BABIES/CONCEIVING

Shantelx
Shantelx Member Posts: 22
edited 19. Sep 2016, 05:29 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi I'm 26 soon to be 27 currently on TOCUZILUMAB think I spelt that right is any one else on this? And have you fell pregnant while on it?

I'm hoping to start a family in the near future I've spoken to my RA consultant however he wants me to stop it 3 months prior however I can't see to go a month without the toc before having some sort of flare up I've read loads about it but Americans are allowed to stay on it until falling pregnant


My question is have any of you had trouble falling pregnant or any advice for my in regards to this topic? Thanks

Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    The reason your rheumatologist advised against staying on tocilizumab while trying to conceive is not because it makes conception more difficult but because the dangers to the foetus are largely unknown.

    I've managed to find a PubMed (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health) article on a small sample of women who were taking tocilizumab while trying to conceive / shortly after. I've shortened it a bit but you can read the full article at http://tinyurl.com/h7xw7vd

    “180 were prospectively reported resulting in 109 live births (60.6%), 39 spontaneous abortions (21.7%), 31 elective terminations of pregnancy (17.2%), and 1 stillbirth. The rate of malformations was 4.5%. …..Compared to the general population, an increased rate of preterm birth (31.2%) was observed. Retrospectively reported pregnancies (n = 108) resulted in 55 live births (50.9%), 31 spontaneous abortions (28.7%), and 22 elective terminations (20.4%). Three infants/fetuses with congenital anomalies were reported in this group.”
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Shantelx
    Shantelx Member Posts: 22
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh I fully understand that yhwy aren't sure of affects I did read it takes 16 weeks for it to get into the placenta that's why I was unsure but thank you for your findings I'll read through
  • SWLondonerRA
    SWLondonerRA Member Posts: 5
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Shantelx wrote:
    Oh I fully understand that yhwy aren't sure of affects I did read it takes 16 weeks for it to get into the placenta that's why I was unsure but thank you for your findings I'll read through

    I'm going through a similar life stage! I.e. Also thinking about children. Have you and your doc considered you going onto a different biologic that you can conceive on such as Humira?


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  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,898
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    This has been talked about lots on here as it's quite natural for people to want to have children so will these help?:



    http://arthritiscareforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=44209&p=586009&hilit=pregnancy#p586009


    http://arthritiscareforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=42783&p=566675&hilit=pregnancy#p566675

    and

    http://arthritiscareforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=41862&p=554813&hilit=pregnancy#p554813

    Worth a read?

    there are more too if you click on the 'search' button top right of the page.

    Love

    Toni xxx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hello Shantelx
    We have had a few people on here that have had children, one lucky lady had twins..I hope the topics that Toni has put on for you will help..and I do wish you well for the future..
    Love
    Barbara