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Prednisone vs. Sperm

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Posted 4/13/2010 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I'm looking for any input regarding the subject. My doctor just put me back on 40mg of pred at a 5mg taper per week after the first 3 weeks.

My wife and I are planning on starting a family with the goal of conception this summer. We have been preparing ourselves with the usual pre-natal vitamins and healthy living to beter our chances, but now I am battling a flare....figures...

We are both worried about how the prednisone will affect our chances and/or if there are any concerns with defects or sperm motility or fertilization??

I've done some preliminary googling, but I have not come up with much in regards to prednisone and it's affect on conception or a healthy pregnancy.

Thanks in advance for any help or support.
Posted 4/13/2010 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
I'd personally be worried about trying to conceive while EITHER of us are on Prednisone. I would call your GI and ask him/her though. He/she will know best about side effects involving sperm and pregnancy. I've done a little bit of research, but haven't heard anything about it.
Posted 4/13/2010 6:41 PM (GMT 0)
As far as I know, pred does not cause any harm to the sperm nor cause birth defects. Pregnant women even take pred during flares with no harm to the baby. But if it concerns you, try contacting one of your doctors - either the GI or an OB/GYN.
Posted 4/13/2010 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
My daughter was concieved when I had just started prednisone for a couple of days. My GI freaked out when I told him but he thought that I had started my imuran but I hadn't yet. My daughter is normal size and weight and intelligence now at 4. But she was born with umbelical hernia and a 2 tiny holes in her heart. Doctors said they were both normal in a certain number of births, i forget the percentages. Both self-healed and went away by themselves. I don' t know if prednisone had to do with these things or not. I don't no of any other baby in my family or cousins that had these.
Posted 4/13/2010 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
I think some natural supplements and herbs are not to be consumed by expecting mothers so one can only imagine about something as powerful as prednisone. Just be careful and research as much as possible.
Posted 4/13/2010 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
I was on prednisone during the last trimester while carrying my twins & had to continue taking it for approx 8 weeks after their birth...
I was breastfeeding while on the pred & neither of the twins experienced any problems, no complications. There is a grading system for
prescription meds during pregnancy, pre conception...try looking up that scale or even talking to your pharmacist. If there are no problems
prior to the pred for your swimmers...I can't imagine it would effect you, but I am no physician. Best of luck to you guys :)
Posted 4/14/2010 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I saw this post and had to call my good friend who is a fertility doctor. I would still call your dr., but he said that there are no genetic/defects concerns having to do with pred. He did say it affects either the number or mobility (I forget which one he said), so it might be harder to get pregnant.

Happy baby making!!!
Posted 4/14/2010 9:27 AM (GMT 0)
I was on pred (10mg) and Imuran (125mg), My doctor told me that we would have a very very low chance of conceiving and that it would more than likely NOT happen. I decided to forget about having a child until after I had finished or possibly got off ALL drugs. BUT we found out my partner was pregnant in December, we have been to a scan in March and all looked good, we go TODAY for another sound test to hear the heartbeat! - Im sooooooo excited!!..

Hope this helps
Posted 4/14/2010 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
I appreciate all the responses so far, every little bit helps. I'm surprised with all the studies being done today that I'm having such a hard time locating any documentation on this particular scenario? I assume it's been tested to death like everything else. I just don't want to make any haphazard decisions without knowing all the angles. It's a little bit scary.
Posted 8/8/2012 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all, I understand this post is a couple of years old now but thought I may see if there have been any updates with the men here on meds and planning on conceiving a child. My husband and I would like to try for a baby in the near future also and he is on prednisolone. We are trying to find out people's experiences and if we should expect any fertility issues. We plan to ask our doctors as well but find that real experiences out there very helpful. Thank you!
Posted 8/10/2013 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone and Aromes specifically. I am in the same situation as Aromes in terms of my husband having to take prednisone (bad case of poison ivy in his case) and us planning to conceive. On top of that we're in the process of switching insurance because i am in between jobs, and we anticipate it may take us a couple of months at least to get to a specialist. So if you find out anything more specific about effects of prednisone on fertility or especially on the fetus please post it here! I'd really appreciate more information. Thank you everyone!
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