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Fertility after Interferon?
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Fertility after Interferon?

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Fertility after Interferon?

  • Post
    • August 19, 2010 at 7:59 pm
    Meg1414
    Participant

      Hi! I just discovered this site today and am excited to find a place where so many people have had similar experiences. But I was hoping that someone could help me out with this – 8 years ago I was on interferon. I did the whole 20 doses and then 11 months on my own routine. But now, I'm thinking about trying to have a baby and can't find any statistics or anything. I don't have an oncologist anymore. (He retired a couple years ago and I just see a dermatologist now.) Has anyone on here gotten pregnant after interferon, or know any information?

      Hi! I just discovered this site today and am excited to find a place where so many people have had similar experiences. But I was hoping that someone could help me out with this – 8 years ago I was on interferon. I did the whole 20 doses and then 11 months on my own routine. But now, I'm thinking about trying to have a baby and can't find any statistics or anything. I don't have an oncologist anymore. (He retired a couple years ago and I just see a dermatologist now.) Has anyone on here gotten pregnant after interferon, or know any information? I don't want to go to a fertility specialist until I've tried for a while, but was hoping someone out there had some good (or bad, I guess) news. 🙂 Wishing you all the best!

    Viewing 9 reply threads
    • Replies
        • August 20, 2010 at 1:09 am
        Linda J
        Participant

          Hi,

          I also did interferon – the whole year as well, about six years ago.  I was 22/23 then.  My husband and I had tried to get pregnant for about 3 years and then we ended up adopting our son 11 months ago.  I had asked my oncologist several years ago if Interferon had any impact on fertility and from his findings, he said that it didn't.  I would suggest going to a fertility specialist sooner rather than later.  I didn't go right away because my family doc kept pushing us to consider adoption (which we are very thankful that she did) and because I didn't really want to do any crazy hormones or IVF if it came to that.  We thought that we would just go about it naturally and if nothing happened, then we would adopt.  It worked out well for us, but the long and the short of it is that Interferon doesn't seem to have any impact on fertility.  Hope that helps

          • August 20, 2010 at 3:42 am
          MaryBZ
          Participant

            Hi,

            I don't have personal experience, but I know a woman by the name of Michele (she doesn't frequent this board often) but she did the whole Interferon thing (finished July 2009 I believe) and she wrote on my Facebook that she is having a baby who is due in November!!  If it's your dream, please don't let the fear of melanoma get in the way of some happiness (easier said than done I know).  Good luck!  heart

             

            Mary

            • August 20, 2010 at 3:46 am
            MaryBZ
            Participant

              Totally off the topic, but is the picture of your pugs?  We love pugs.  We have a fawn colored one named Shockey.

              • August 20, 2010 at 4:19 pm
              KatyWI
              Participant

                Women have been successful.  Go to the old board (archives) and search pregnancy or baby and interferon.  Best wishes!

                • August 22, 2010 at 2:35 am
                Mfarkas
                Participant

                  Hi Meg-

                  I just happened to "pop-in" to this website as I used to be a frequent user.  I was diagnosed with melanoma June '08, completed the year long interferon July '09 and as MaryBZ has posted I realized in March that I was pregnant.  As with many things in my life I don't plan…didn't plan on Melanoma, was going to wait until June of this year to think about a second baby  (my daughter is 3, she was 10 months old when I was diagnosed), mainly because I wanted to be cancer free for 2 years….however things happen for a reason, and I am due November 3rd!!!   I have not forgotten about "the beast" as I have a large scar on my face and neck to remind me everyday, however it has taught me great things.  Life is too short, that's for sure!! 

                  My oncologist had no concerns of infertility from the beginning, and I met with 4 different doc's to verify!  In fact when he found out I was expecting he was more than pleased!  Good luck to you and your future – good things will come!

                  Hold your head high, and keep smiling-

                  Lots of love, Michele

                  [email protected] (feel free to contact me anytime)

                    • August 23, 2010 at 12:57 am
                    Terra
                    Participant

                      my husband was on interferon when we got pregnant with our second child – probably not much help but we were told there was info out there for women and interferon and pregnancy but not for men – maybe call cancer centre to inquire or have your gp contact them – good luck

                      • August 23, 2010 at 12:57 am
                      Terra
                      Participant

                        my husband was on interferon when we got pregnant with our second child – probably not much help but we were told there was info out there for women and interferon and pregnancy but not for men – maybe call cancer centre to inquire or have your gp contact them – good luck

                      • August 25, 2010 at 12:46 am
                      jheppen
                      Participant

                        Hi, I was on interferon six years ago (completed about 7 months) and then did 3 years of GMCSF. Am now pregnant with my second child – due in December. (My first was 6 mos old when I was diagnosed.)  My oncologist thought that neither treatment was associated with infertility.

                        Good luck!!!

                        Jessica (stage IIIa, dx 12/03)

                        • August 25, 2010 at 12:46 am
                        jheppen
                        Participant

                          Hi, I was on interferon six years ago (completed about 7 months) and then did 3 years of GMCSF. Am now pregnant with my second child – due in December. (My first was 6 mos old when I was diagnosed.)  My oncologist thought that neither treatment was associated with infertility.

                          Good luck!!!

                          Jessica (stage IIIa, dx 12/03)

                          • August 27, 2010 at 11:33 pm
                          Meg1414
                          Participant

                            Thank you so much, you guys!!! These posts have made me feel so much better about my chances! (And yes, those are my pugs – my "kids" right now. Their names are Javi and Oscar.)

                            • August 27, 2010 at 11:33 pm
                            Meg1414
                            Participant

                              Thank you so much, you guys!!! These posts have made me feel so much better about my chances! (And yes, those are my pugs – my "kids" right now. Their names are Javi and Oscar.)

                              • February 25, 2018 at 6:34 pm
                              Meg1414
                              Participant

                                Just an update – I have a perfect little almost-2 year old boy! <3

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