Having children after BEP chemo

Hi Kellylouise_ and welcome to the online community

That's really great news that your partner is 18 months clear from testicular cancer!

I can't help with your question regarding having children after BEP chemo but I noticed that your post hadn't had any responses. 

If you haven't already tried this, you'll find if you type 'pregnant', for example, in the search bar in this group there are lots of posts on this topic. You could have a read through them to see if they provide you with the experiences you're looking for and reply to any of the more recent ones if you want to ask the poster a question.

When you have a minute, it would be really useful if you could pop something about your partner's journey so far into your profile as it really helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

Wishing you all the best

x

Hi Kelly, I can relate to you. My husband was diagnosed right before our one year wedding anniversary and right when we pretty much decided to start trying for a child. I was 30 he was 34. My husband had one testicle removed and a partial of the other. We banked sperm and also had testicular tissue removed during his second surgery, prior to chemo. After 1 year of completing chemo, his sperm count was still zero. His last treatment was March/2019, he did 2 cycles of BEP. He hasn't been tested since because of covid. Dr. Had said in March after his last sperm sample review his body was working in overdrive to try to produce. We've gone the ivf route and had a failed attempt to get embryos. But recently did another cycle and finally got some frozen embryos. Transfer will happen in a few weeks. We're you able to bank sperm or anything? Has he been tested since chemo? How many cycles did he do? Message/friend me if you want to talk.

-Meredith

Hi Meredith 

thanks so much for responding. I’m sorry to hear about your first attempt and wishing you lots of luck for the next few weeks. 

yes we banked sperm but wanted to attempt natural conception first. We need to get to the Doctors to check his count so thank you for suggesting that. I hope your husband is doing ok now after treatment, it’s strange they finished chemo at the same time! 

My other half had 3 rounds of BEP. They felt the cancer had spread to the lymph nodes as there was a slight interference on his CT. prior to chemo he had a left orchiectomy. 

I will definitely friend you, it would be nice to talk to someone else who has had a similar experience in terms of cancer/age.

Again,  thanks so much for responding and I am sending lots of positivity your way 

Kelly 

Hi, Kelly! First of all sorry that your partner had to face this cancer, but good to know he is ok. I was diagnosed in January 2015, 30 at that time. Did not banked sperm (and I feel very bad for this). Later that year I had 4 cycles of BEP. In April 2016 had RPLND surgery and since then I am all clear, thanks God. Now when it comes to trying for a child... naturally nothing happened up to day. Wanted to try IVF. We started chasing whats going on with myself in this matter. So last year I had 2 or 3 times sperm count tested. On the last one I was told despite all treatments I had, I still have some sperm but very very low. Just under 2 mln per ml or something like that. We were told we have a greater chance if we try IVF with the ICSI option. Unfortunately we had to go to private clinic because we have one child already and are not eligible for free treatment. We went to a private one, had all the tests, scans ect. I knew and I told them my wife is absolutely fine and no issues at all, it was me that has problem with fertility. Been told that women need to go through this process anyway. So as I told them, my wife was absolutely fine (confirmed after all tests and scans there). No test was done to me though... Wife had the injections, all went fine. 13 eggs were collected, 9 of them were mature and good to be used. And at the end not even a single one fertilized. They managed to find some good sperm (thats what they claim) and despite they were injected into the eggs, none fertilized. We were so broken with my wife. And still talk about it. It is very expensive, too! Doctors suggest we try again. Try again but firstly it costs a lot, and then no guarantee something will happen after we seen that eggs did not fertilize at all. We were and still are very disappointed. I don't want to discourage you, everyone is different. And at least you have banked spern and that is a great chance for you if nothing happens naturally.

All the best and good luck!

Plamen

Yes my wife got pregnant about 2.5 years post my BEP Chemo.. I was also advised that it would take about 2 years for the testis to recover after chemo

Hello Kelly

I went through something similar, hope my story helps. Brief background to what I went through;

Diagnosed late 2012, had right orchidectomy, had some of my guys frozen before the op too,

Went through 2 cycles of BEP chemo,

Had RPLND towards end of 2013 (I think) because of an enlarged lymph node in my lower right abdomen,

Finished my 5 year follow up period in Feb 2017 without a hitch.

My wife and I were a similar age to you and your partner when we were going through this.  Around 2015 I told my oncologist that me and my wife were thinking of trying for a baby.  So I started to have regular sperm analysis done at the fertility clinic, the results were always not great, I was/am always on the very low count side. Which was always hard for me to take. 

What's interesting is, I was put these testosterone boosting gels, which I had to rub on me. But when I told my doc that we wanted to try for a baby, he recommended I stop using them, because they infact hinder your sperm count (don't quote me on this).

At this stage my wife and I were kind of thinking IVF would be the only option available to us to conceive.  But against all odds, and I must say to the surprise of all, my wife fell pregnant and our son was born in July 2016! All natural, and everything perfect!

We did use to put in a lot of practice before we fell pregnant! And my wife and I both became very health conscious before this pregnancy and I joined a gym and became very active person, whether that had anything to do with it, I guess the jury is still out. My son is 4 now, and everyday is a blessing.

Anyways, I wish you and your partner all the best and good luck! Hope my story helps, if there's anything you want me to elaborate on, please ask.

Dale

Hi Dale, thank you for your story. My story is above too and we are currently going through ivf. Can you clarify the time frame from your last bep treatment to getting pregnant? I kinda gathered 3 years, but couldn't tell for sure. Did you have any other analysis done on your sperm between completing bep and getting pregnant?

Thanks again, 

Meredith 

Hi Meredith

Yes I read your story above, I'm sorry you and your partner are going through this.

Just looking back through my diary, so I finished BEP chemo in April 2012.  And I had my last op in November 2012 to remove some naughty lymph nodes.  So between the beginning of 2013 and the end of 2015 I had around 3/4 sperm analysis appointments. 

I feel my wife and I got really lucky when she feel pregnant. We hadn't been trying for that long, I think we were trying for a couple of months before she was pregnant. Then my son was born in July 2016.

I should mention too, that we did have miscarriage before this pregnancy and we have also suffered one after this pregnancy, when we were trying for our second child. So it hasn't been all plain sailing.

Hope this helps. Good luck to you and your partner.

I just wanted to update this thread with the intention it brings hope for someone reading this. Following my post 9 months ago and two years after my partner has had BEP chemo and an orchidectomy we are pregnant and are expecting a baby and are lucky enough to have done this naturally. We have had our 12 week scan and all is well. 

I hope someone who is in the similar situation as we were a year ago reads this and feels hopeful.

Thank you so much for sharing and congratulations! We are still going through ivf... Thank so much for bringing hope and posting this!