapy should consult with a physician and consider sperm banking prior to treatment to avoid fertility issues.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/219877-sexual-side-effects-of-brachytherapy-for-prostate-cancer/#ixzz1FYYtJZry

The stuff I found about wearing a condom in case a seed comes out was a recommendation for the first couple of weeks.


And I found this at:
prostatecancerinfolink.net/2010/06/11/loss-of-ejaculatory-ability-is-high-after-radiation-therapy/

"Non-ejaculation after radiation therapy appears to have been significantly under-reported in the medical literature in the past, and the published data on this issue are few and far between. Clinical experience — by contrast — suggests that this is a common consequence of pelvic radiation therapy."

The original question was not "will I ejaculate", but contraception-related. And I do not think that BT and IGRT can be certain to have so damaged everything that there is no risk of any sperm getting to the outside world. If someone has not had an orgasm for a year that does not mean that they might not have one tomorrow and what if something then dribbles out that contains sperm. I mean cowper's gland secretions have been found to contain sperm and it only takes one to do the job.
What odds are okay? Surely you need a dead cert here not X to 1.
Aren't there any RT only guys out there who can come in on this and explain what their sperm are doing?


Alf

I had IMRT and HDR brachytherapy last November and December. The IMRT included the pelvic area to catch the lymph nodes. With the HDR nothing was left behind to expell or migrate, but 90 days of radiation was delivered in about 30 minutes, so I know things were sizzling. I also had a 6 month Eligard shot last October and I take one Jalyn daily.

I have had maybe 6 ejaculations since the radiation stopped. Due to the Brachytherapy they have been brown in color. There is also far less volume and power than before. Even though the HT has taken affect (my T level is about 23) libido has stayed strong. As I understand I will continue to have some prostate tissue as it is unlikely that all will die from the radiation, and may have some, but greatly limited, prostate function. So far that is the case, but time will continue to tell.

My bride had her tubes tied years ago after we had 3 boys in just over two years. These days we chear those boys on and currently have two more grandbabies on the way.