Has any other Iraqi Freedom vets here suffered from fertility issues?

SPC Sean Slaughter — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:53:56 -0400

Both my wife and I are early 03-04 OIF vets and had an extremely difficult time conceiving and carrying to term ultimately spending almost $30k to have a baby(we are very early pregnant now and praying it sticks) many of our female vet friends who are OIF vets also had multiple fertility issues. I'm wondering if there is something we were exposed to out there that caused this.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 20 at 2017 10:00 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 22:00:56 -0400

Congrats and sorry for your trouble... I was there the same time frame, but was never tested. I hope you have a happy little family soon!!!

Response by Col Jim Harmon made Jun 21 at 2017 7:02 AM

Col Jim Harmon — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 07:02:32 -0400

There is no telling what you were exposed to in Iraq. Get to the VA and get them to screen your blood. Make sure you are in the database for the burn pits if you were homesteaded on a base that had a burn pit.

You may have been exposed to anything from depleted uranium, to chemical weapons residue. At one point we were exposed to everything from atropine, to some sort of chemical residue that ate the plastic off my ID card. Hell, the burn pits alone exposed thousands of troops to heavy metal and toxic poisons from the incineration of trash. Could be the constant inhalation of the micro dust and the biotic material contained in that dust. I know several Army vets who have had severe health issues related to the vaccinations that they were given.

The western part of the country was an illegal arms paradise. We found everything from chemical to biological facilities and beyond. Al Taqaddum had extensive issues with the water in Lake Habbaniyah being polluted with chemical weapons that were dumped there by the Iraqis prior to the invasion. Several members of my group have come down with complete liver failure. We don't know what is causing it.

Then there are the naturally occurring biological issues like schistosomiasis which was in the fresh water, or the unknown reason so many people were experiencing early on set arthritis and accelerated degeneration of the lining of the joints.

Get to the VA and demand they screen you.

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made Jun 21 at 2017 8:54 AM

SGT Lawrence Corser — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 08:54:50 -0400

No, But good luck. I do know the VA is starting to offer fertility treatments. But I am not sure if it is even ready yet. The Military gives sex changes so why not help you out.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2017 9:38 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 09:38:49 -0400

I was OIF in 10-11. My wife and I had some issues with carrying to full term. She miscarried twice before the third time when she carried to full term and delivered a very happy and healthy baby girl.

Response by SPC Sean Slaughter made Jun 21 at 2017 10:37 AM

SPC Sean Slaughter — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 10:37:48 -0400

Thank s for all the responses everyone. As far as burn pits I don't remember seeing any in the Taji area and that's where we both primarily were. I heard something about the bottled water that was brought in had some type of contaminant in the plastic that isn't allowed in the states that is linked to fertility, but don't know if we were exposed to that. I know both of us were exposed to chemical stockpiles and DU. I guess after this baby is born we will go subject ourselves to a bunch of testing and see what happens. I just know it was a lot harder than it should have been to get pregnant even with all the fertility treatments and nothing was glaringly obvious. All of her stuff looked good and all of my stuff looked good. The only thing they couldn't test was egg quality which I think may have been affected by her exposure to some nasty stuff.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 10:55 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 22:55:02 -0400

No issues with me. I was in Iraq most of 2004.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2017 11:10 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 23:10:41 -0400

Not everyone or every couple is fertile. Some estimates are as high as 10 - 20% infertile couples for one reason or another. Are more than 10% of the couples you know from OIF infertile? Sandy :)