What would you do if you found a recessive allele for a dangerous disease, but wanted children?

Question

If you and your partner were both found positive for a recessive allele for a dangerous disease (cystic fibrosis) would you risk having a child? The childs risk of getting the disease is 25%. How would you deal with this situation? What kindof alternatives? Invitro? Syrogate?

Answer 1

If you know your chances and feel that you could deal with them not only mentally but physically and financialy I say go for it. I would find out everything I could about the disease to be ready for any outcome. I would make sure my spouse was ready also and willing to overcome the high demands of a child with such a disability. From my understanding invitro would still be the same risk factor because it's still both of your genes being fertalized and then implanted into the mother, so that wouldn't be an alternative. The same thing for syrogacy, unless the syrogate is providing one of the eggs or you are getting a sperm donar, in wich case invitro would be an option again. If this is your situation I woudl call your dr and sit down with him/her. Have a list of questions you want answered and bring it with you, that way you won't forget what you want to find out. Keep an open mind about everything the Dr says. Also bring your spouse with you to this sit down, that way you both are given the info at the same time and you can have someone elses memory to help you recall what was said. Good luck with your decision.

Answer 2

Well my partner and I are both positive for a recessive gene for hypoplastic right heart syndrome, but the child's risk of having the condition themselves is only 3-6%. In general population, the risk is 2-3%, as it can spontaneously occur without genetic predisposition. We only found out when our second child was diagnosed in utero with this condition.

We decided the risk was minimal, and have gone on to have four other healthy children since. I am glad that we did, because they are beautiful, precious children.

At the time our son was born, there was no treatment for HRHS, since then a surgical correction has become available. If not for people having babies with this condition, no medical advancements in treating this condition would have been made.

Answer 3

25% is pretty low. Think about if you were told you had a 25% chance of living though a surgery. You would probably not have the surgery if it were elective- because it's a very low percentage. However, if you were going to die without the surgery, then 25% is still low, like a shot in the dark.

I'd say I'd try to have a child. And learn ALL THAT I COULD about cystic fibrosis and the leading advancements and technonolgies (just in case)

Answer 4

I suppose if adoption were out of the question I would consider In vitro fertilization with embryo screening to avoid passing on the CF.

Answer 5

Yes this is the case with color blindness. That's why there are many more color blind men than women.