Sodium valproate worries TTC?!

[helz879]

Hi everyone,

I’ve been under a fertility team since Oct 2024 after 2 years TTC, and something has come up that I’m a bit worried about. My partner takes sodium valproate for epilepsy, and I’ve recently read that there might be risks when men take it while TTC, things like possible effects on fertility and a small chance of risks for the baby if the dad is on it at conception.

We’ve never been told this before, so I’m feeling a bit confused. Has anyone else been through TTC while their partner was on valproate? Did your doctors say anything or suggest alternatives? Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated.

Thanks💖

We went through something similar, though it was over 10 years ago. After TTC unsuccessfully, my partner and I both had tests, and his results showed low volume, motility, and abnormal morphology. At the time much less was known about sodium valproate, but I think it might have been suggested that sodium valproate could have been a factor (he took it, and still takes it, for epilepsy). But I think there was much less evidence about it back then, and no alternative epilepsy drugs were suggested by the doctors. We ended up having IVF with ICSI and now have a healthy child. Has your partner had a semen test? If so, and if there are any issues, it might be worth him discussing them with his neurologist?

She’ll need to take 5mg of folic acid every day.

Apologies. I read the post without wearing my glasses.

Schoolboy error!

All the best, OP.

Hi, it can affect male fertility (reversible- should improve if drug use stopped but don’t change anything without seeing the neurologist). The evidence that it could cause malformations in babies whose dads used valproate was weak to start with and there’s now a better study which did not repeat this finding. so overall, no good data to show that dads on valproate are at greater risk of having a child with birth defects

@TreeTopHigh Partners semen morphology came back at 1.5% ! Motility and count were high though. We had a chemical in March. Interesting. I was concerned about the neuro affect on the babies so much conflicting advice. We have booked an appointment with the neurologist. Thanks so much for the advice and lovely to hear about your baby 💖

@ChristmaslightsuptilJanuary Thanks so much. It’s really conflicting. I was alarmed at the NHS advice of using contraception whilst partner on SV. We hadn’t had comments from our fertility team on the use of it but the NHS and study outcomes were a bit frightening! We have made an appointment with the neurologist and fertility team. Thanks for commenting x