Hi. My names Hope and I was wondering if someone on here could give me some advice. I've been dating a guy with CF now for about a year now. I love him more than anything in this world. The problem is, is that I don't know much about CF. I ask him questions all the time, and he gives me very open and honest answers, but I can tell by the looks he gives me that he's kinda reluctant to talk about it. So I just don't ask much anymore. I know the basics, what it is, how you get it, and I've also seen what he goes through with it. But when I ask him about sexual questions he shys away from them. I know we're both ready to take our relationship to the "next level" if you wanna call it that. So I guess I came here to ask the questions that I have in my head. Are all men with CF infertile? And if so when we get married, because he's talked about being married, is there no way that I could have <i>his</i> child? And does anyone know of a way that I could approach him with this topic without having him shy away? Thanks!
Hi! I need some advice.
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Most men w/ CF still produce sperm. They are infertile because mucus clogs the vas deference. I have heard of men having their sperm extracted in order to impregnate their partners, and not all CF men are infertile, so don't loose hope!If the two of you are getting serious, ask if you can tag along to one of his doctor visits. Cf is very individualized, so you should learn about what HE does. Also, his CF clinic should provide, or be able to put you in touch with genetic counslours. If a child is in your future, you'll want to be checked for the CF gene. Here's how it works: if both parents are carriers of the gene (your boyfriend is) then there is a 25% chance that the child will HAVE cf, a 50% chance they will be just a carrier, and a 25% chance they will not carry at all. If you are not a carrier, there is still a chance that your child might be a carrier b/c your partner has CF. This is the right place for questions and support.Debbie22 yr old w/ CF
Hi HopeI'm caroline and my boyfriend John also has CF. I love him to bits. He's 33 now and not doing too badly. Some days are worse than others but he works hard on his physios now and is religious aout taking his medication and any supplements I advise him to take. He is becoming much more aware and it's working. We've been together over seven years. At first he was reluctant to talk about his illness and used to skip physios etc. I decided to find things out for myself (so I didn't have to keep probing him and reminding him of his illness) and there is a lot of information available on the web to help you. As I began to understand, I was gently able to encourage him to talk more openly about his illness. There are still some things that he finds hard to talk about ( transplants etc) and I think it is better not to do that. What is the point focusing on negative things that may or may not happen. Our philosophy is to focus, as much as possible, on what's positive and not to dwell on the illness too much. As I have a scientific background, I love keeping up to date on all the new research and this keeps him (and me) optimistic and positive. There's some real exciting stuff to do with fish oils at the moment. I'm a great believer in food as medicine and am really trying to get him to take this on board. It is working - slowly. Your desire to have a child with your boyfriend, is close to my heart. As someone else has told you in this forum, most men with CF are infertile because of a blockage. This can be difficult subject to talk about because it is so tied up with ideas of 'manhood' etc (if you know what I mean) so you have to be very senstive in broaching it. However, if you would like a child with your boyfriend, then it is fair that you should be able to discuss the options open to you. I have met CF men who have had an operation (it has to be done under a local anaethestic because of the effects of a general on the lungs) and have successfully fathered children. If you want to find out more, I have come across websites where this is discussed (use a search engine) but you could ask your doctor or talk to a CF specialist (even without your boyfriend if this upsets him). But go gently as you don't want to put your boyfriend under too much pressure as this will stress him out which is not good for his health.As regards me, I have talked to John about having a child but he doesn't want to go through the operation and also feels that he would not be able to cope with the stress of having a child. I have come to accept this decision and our relationship has become a bit looser as a result. He knows that I would like a child (I'm 36 now) but I love him so much and don't want to leave him. It's a dilemma that haunts me each day. I was thinking about going to a sperm bank but honestly, I don't think that is what I want. You must remember however, that you must do what you want in your heart and your desire for children is totally understandable. Maybe your boyfriend would agree to the operation.Well good luck and God bless. Keep strongLove CazzeX
Hi Hopehere's a medical article you might find interesting:Fertility in Men With Cystic Fibrosis(*): An Update on Current Surgical Practices and Outcomes.Chest, Oct, 2000, by Theresa J. McCallum, Jeff M. Milunsky, Donna L. Cunningham, Doria H. Harris, Thomas A. Mater, Robert D. OatesAn Update on Current Surgical Practices and OutcomesBackground: Men with cystic fibrosis (CF) have bilateral absence of the vas deferens causing an obstructive azoospermia that is not amenable to surgical correction. Advances in the field of reproductive medicine allow for the procurement of viable sperm and facilitate fertilization and pregnancy in couples where the man has CF.Objectives: To describe patient anatomy and semen characteristics and to determine the pregnancy rates of couples in whom the male partner has CF and who have undergone microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration coupled with in vitro technology, specifically intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).Design: Retrospective analysis.Setting: Clinical department of urology and two reproductive medicine units.Patients: Thirteen married men with CF who were referred for infertility.Interventions: History, physical examination, semen analysis, transrectal and renal ultrasonography, CF mutation analysis, and microsurgical sperm aspiration coupled with ICSI.Results: All 13 men had low-volume azoospermia, absent vasa, and aplasia/hypoplasia of the seminal vesicles. CF mutation analysis was carried out in 11 of 13 men, and 9 of 11 were [Delta] F508 homozygous. Eight men underwent microsurgical sperm aspiration, and their partners underwent one or more cycles of ICSI. Five couples (62.5%) achieved a pregnancy, with four couples delivering (three sets of twins and one singleton).Conclusions: CF in men is accompanied by bilateral vasal aplasia. The resultant obstructive azoospermia can be treated quite successfully with a combination of sperm aspiration and ICSI. It is important for physicians involved in the care of men with CF to convey the message that prospects for fatherhood are excellent with current technology. (CHEST 2000; 118:1059--1062)Key words: cystic fibrosis; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration; vasal agenesisAbbreviations: CF = cystic fibrosis; ICSI = intracytoplasmic sperm injection; MESA = microsurgical epididymal sperm aspirationCystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common single-gene disorders in North America. With the combination of aggressive treatment strategies, effective antibiotic regimens, refined pancreatic enzyme replacement, and a diversity of other interventions, deterioration in pulmonary function and nutritional status has slowed while survival has improved.Marriage and the possibility of reproduction are now options to be considered. However, nearly all men with CF have absent vasa deferentia, resulting in an obstructive azoospermia that cannot be surgically corrected and precludes natural conception.[1] In the last few years, techniques to harvest sperm and to combine them with retrieved oocytes in an in vitro system have allowed these men to achieve biological paternity.[2] Surgical collection techniques include microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration, and testicular sperm extraction. The most common method to assist in fertilization of the oocyte is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Since 1991, 13 men with CF have been evaluated for obstructive azoospermia at Boston Medical Center. Described below are their clinical findings and therapeutic results, including pregnancy in five of eight couples (62.5%) who underwent sperm retrieval and ICSI. The primary intent of this study is to update the pulmonologist on the latest advances in the field of reproduction as it applies to the man with CF. With this knowledge at hand, pulmonologists will be able to inform their patients about the options for parenthood and to encourage referral to a center involved in reproductive medicine (ie, to a urologist or reproductive endocrinologist). In addition, the parents of boys who have recently received a diagnosis of CF may ask about their sons' future reproductive capability. They can be told that, at present, the chances for reproduction are excellent.CazzeXX