Accutane And Infertility (Page 24)

I took accutane almost 14 years ago as a teenager. I am now a 32 year old woman who has just been diagnosed with infertility that they believe is linked to autoimmune issues. I truly believe that accutane is the cause of this; from the research that I have done it seems that accutane has been linked to other thyroid-related diseases, but that they have not yet been able to prove a link between accutane and infertility. There are, however, actually more people like me out there than I originally thought. Being diagnosed with ovarian dysfunction has been a horrific, horrific blow. And while there was plenty of information about accutane and birth defects, no one ever mentioned a possibility of future infertility. I was a teenager! This is a tragedy and I believe something should be done about it. If you too have been affected diagnosed with infertility and have taken accutane, please email me. There are plenty of suits against accutance. If there are enough of us, we can come together to do the medical research and get the help we now need.

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"Other methods of male contraception: There are many potential methods of male contraception that are not reported on in depth here. For the most part, the research on such methods is too preliminary to warrant a full description. However, these methods do appear in the news, and we regularly receive questions about them.

Retinoic acid receptor antagonist (BMS-189453): In the 1980s, researchers at the pharmaceutical company Bristol-Meyers Squibb developed a drug they designated BMS-189453. They investigated whether it could be used to treat skin and inflammatory diseases, and found that rats treated with 100 milligrams per kilogram of body weight became infertile. That was an unexpected side effect – the researchers decided not to study the drug further. It remained on a shelf until a group of scientists at Columbia University came knocking in 2007.

BMS-189453 is a pan-retinoic acid receptor antagonist. What does that mean? Let’s take it one piece at a time. “Retinoic acid” is the metabolic product of the vitamin A in food. The “receptor” here is a molecule in a cell that picks up retinoic acid. The receptor is in the nucleus of cells, and functions there as a transcription factor, making proteins that turn on target genes. “Antagonist” means that this drug binds to the retinoic acid receptor and prevents it from picking up retinoic acid. “Pan” means that this drug affects all three known types of retinoic acid receptors, named alpha (a), beta (ß) and gamma (?).

Scientists have known since the 1920s that dietary vitamin A is necessary for normal production of sperm in men (Wolbach 1925). It turns out that retinoic acid is necessary in specific amounts inside the genitals for normal sperm production. Blocking retinoic acid receptors in Sertoli cells and developing sperm cells results in disrupted sperm maturation and, ultimately, infertility.

The researchers at Columbia University have now shown that this drug works as a reversible contraceptive in mice (Chung 2011a). Mice given the drug mixed into a solution orally for 7 days were infertile after 4 weeks, at doses of 1mg/kg body weight and 5 mg/kg. The mice all sired healthy litters after 14 weeks, and the offspring had normal fertility. The researchers also found that fertility returned when mice had been treated with 1mg/kg for 16 weeks, and that those offspring were also healthy (Chung 2011b). Their next steps are to:

• extend the dosing regimen for even longer periods,
• evaluate the drug in primates,
• and develop a drug specific to only the alpha (a) retinoic acid receptor, because that’s the one critical for making sperm."

Ref: malecontraceptives.org/methods/others.php

Chung, SS, X Wang, SS Roberts, SM Griffey, PR Reczek and DJ Wolgemuth (2011a) “Oral administration of a retinoic acid receptor antagonist reversibly inhibits spermatogenesis in mice.” Endocrinology 152(6): 2492-502.

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For: 'it's not always isotrtinoin'. What is your angle/interest in this discussion? Could you clarify this for us? Most of us have taken accutane and therefore understand that there are effects we were not informed about beforehand (including information that came with the medication).
But why are you on this forum? Are you in the medical profession?

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A success story here!! I said twice but nobody answered me... I took accutane for 7 years (I have 2 children) not easy to conceive, no treatments either... I suffered from severe acne and acutane changed my life...

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You mean it was easy to conceive for you? Or not easy (you had problems)?

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It was hard to conceive... But I cannot deny the miracles in my skin (I was like a monster before accutane)... Plus, non of my doctors linked my infertility problem with accutane. Would if be different without accutane? I don't know...

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Just checking, do you have a child now? I am thinking of this treatment for my 14 year old daughter this summer 2015

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I have 2 children!!! No problems during pregnancy and delivery.. Healthy children... My problem is to conceive, took me some time.

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Before you treat your daughter with Accutane has she tried other treatments?

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Tried some treatments for about 1 1/2, looks like the acne is getting worse.

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Would you share what treatments she has had?

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Antibiotics pills and 4 different types of cream

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One issue I had as a teenager was that I consumed far too much sugar. My wife managed to reduce her acne to almost none by cutting out sugar from her diet as much as possible. I don't know the science behind it but it worked for her. She was also offered isotretinoin but refused.
In any case, I would be extremely careful to resort to isotretinoin because of the potential long term side effects.

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I strongly discourage it! If her acne is getting worse it is probably hormonal and isotretinoin will not cure that either.

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Why do you say isotretinoine does not cure acne?? For me it was the only thing that worked.

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All acne is hormonal.

That being said, in women there are two hormonal treatments, that should be considered. OCP such as Yaz. Spironolactone is an anti-andogenic oral diuretic. Doxycycline is considered the best of the oral antibiotics because of its anti-inflamatory properties. The best topical retinoid is Tazorac and Aczone is an ani-inflamatory topical that does not have an antibiotic effect. If you have tried the best alternative treatments and still have significant acne or scarring, then isotretinoin is pretty much the only treatment option. At that point, it is reasonable to take isotretinoin. Also, it is reasonable for women to have a hormonal workup to sure they don't have PCOS or some other abnormality that is causing the acne, rather then jumping on to isotretinoin.

To me, the tragedy is the women who were unnecessarily treated with isotretinoin, or who were treated for far too long and now have fertility issues to deal with. Gynecological endocrinologists specialize in hormonal problems in women.

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I found a dark red pill that a double stack round and red taste like a red hot

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There are pill identification websites.

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I am almost 49 years old. I took Accutane when it first came out in 1982. I have never been pregnant and I have many autoimmune problems. I am very interested in trying to get a legal case going because I am heartbroken that I am infertile and was not able to have any children.

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I'm sorry for your loss, were you ever tested for anti-cardiolipin antibodies?

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First, I want to say my heart go out to everyone on this forum. Second, thank you from bottom of my heart for sharing your stories i know it's not easy thing to do.

My story is a little different please bare with me. My husband and I just found out his ex had put the kids on accutane multiple times since they were 14. A little background they don't live in the country with us. They lived aboard with their mother and stepdad and just got back here ready for college. Girl 4 round, boy 3 since they were 14 and they are 18 now. The mother was on accutane herself 20 some years ago and was not able to conceive and had to do IVF to have the kids and they had the twin. Now both of the kids have spine curvature, anger outburst, dry skin and constantly stomach problem. The girl also has irregular period and crazy mood swing. And of course the pimple and mild case of acne are still there.

I just want to know what kind of doctor who would put kids on accutane even the problem is not severe? Why do doctors still give out this poison? And is there any way we can reverse the damage of accutane i.e stem cell?

I'm so scared now. Please reply.

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