4 replies to this topic

[ladyjayne]

I'm confused about this whole CMV status thing. My wife and I are starting our first IVF cycle soon, using her eggs and my uterus (and donor sperm). On the sperm bank websites, we learned about 'CMV' - which we'd never heard about before. We checked with our clinic, who said that she tested positive for the antibodies (not a current infection) but I tested negative. I'm really concerned now because I've heard conflicting things about this. Some sites say that a negative person should not receive an 'egg donation' (which is what this would be technically) from someone who is positive. As well, I read that a negative woman should not use donor sperm that is CMV positive - but the two donors we most want to use ARE CMV positive.

I called our clinic but the nurse said don't worry about it, use whatever sperm you want.

But I'm pretty concerned about the risks of birth defects/etc...

Help! We need to submit our sperm choices to the clinic next week and now I'm kind of in panic mode.

[LisainSK]

Hmmm...could you post your question to "Ask the RE" on this website. I've learned that whenever somethign doesn't feel right...ask questions...no question is stupid. If you're still concerned about it...get a second opinion. It may delay treatment but at least you'll have peace of mind.

Just my opinion...

LisainSK

[Luckypenny]

I'm not familiar with CMV, but I think that the biggest issue might be that if the egg/sperm are positive for one thing and you are negative for it, your body might see the embryo as "foreign" and attack it/not allow it to implant, vs. birth defects.

I would definitely follow LisainSK's advice and post this question on the "Ask the RE" forum. Dr. Hudson in particular is very knowledgable and progressive with immune isssues (ie. whether the positive embryo would be viewed as foreign to your body since you are CMV negative). Good luck on getting an answer that you are comfortable with quickly!

[anytime now]

You may want to speak with a Dr. but I am in exactly this situation. I'm CMV negative and I have made an informed choice at one point to use a CMV positive donor, which is not advised.

This is what I learned:
CMV is an infection that many people have had. To the person receiving sperm, the risk is only if the person is presently carrying an active CMV infection. My understanding is that is why sperm donors sperm sits in quarantine for a period of time, and isn't used until the donor has had a blood test. If there is an active CMV infection at that time, then the sperm can't be used. So essentially, my understanding is the risk is really only of if the agency you use isn't testing properly...but do get medical confirmation of this.

What is much scarier to me, and sorry for bringing this up, is that CMV is very, very common in babies and young children and is easily passed on. My understanding is that this is the far greater risk to someone who is CMV negative for contracting the infection and that is how the developing baby can be affected.

I work with children, so this scares me much more than my sperm donor choice...

This website might be of interest to you:

http://www.americanp...sinfection.html


Good luck...

A.N.

[ladyjayne]

I posted it on the Ask the RE forum but I guess no one has answered it.

Thanks anytime now. I found similar information - that it's only an issue if the donor is actively infected, and the bank says they destroy all actively infected vials and do lots of testing. The nurses and the RE at my clinic said not to worry about it. So I guess they view it as a really small risk. Our top 3 donors are all CMV positive, and everything else about them is pretty rad, so I'm trying not to worry about it!

I guess most people who are getting pregnant don't know anything about their own or their partners' CMV status....