Expert: Edward Joseph Ramirez, MD, FACOG - 10/7/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

I am a 41 year old male and my wife and I are trying to have a baby. When I was 17 years old I had the chicken pox, but I have never had the mumps. I also have asthma, and over the last 11 years I've used prednisone on and off.

Could my encounter with chicken pox at the age of 17 and/or my use of prednisone have made me sterile?

Thanks: Alex

ANSWER: Hello Alex from the U.S.,

Have you had a semen analysis checked?  Chicken pox will not render a male sterile.  It is different from mumps, which can affect the testicles.  Steroid use can reduce sperm production if taking for a long period of time, but once it is stopped, testicular function will usually return to normal.  The best way to check yourself out is to have a semen analysis done.  This will reveal what your fertility potential is.  41 years old is still relatively young in a man's fertility age.  Sperm production does decrease a little it mainly over 60 years old.

Sincerely,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com

Monterey, California, U.S.A.

for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I had heard that steriod use only affects male sperm production if it is an anabolic steriod, not if it is prednisone. But I wanted to ask you to be sure.

-Alex

Answer
Hello Again,

All steroids can have anabolic properties, and therefore an affect on sperm production.

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com

Monterey, California, U.S.A.

for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf