Question
I am a 26 year old female who has had a tubaligation under the advice of my Gyn, rheumatologist, and nephrologist. I have had 3 grade 4 glomerulonephritis flares, and have under gone 3 sessions of cytoxin, I have taken imuran, and currently am on cell cept, Kidney levels have gone back to normal, and proteinuria is down to a minimum, will there ever be a chance that I may have children, or can I opt for some one to carry my child, what is the probability that my eggs are damaged, and the chances that my child will be born with an abnormality?
Answer
Becoming pregnant while lupus nephritis is active runs the risk of flaring the lupus in the kidney or other major organ such as the brain. So, I agree that pregnancy should be avoided in your circumstances. Many patients have ovarian failure after receiving cytoxan and actuially go through early menopause. Your gynecologist can help determine this and assess the viablity of your ovaries. The longer the use of cytoxan and increasing age of the patient increases the risk of ovarian failure.
