I have a friend who's child is autistic, MILDLY ONLY. She is interested in donating eggs to give other couples a chance of the dream of a child since she knows what its like having a hard time as she did to conceive.
NOW BEFORE YOU GET UGLY with your answers. there is no prescreen for autism so no on would know if the autism gene came from her side or her husbands side or wether its purely genetic, which they say its not for the most part and that environmental things play a role as well so its not a guarantee that the egg she donates will be a child with autism. Her other 2 kids donot have autism, just the one.
She is having an issue of not knowing what to do since she understand the pain her family went through when they found out about their child having autism but they worked through it and hes an amazing little boy!
What would you do?
2006-08-21 15:34:57 · 19 answers · asked by ? 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Other - Pregnancy & Parenting
I have a friend who had two autistic children. They have no idea where the autism came from, as there is no trace of it on either side of the family. It could have been genetic, or it could have been environmental. In any case, they decided against having a third child.
But if there is any chance at all that the autism could be passed on, why take that chance? It's nice that she wants to donate, but the recipient couple have already gone through enough trauma before they get to the stage of artificial insemination, and to add the possibility, however remote, that the child might be autistic isn't a chance she has the right to take.
If she truly wants to make a difference, she can be a blood donor, and perhaps her blood will be used to save a child that would otherwise die.
2006-08-21 15:47:29 · answer #1 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats a tough question. I think if it was me I would be doing some research on which side of the family the autism came from, but she is a very sweet person for wanting to donate her eggs. My husband and I have been trying to conceive for about 3 years now and we still haven't had any luck.
2006-08-21 15:44:08 · answer #2 · answered by sbsw 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the doctors say that autism is not (purely) genetic for the most part... and the kid is MILDLY autistic.... and just that one kid was autistic, not his/her siblings...
Hm, there is still a certain degree of risk. If it was me.... I think I'd go for it, donating the eggs, mostly because the doctors say that austim is not genetic for the most part. But the prospective parents SHOULD be informed of the risk before they accept the egg donor.
2006-08-21 15:43:12 · answer #3 · answered by ATWolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let her donate her eggs. She needs to list on the donation form however that there is a possibility she may have autistic gene. This will allow others to know yet let her feel good about the donation.
2006-08-21 15:41:02 · answer #4 · answered by Keith Perry 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All i am going to ask is if she knows what is involved in donating eggs? It can be quite the painful process what with engorged ovaries and hormone imbalances. She really needs to do the research before she commits. I am not saying she shouldnt do it but the chances of another child being born with autism is 1 in 166.
To aid in her research she shoudl check out
www.alternativeconceptions.com
www.advancedfertility.com/eggdonor.htm
www.ihr.com/infertility/articles/ovumdonation.html
I am glad she wants to help others with the miracle of life. Rock On!!
2006-08-21 15:45:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person to consult would be a genetic specialist.
Even though autism is not necessarily caused by genetics, genes can play a factor. Obviously from what you've said, she would hate to have another family suffer the same fate.
She should listen to her conscience. She will most likely never meet the donor recipients, but what if....?
2006-08-21 15:41:47 · answer #6 · answered by Brutally Honest 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is going to have to go through an organization to donate her eggs in the first place, where they will ask many questions, do a health screening etc. It will be the organization's choice...more than likely they will take her eggs, and leave it up to the potential parents to decide...if she wants to do it, then it won't hurt to go in for an appointment, the worst that will happen is they will say no.
2006-08-21 15:43:46 · answer #7 · answered by allrightythen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She has 3 kids, one is autistic. That's 1:3 chance of having an autistic child. Yeah boy, share the pain. She's nuts.
2006-08-21 15:43:05 · answer #8 · answered by megalomanya 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Without doing research, I would think it is very rare to have more then 1 autistic child.
I would tell her to donate as long as she fully discoloses any health issues or issues with her children that COULD be genetic
2006-08-21 15:41:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i think she should let them know before she donate eggs people pay a lot of money for those eggs its not right not to let them know. I do how ever think you friend is beautiful for wanting to help
2006-08-21 15:42:28 · answer #10 · answered by butterflyfrills 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋