Anti-depressants vs. sperm when TTC

[Eltjuh]

Me and hubby have been trying to conceive for a couple of months now after we had a mc in october. I thought we hadn't conceived as quickly as we did with our son and the mc because we hadn't been able to time BD properly because of some of the side-effects of hubby's anti-depressants (like erectile dysfunction and not being able to ejaculate sometimes).
We worked round that in the end and it has been working fine lately, but I read up on the effects anti-depressants have on sperm and found that some anti-depressants, mainly SSRIs, have significant effects on sperm.

This is what I found:
Another recently discovered, little-known side effect of SSRIs is their significant impact on men’s fertility. SSRIs have been found to cut a man's sperm count as well as the normal shape and motility of their sperm by 50 percent. This effect can become evident by the first month after treatment and begins to have a major impact after just three months on an SSRI.

Hubby is on Amitriptyline (a TCA) and Sertraline (an SSRI).
We are planning to speak to our doctor about this next week to see if hubby could switch to something else that won't have any or less effects on his sperm, so we can keep TTC with more chance of actually conceiving.

I was just wondering whether anyone has conceived whilst your OH was on SSRIs or anti-depressants in general. Or whether someone may have had their meds changed so they could keep TTC and how long it would take for hubby's sperm to go back to 'normal' (as we've never had any problems TTC, obviously I realise that just because it was easy to conceive once or twice doesn't mean it's always gonna be that easy!!)

I really don't have high hopes for conceiving anytime soon as long as hubby is still on those meds and it's kind of bringing me down as I've been desperate to get pregnant again after the mc in October!!

Any help would be much appreciated!! And sorry for the long story!!

 

[mrs edwards]

my husband takes an anti-depressant and he was checked and his sperm count is great...according to my obgyn. He joked that my husband's count was so great, he could donate. ha-ha..yeah funny, considering we still aren't pregnant. I guess this means that it me not him. Anyway, he's been on his anti-depressant for a while and with apparently no adverse effects. Not sure if it's an SSRI though. Good luck. So sorry for you mc.

 

[Eltjuh]

Thanks for that!! Guess maybe we should just wait and see if the doctor will do a sperm assessment. I'm guessing they will, before changing his meds...
If his sperm is still the same/normal then I don't know why we haven't conceived yet, maybe it has been the timing haha
Do you know what anti-depressant(s) he is on???

 

[popchick75]

Definitely get the SA done! Everything could be fine and you won't have to worry about switching!

 

[Quest55]

I have also read a lot of information regarding decreased sperm quality in men taking anti-depressants and so I had my hubby come off his until we got pregnant. Supposedly it takes about two months for the sperm to recover, but we got pregnant that cycle. So the anti-depressents may not have had much effect on him I don't know. I was really worried about it though!

 

[Eltjuh]

Problem is that it's not a great idea to just come off them without your doctor ok-ing it.... and my hubby has had some days where he didn't take them and really felt the consequences, not physically but mentally, he just wants to beat anyone over the head if they push him on the bus or get in his way downtown....things like that really wind him up and well obviously that's not a good thing! Don't worry he can control himself it's just much easier when he's on the medication, hence the reason i said we'll have to see the doctor about it.

I'm not judging you btw! Everyone responds to anti-depressants different and some people need them more than others.... and congrats on being pregnant!!!