Having children post RRP, what are the odds?

The issue of having children post RRP has been discussed in this forum. It appears that many have come to the conclusion that they will be infertile and could no longer sire children. One of the pre-intervention decision points for anyone just diagnosed with PC should be whether they'd still like to have children one day. I think this reproduction issue is particularly pressing for our younger generation who are having children much later in life; and also for the continuing trend of older men marrying (or are in partnership with) much younger women – another discussion in this forum on Trimix Creams/Gels give some credence to this notion.

For later reproduction, the Prostate Cancer Foundation suggests sperm banking prior to intervention; and those fortunate to have opted for an RRP, could later have their testes harvested for sperm cells. One assumes that these (good) sperm cells are then used for artificial insemination and/or even surrogacy.

There is much in the literature about penile health, rehab and recovery; but very little about reproduction. Given the age of my wife and I, reproduction was not discussed during those first few days post diagnosis; but I wonder have these options been mooted with younger couples during their first consultation and what options were they given?
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Gothicarch,

Its awesome that you are considering these options. I had a quick look at TESE and TESA and they both are workable and not too invasive. All the best with the options. see www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1578532/

One of my reasons for posing this question is, we (just DX'ed PCAs) are never asked or informed about these options. Its all about the cancer! If you knew about these options one could choose an intervention that is optimal for cancer intervention and reproduction.

In an earlier forum, I asked the question whether diagnostics upfront are sufficient to make a "reasonable" informed decision as to what treatment was appropriate; especially when all find out after a sub-optimal "intervention" that the cancer was aggressive and not confined to the prostate.

I have not had a look at "reproduction" information and consideration provided in "starter kit" in this PCA forum, although I've noticed some discussion. I'd suggest that "reproduction" becomes one of the questions that needs to be considered, not just Gleason scores, bone mets etc...

In short, I'd like to see questions relating to "reproduction" become a central tenet (among others) of the PCA protocol BEFORE any intervention.

Again, thanks for your feedback and all the best with the procedure.

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All my docs discussed this after my dx. I think all should. All three frontline treatments (surgery, radiation, and ADT) can have negative affects on reproduction ability.

I think what stopped my doctor from talking to me about it was when I told him that my wife and I had a planned trip to take our 15 year old grandson to England and wanted to know if the treatment could be completed far enough before that so I'd be well enough to go.

I realize he was making a big assumption that with teenage grand kids, I wasn't interested in having more children, but I never pressed him on the point.
Andrew

This discussion is amazing! Who would not use a Sperm bank if Their spouse was still of child bearing age!!!!???? Unless they wanted no more children??
Bob

Sounds like the "Americans Can Have it All" club. What, staying alive is not enough? Silly stuff, on a planet degraded in it's environment every day, and billions struggle. Why not be grateful for what we have? Why do we Americans always demand more, more, more. If it is immortality we seek, that has alway been in short supply.

Disclaimer: East Coast 1960s liberal.

NewspaperLover