Doctors' Answers to Frequently Asked Questions - Fertility/Infertility

These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.

"Temporary" Infertility [posted 12/01/98]
Question: I took Ortho Novum 777 for about 8 years in the 80's and early 90's. I went off the pill and have been unsuccessfully trying to pregnant for 6 years. The specialists can find nothing wrong with me. I just read in a product information guide by the manufacturer of Ortho Novum (which I found on the Web) that temporary infertility after prolonged use of the drug can occur. My question is - How long is "temporary"? And is this possibly the cause for many of the "unexplained infertility" cases? Has any research been done in this area to determine if there is a correlation?

Answer: While, this is described, it is not particularly common. There has been lots of research and little documentation of any change in preexisting fertility patterns.

Concerns About the Effects of Previous Drug Use on Fertility [posted 11/13/98]
Question: My husband and I have been undergoing fertility treatment and it just occured to us that many years ago (8-10) we both used cocaine and are now concerned that this may be causing us to be infertile and also that this may cause certain birth defects if we do in fact become pregnant. Please comment on the risks we may be putting any child we may conceive in and if there is a known link between cocaine use and infertility. Neither of us has touched any drug or alcohol in years. Thank you

Answer: Little.

Fertility [posted 10/2/98]
Question: My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for over a year with no luck. I was told about 4 years ago by my doctor to use the bathroom immediately after sex to prevent yeast infections. I've still been urinating immediately following intercourse and when I do, some of the semen comes out too. I was wondering if we might possibly be preventing a pregnancy because of this.

Answer: You need to read some of the general information about improving fertility rates. These are available in any book store. After intercourse you need to keep your cervix above your uterus to let gravity help the semen on its way. You are doing the exact oppositive, helps with urinary infections, but, not fertility.

Fertility Post-Pituitary Tumor [posted 10/2/98]
Question: I recently had a client ask me for information about the probabilities of getting pregnant after removal of a pituitary tumor. She is currently in her mid 20's, never had children, and would like to have children. Due to the tumor her menstral cycle has stopped. What are the chances and or treatments if any that can be done after surgery to assist her to have a regular menstraul cycle. Is there any studies that show success rates with getting pregnant after this type of surgery? Thanks for what info you can provide me.

Answer: This is trickey;but, can be done with an endocrine specialist or Ob who has an endocrine sub-specialty.

Fertility & Allegra [posted 10/1/98]
Question: I have been trying to get pregnant for quite sometime and I've suffered through the past 2 allergy seasons with taking nothing but opticrom and flonase or beconaise. This year has been awful and I've started taking Allegra pre-Ovulation, my husband is also taking it. Can Allegra interfere with the production of cervical fluid or sperm/egg quality? Also, what antihistamine (non-drowsy) would you suggest be used post-ovulation?

Answer: I don't know anything specific about Allegra and fertility problems. You might check with the company Hoechst-Marion_Roussel 800-552-3656. I think that most of the newer antihistamines are pretty equivalent in terms of risk and effectiveness. Have you tried adding nasalcrom to your nasal steroids? Often very effective. Also, allergy shots work in this type of allergy. Probably the only area that they are extremely effective and they would not be expected to affect your fertility.




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