Mumps

fiona_lk · Post by **fiona_lk** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 9:47 am

Just thought I'd post another topic on the subject of mumps, as we got quite a discussion going on the old site. Anyone else affected by their dh having had mumps?

Rach T · Post by **Rach T** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 8:37 pm

Hiya Fiona Sorry, didn't catch the the mumps thing you had going cos I've been away, but interesting that you should mention it really. As far as we know, our infertility is due to the male side of things. Hubs has a low count and low motility and also has a high antibody count so we're a bit stuffed really. We read an article in the Mail sometime last week about mumps and infertility and my hubs did have mumps when he was 9 or 10. He also had a lot of unexplained viral infections when he was going through puberty - manifesting themselves as horrible boils all over his bod ( sounds yucky, glad I didn't get to see them!!) And it's just made us wonder whether this is the reason for his low count etc. I wish someone could tell us about the antibodies though - it's a bummer that no-one seems to be interested in finding out what causes these and finding a cure. I guess it's because they reckon what with IVF/ICSI they have a solution ( didn't bloody work for us though!!!!) Anyway - that's my 2 pence worth, will be interested to hear other peoples theorys on things Bye for now Rach T

JackieSan · Post by **JackieSan** » Wed Jul 31, 2002 7:44 am

Hi Fiona and Rachel My dh also had mumps as a child! - but he's not sure how old he was at the time. It certainly would be interesting to find out how many men with "normal sperm" have had mumps! We (or rather dh!) is going to try acupuncture to improve his sperm quality/count - we are already doing the Foresight programme - God, I'm beginning to sound a little desperate aren't I? Rachel - sorry to hear about your dh's horrible infections - God knows puberty alone is bad enough! How did you find out about your dh's antibody count- did you have to ask for it to be done? or is something that is apperent during normal sprem analysis? Love JackieSan

Rach T · Post by **Rach T** » Mon Aug 05, 2002 7:45 pm

Hiya JackieSan My poor old hubs ( like most on this site I think ) has had loads of sperm tests. The ones we had done when we lived in Cardiff just stated that they noticed 'clumping' of the sperm - ie they all stick together. This is apparently due to a high antibody count which was tested for when we moved up to the Midlands, hence his poor little spermies don't stand a chance getting to or through my eggies!! Hope this is of some help!! Take care Rachel xxxxx

fiona_lk · Post by **fiona_lk** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 8:54 am

Hi all, Reviving this thread too for newcomers. My dh has 96% abnormal sperm (elongated heads - don't know whether they are coming or going, excuse pun) and had mumps at about 9 or 10. I have a workmate who also had mumps around that age who has lots abnormal, and most of the rest are dead. He and his wife decided not to pursue IVF/ICSI. nicolam - didn't you post on the old site with some interesting info on mumps? Just to say your never alone in this. Fiona xxx

nicolam · Post by **nicolam** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 2:22 pm

Hi there Fiona, Yes I did post some stuff on the old board. It was the fact that my DH had mumps as an adult (which historically is supposed to be especially dangerous for affecting fertility). He had it in his early thirties, before I met him, and was so ill that he thought he was going to die. However, it didn't affect his gonads - sorry, can't be any less brutal than that - and all of the sperm tests we've had over the years have appeared perfectly normal. Our consultant said mumps affect sperm when that area is affected - the temperature gets to such a high level that it more or less kills them off. When youngsters get it, it's supposed to be less likely to affect them in that way - but clearly it is more common than people thought! (And of course the MMR jabs are supposed to stop mumps occurring now, but seems to have caused more problems anyway!) To make things more complex, my DH's previous partner did fall pregnant before he had the mumps, but they didn't keep it, so all in all, no-one really thought it could be a sperm problem. However we found that when I did IVF for the first time, his sperm didn't want to fertilize my eggs - not as many as normal were actually bothering to gather around the egg either, yet alone penetrate the shell. As I did the egg share scheme - of the 11 eggs I gave away, 10 fertilized with her partner's sperm! So we've been described as having a sperm functionality problem, but there's no evidence to suggest that it was due to the mumps, but it does seem weird. DH is going to Italy in the next few weeks to have his sperm chromasones analysed to see if there are any abnormal ones. They're on the brink of carrying this out in the UK, but we can't wait that long! Will keep you posted on the results (gulp!) So generally, I think we all felt that more should be done to highlight the seriousness of mumps in men and that it should be an important question asked at the very beginning of infertility investigation. Nicola

becky · Post by **becky** » Tue Oct 15, 2002 5:19 pm

Thanks to you all for the information - it is great know that we are not alone...I wish more people would give their children the MMR..I will be giving mine (when and if!) it for sure! I am very sore today..bruised I think although there are no marks..day 5 of the injections already. Bye Becky B

Advertisements