"If We Would Have Known": A Couple's Regret Over a Missed Opportunity to Have a Biological Child After Lung Transplantation. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ladores, Sigrid; Bray, Leigh Ann; Brown, Janet
• Is Part Of: Journal of patient experience. Volume 5:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 322
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: cystic fibrosis -- lung transplantation -- fertility preservation -- patient education -- patient perspectives/narratives; Patient satisfaction -- Periodicals; Patient satisfaction -- United States -- Periodicals; Patient participation -- Periodicals; Patient participation -- United States -- Periodicals; Patient satisfaction; Patient participation; United States; 362.1068
• DOI: 10.1177/2374373518778861
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2374-3735

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic, chronic disease that results in thickened secretions in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and reproductive tracts. Over 95% of males with CF have congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens causing infertility. This is a case study of a 29-year-old male who underwent a lung transplant after 8 months of oxygen dependency secondary to poor lung function. Approximately 1 year posttransplant, he and his wife decided that they wanted to start a family and consulted a fertility specialist who advised them to utilize donor sperm due to the teratogenic effects of posttransplant medications. Taken by surprise with this news, they expressed regret about the missed opportunity for pretransplant sperm aspiration and cryopreservation to conceive a biological child. He reported, "If we would have known, we would have made sure I [banked] my own [sperm]." This case study highlights a critical gap in CF comprehensive clinical care.