Exposure to Radiation/Sperm?

BellaBlu · Feb 8th, 2010, 12:54 PM

This is probably a stupid question... but I got to thinking about it and talking to DH..

His job required him to work around radiation for about 12 months..although it wasn't a terribly LARGE amount, it still was there.

That was almost a year ago. Is it possible that it messed with his sperm? Or altered our ability to conceive by any chance? Also.. should I be concerned that when we do conceive.. our baby may have birth defects from it? I've just read about exposure to radiation & birth defects and I don't know if it applies to one of the parents being exposed in the past or if it's caused by exposure WHILE pregnant.

I worry too much

and I of course I'll ask the doctor about it, but would anyone like to provide some insight?

WannaB · Feb 8th, 2010, 13:26 PM

I know of one large study they did on that subject, Im sure there has been many more, the one I read that spanned over 50 years was on the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they showed there was no increases in birth defects after the bombs had been dropped, Im pretty sure they concluded you would need to be exposed to massive amounts over a long period for there to be any effect. I know aslo that men who have undergone radiation therapy dont show increases in birth defects in their children. I remember with the study in Japan though that they always used the phrase "for those that remained fertile". So I would say in very high doses, and you have to remember these people were exposed to masses of radiation, there may be a chance of sterility, but the study was done on thousands of people and they had remained fertile after the exposure.

rowleypolie · Feb 8th, 2010, 13:30 PM

my husband is in the navy and is on a ship with nuclear reactors...i can speculate without any evidence

all the women complain that the radiation ruins the y-chromosome and makes it impossible to have a baby boy... of course this is most likely a wives tale...but there you go- according to them it doesnt decrease your chances of pregnancy just that you will have a baby girl...(which seems accurate because everyone has baby girls!)

tommyg · Feb 8th, 2010, 13:32 PM

I am guessing you are talking about one of the nuclear plants?

Anywhere where people are in a contimanated area they are closely monitored. My DH tells me he has got more radiaton sitting besde his computer that he ever has got around site. Cornwall has naturally occuring radiation that s higher than what the plants are allowed to expose workers too.

Hope that answers you fears

BellaBlu · Feb 8th, 2010, 14:13 PM

No, not the nuclear plant

.. DH is in the Army and when he was overseas he worked with it alot. That's really interesting about the 'more likely to be a girl' theory! It's CRAZY because my father is living proof. He came up with 3 girls, and was in the navy for years.

Very interesting! Thanks for the answers, it really does make me feel much, much better.

BellaBlu · Feb 8th, 2010, 14:19 PM

++ Just to add to that.. now you've got my brain on a roll..

I was thinking about all the other men/women around us (that I know)..that are also in the military (we live on base) ... of the ones who have children they almost all have girls..Only 2 of them have 1 little boy.

In this building alone there are 5 little girls and 1 boy that have been conceived/ given birth to while in the military. Maybe it's coincedental, but still interesting.

goddess25 · Feb 8th, 2010, 14:26 PM

There should not be any problems no, as it was quite some time ago. I am guessing he would have had to wear one of those devices to monitor radiation exposure. I am a nurse working with radiation and chemotherapy and you have to be careful. I am sure his sperm is doing just fine. There would really only be abnormalities in sperm if he was dealing with it now and not in a safe way.

rowleypolie · Feb 11th, 2010, 17:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBlu

++ Just to add to that.. now you've got my brain on a roll..

I was thinking about all the other men/women around us (that I know)..that are also in the military (we live on base) ... of the ones who have children they almost all have girls..Only 2 of them have 1 little boy.

In this building alone there are 5 little girls and 1 boy that have been conceived/ given birth to while in the military. Maybe it's coincedental, but still interesting.

yes...i see this all the time... in my group of 10 women only one has a boy and the rest are girls...tons and tons of girls!

Dannib247 · Feb 11th, 2010, 17:24 PM

bella youve got me thinking now.. my dad was army too and has 3 girls and most of his mates only have girls..interesting..

Feb 8th, 2010, 12:54 PM	#1
BellaBlu Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2,112	Exposure to Radiation/Sperm? This is probably a stupid question... but I got to thinking about it and talking to DH.. His job required him to work around radiation for about 12 months..although it wasn't a terribly LARGE amount, it still was there. That was almost a year ago. Is it possible that it messed with his sperm? Or altered our ability to conceive by any chance? Also.. should I be concerned that when we do conceive.. our baby may have birth defects from it? I've just read about exposure to radiation & birth defects and I don't know if it applies to one of the parents being exposed in the past or if it's caused by exposure WHILE pregnant. I worry too much and I of course I'll ask the doctor about it, but would anyone like to provide some insight?

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 13:26 PM	#2
WannaB Trying to conceive (TTC) BnB Addict Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 5,417	I know of one large study they did on that subject, Im sure there has been many more, the one I read that spanned over 50 years was on the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they showed there was no increases in birth defects after the bombs had been dropped, Im pretty sure they concluded you would need to be exposed to massive amounts over a long period for there to be any effect. I know aslo that men who have undergone radiation therapy dont show increases in birth defects in their children. I remember with the study in Japan though that they always used the phrase "for those that remained fertile". So I would say in very high doses, and you have to remember these people were exposed to masses of radiation, there may be a chance of sterility, but the study was done on thousands of people and they had remained fertile after the exposure.

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 13:30 PM	#3
rowleypolie Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 1,668	my husband is in the navy and is on a ship with nuclear reactors...i can speculate without any evidence all the women complain that the radiation ruins the y-chromosome and makes it impossible to have a baby boy... of course this is most likely a wives tale...but there you go- according to them it doesnt decrease your chances of pregnancy just that you will have a baby girl...(which seems accurate because everyone has baby girls!)

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 13:32 PM	#4
tommyg Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,297	I am guessing you are talking about one of the nuclear plants? Anywhere where people are in a contimanated area they are closely monitored. My DH tells me he has got more radiaton sitting besde his computer that he ever has got around site. Cornwall has naturally occuring radiation that s higher than what the plants are allowed to expose workers too. Hope that answers you fears

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 14:13 PM	#5
BellaBlu Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2,112	No, not the nuclear plant .. DH is in the Army and when he was overseas he worked with it alot. That's really interesting about the 'more likely to be a girl' theory! It's CRAZY because my father is living proof. He came up with 3 girls, and was in the navy for years. Very interesting! Thanks for the answers, it really does make me feel much, much better.

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 14:19 PM	#6
BellaBlu Pregnant (Expecting) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 2,112	++ Just to add to that.. now you've got my brain on a roll.. I was thinking about all the other men/women around us (that I know)..that are also in the military (we live on base) ... of the ones who have children they almost all have girls..Only 2 of them have 1 little boy. In this building alone there are 5 little girls and 1 boy that have been conceived/ given birth to while in the military. Maybe it's coincedental, but still interesting.

Status: Offline

Feb 8th, 2010, 14:26 PM	#7
goddess25 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: vancouver Posts: 9,338	There should not be any problems no, as it was quite some time ago. I am guessing he would have had to wear one of those devices to monitor radiation exposure. I am a nurse working with radiation and chemotherapy and you have to be careful. I am sure his sperm is doing just fine. There would really only be abnormalities in sperm if he was dealing with it now and not in a safe way.

Status: Online

Feb 11th, 2010, 17:24 PM	#9
Dannib247 Trying to conceive (TTC) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: leicester,uk Posts: 525	bella youve got me thinking now.. my dad was army too and has 3 girls and most of his mates only have girls..interesting..

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