Enbrel vs. Fertility | Arthritis Information

Hi Everybody,

This is my first posting. I am really intersted to learn any experiences or comments you may have on two basic subjects:

Have any of you heard anything about Enbrel affecting fertility on men? (I am a male by the way) My doctor wants to me start with Enbrel. I have no kids yet but she told me she knows there are some related problems for women using enbrel and their ability to get pregnant... Any comments on the Male side of this equation?

Also, although I have lost a lot a movement in neck and spine, (I have arthritis since I was 16, I am now 39) I was doing pretty good with Mobic until two months ago when suddenly my right foot started to swell and I have so much pain that I can bearly walk... Any of you experiencing arthritis on the feet? and if so.. ddid Enbrel help at all?

Thank you!
GonjoGonjo--

Can't comment on the Enbrel/Fertility issue...Hopefully you'll hear from others on that.

But, my arthritis started in my feet. Then hands, wrists, ankles. I'm doing pretty good now. I've been on MTX for a little over a year (a big no-no if you're wanting to become a parent). And on Enbrel for almost four months. The MTX helped immensely, and the Enbrel is doing it's job as well. I'm almost back to 100%--not quite but very close.

Good luck!
dordale

[QUOTE=dordale8]Gonjo--

Can't comment on the Enbrel/Fertility issue...Hopefully you'll hear from others on that.

But, my arthritis started in my feet. Then hands, wrists, ankles. I'm doing pretty good now. I've been on MTX for a little over a year (a big no-no if you're wanting to become a parent). And on Enbrel for almost four months. The MTX helped immensely, and the Enbrel is doing it's job as well. I'm almost back to 100%--not quite but very close.

Good luck!
dordale

Hi Dordale!!!

Thank you for your reply!! I'm so new to all these medications, for many years I did pretty good with Mobic but that was about it...

I have two more questions for you if you don't mind..

Thank you for your help!

Gonjo

Gonjo-

You don't want to stay on predinsone if you can help it. Very bad to be on it long term. It masks the pain but doesn't treat the condition very well. So if you have RA, your disease will still progress into to joint damage, which you definitely don't want.

Methotrexate (MTX) is normally one of the first drugs docs put you on for RA. It is a DMARD (Disease Modifying AntiRheumatic Drug) and can stop/slow the disease progression. It cna be taken orally or by injection.

If the firstline of DMARDS don't work (there are several other besides MTX) it may be recommended you start on the Biologics(of which Enbrel is one).

You didn't mention what type of arthritis you have. This, of course would determine the treatment. I find it unusual that the Dr would start you out on Enbrel. The insurance companies don't generally cover biologics unless it can be shown the firstline DMARD were ineffective.

I had heard that Enbrel does not effect male nor female fertilty at all. But double check with your dr.Gonjo

Hessalina provided good answers to your questions regarding MTX. And she's right. You don't want to stay on Prednisone long term if you can help it.

I'm lucky in that my doctor never prescribe Prednisone for me. (I think if he'd prescribed it for me at the beginning I would still be on it.) I was pretty bad...like you, I couldn't walk more than a block or two with out severe foot pain. Then, my ankles started bothering me worse than my feet. They would get so sore if I even just stood on them for just few minutes.

Now, after being on treatment for a little over a year, I am much better. My feet/ankles do still bother me from time to time. But only after I've been on them for a few hours. And even when they do bother me, the pain and swelling are no where near as severe as they were before I started treatment.

Hope this helps--good luck to you!

dordale Hey there,

I can't help with your question about Enbrel and fertility in men but I will share my experience.

My history: JRA at age 4. I am 32 now. I have been on almost every med under the sun and finally started Enbrel in 2003. It has been life changing for me! I am on Enbrel alone.

In Sept we decided to try and conceive, because of my age we decided to use a fertilty monitor. We also decided to stay on the Enbrel while trying to conceive. We concieved the second month trying and I am now 10 weeks along. I stopped the Enbrel as soon as we got our positive test result. I did however decide to go back on Enbel and not Prednisone as my RA was becoming to much for me. I took my first shot last Friday and to my surprise that one shot has made me 85% better already.

With all that said, I have decided to try and make it to the end of my first trimester before starting back on my full doses of Enbrel.

With all my Enbrel research I did not once find any info that suggested fertility issues, not saying they may not be there, I just never saw that at all. If you are at anytime deciding to try and conceive I would recomend your significant other using a fertility monitor. It could save months or even years of heart ache/ guess work, and if there is an issue can shave lots of time off the "what ifs" so you can move forward to try and find the infertility issues.

Good Luck!

Hey,

I'm not sure if this helps you, but I'm sure someone might find this information useful. I have been on enbrel for the past 3 yrs, ever since I gave birth to my first daughter. I got pregnant without trying 1 year after starting the enbrel and had to stay on it throughout the entire pregnancy. I was also on birth control and methotrexate but that is another story.

Gretchen is now just over a year and very healthy so far.

I know I'm not a male, but I was on it for a 1 year before and all through the pregnancy without problems. I'm sure if you have trouble getting pregnant it will be for other reasons no the enbrel.

Good luck and God bless,

Jessica

Hi!

Wondering if anyone is still active on this stream. I have been diagnosed with infertility. I am on Embrel. I have been told by my Dr (now seeking a second opinion) that I absolutely have to be off Embrel to be pregnant and/or breast feed (considering adoption too). I am writing to see if anyone can share more experiences.

I found the post from last February very helpful. Thank you.