Questions for newbie :)

There are lots of discussion threads on the topic of men fathering children when being treated with TKI therapies. See below- the 2nd generation TKIs such as nilotinib/dasatinb etc. are metabolised by the body in the same way as imatinib (1st generation) so it is likely that the same will apply for all TKIs.

Male sperm has not been shown to be affected by TKI therapy in terms of a cause of abnormalities in the foetus. So the general consensus is that it is safe to continue with therapy for males. The advice for females is entirely the opposite as it has been shown that therapy can negatively affect the foetus during the first trimester after conception - i.e within the first 3 months. 

For more informatioss please see Dr. Graeme Smiths presentation at the recent Patient conference in London. If you click on the heading on the home page you can see the agenda for the whole meeting.

Link here: http://www.mpdmeetings.org/london-conference-2015/

Session 3, Second presentation.

See also the following recent discussion threads:

http://www.cmlsupport.org.uk/thread/10761/male-sperm-and-tasigna

http://www.cmlsupport.org.uk/thread/9287/fertility-dasatinib

I think this is them being OVERLY cautious. While it is true that a man's sperm can be the cause of defects too we have to remember that in the world of sperm, it is survival of the fittest. if you have never seen sperm on their mission to get to the egg, it is quite fascinating. They literally fight each other, are racing, some are missing a head, some a tail(s) and only one can win. When that one finally gets to the egg, they have to work to gain entrance. Think of a chicken's egg....our eggs have a pretty tough exterior too. They have to drill through that exterior to gain access to the inside. As someone told me, if they can do all of that which ever sperm fertilized your egg is pretty darn healthy and strong.

Good evening-- I just wanted to share my husbands and I's experience. He's had CML for almost 8 years and has been treated with Gleevec and now Sprycel. We have 4 healthy children.  Our 2nd child was conceived while he was being treated with Gleevec. The 3rd child he just switch from Gleevec to dasatinib (sprycel) The last child we had 5 months ago. I was worried because with the other kids he just recently started the drugs but for this last pregnancy he had been taking it for several years. And guess what - I gave birth to a health baby boy. No issues or complications at all.