Hello, I have recently been diagnosed with RRMS. I’m due to start treatment next month fingers crossed. Iv told my Dr that I definitely would like to have children in the future so she advised that I go onto ocrevus. I am wondering if anyone has any information on ocrevus and infertility. My family are worrying me and asking if I’m certain it won’t affect fertility. My MS pharmacist advised I will be fine just need to stop ocrevus when trying
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Hi Sara
Sorry I can’t answer your question I am sure someone will be able to, but I wanted to welcome you to the forum.
Pam x
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This is from the professor of neurology at Barts.
“The SmPc recommends that women of childbearing should use contraception while receiving anti-CD20 and, in the case of ocrelizumab, for up to 12 months after the last infusion. I tend to ignore this requirement in women who want to start or extend their families. I give such women the option of starting an anti-CD20 and falling pregnant in their own time. Most women don’t fall pregnant immediately; it takes, on average, four ovulation cycles to fall pregnant and often much longer than this. Ocrelizumab doesn’t affect fertility and is not teratogenic (affects the developing baby). In addition, the placenta only matures towards the end of the second trimester when it allows antibodies (anti-CD20 is an antibody) to cross from the maternal circulation into the developing baby’s circulation. So once a woman falls pregnant, we delay the next infusion until after the baby’s delivery. Even if small amounts of ocrelizumab cross over into the baby’s circulation, it tends to cause a transient B-cell depletion in the baby.”
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I hope that you find yourself reassured by the advice of the professionals. Your family are trying to be helpful I expect, but really they aren’t being, are they? I hope that they are doing a better job of supporting you in other ways.
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