Medication & Conception

I'm going to say this a bit blunt some anti-depression meds and mood
stabilizers can cause lower sperm count and can have an effect on sperm.
Just like all drugs there are consequencies you may need to have a count
done to make sure the medications you are on will not effect you and your
wife from getting pregnant. Sometimes Not sure on the statistics of it a
bad sperm can enter an egg and cause health problems to the baby.

I'm not trying to scare you just being blunt about what a lot of medications
can do in the case of a male.

Jennifer
Ariana 8/17/03
Home.earthlink.net/~soalus

"Mod" wrote in message
om...
I have two questions regarding conception:

1) My wife and I are trying to have a baby and I am on some
prescription medication. The medication is for bi-polar, chronic manic
depression, and insomnia. I am on a couple of mood stabilizers,
anti-depressants, and a heavy sedative to help me sleep at night. My
wife is not taking anything though. Could my medications affect the
pregnancy or health of the baby?

2) I am not quite sure what the proper way of asking this question is,
or if there is such a way, so I will be blunt. I have heard many
different opinions regarding sperm and what you should or shouldn't
bother doing with it once you are "done". I have heard that putting
your legs above your head after sex for a few minutes helps increase
the chances of conception. I've also heard that once your "done" that
taking such a step would have no affect on the chances of a successful
conception. Can anybody clear this up for me?

"Mod" wrote in message
om...
I have two questions regarding conception:

1) My wife and I are trying to have a baby and I am on some
prescription medication. The medication is for bi-polar, chronic manic
depression, and insomnia. I am on a couple of mood stabilizers,
anti-depressants, and a heavy sedative to help me sleep at night. My
wife is not taking anything though. Could my medications affect the
pregnancy or health of the baby?

The medications may not affect the baby. I do know that Depakote and several
other medications taken for bipolar disorder do significantly lower sperm
count though.

It is also highly recommended for anyone with bipolar disorder to seek
genetic counseling before trying to concieve a child as bipolar disorder can
(and generally is) be a genetic disorder (i.e. you may want to be certain
you won't pass this disorder on to your child before concieving one).

I was actually bookmarking information a few weeks ago for a friend of mine
in a similar situation and found a few articles that may interest you:

http://www.mhsource.com/expert/exp1011904d.html

They have a small section on bipolar disorder and genetics:
http://www.mental-health-matters.com...e.php?artID=53

This article assesses the risks of passing bipolar disorder to your child:
http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/risk.htm

A great site which has a feature allowing you to ask a doctor questions
concerning bipolar disoder:
http://www.bipolarworld.net/

Hope that helps!
Melody