Genetics

[Dm5678]

If you knew you could potentially pass down a seriously life altering genetic disease to your offspring, would it change your decision to have kids ?

Yes.

I would fly to the US and do PGD.

Yep.

I don’t have to wonder. I do and it did.

Depends what it is. I have a heart problem that's 50/50 for children. I have one.

yes it would.

Yes, of course. My friend had a husband--and child with Huntington's disease. Heartbreaking.

Yes

Yes.
Of course it would ... and should.
It’s completely different if parents have no idea there’s a possibility of passing on an inherited genetic life threatening disease. Otherwise, it depends on the disease and potential parents should seek extensive specialist medical advice as there may be screening (e.g. PGD) or other solutions to prevent them having a baby with that disease. Then it’s up to them to make the decision after considering all the facts and options.

Yes. At the very least I would have genetic counselling. I know of one woman who has a genetic disease who has 4 children, all of whom have the same disease. I can't understand why she had four TBH.

My friend is chronically ill and has various hereditary problems, she’s constantly at doctors appointments and takes a cocktail of drugs to get through the day. She’s desperate to have a baby but has sadly had multiple miscarriages including a late one.

I’ve discussed it with DP before. Whilst I completely understand her desperation to have her own child, I do think it’s selfish potentially passing on those genes. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for my child’s suffering.

Friends of mine have a little boy with cystic fibrosis and they are devastated about what he has to go through and that they will probably outlive him. They haven't had a second.

Yes

I have an acquaintance with 6 children with a genetic heart problems All the operations and hospital time, pain and distress. Frankly, I think they are criminal. So shoot me.

Depends - is the condition painful and or life-limiting? What are the chances of it being passed down? Can it be detected in utero, and if so, how early in the pregnancy?

Depending on the answers to those questions I could easily see it changing my decision.

Yes, it absolutely would.

I have a condition that we had no idea was geneti and two children without it. When dc 3 was born with it, I was pretty shocked- luckily it's not life threatening or limiting , just makes thing slightly harder for us. Yes, had I known, I'd still have had all of them but life threatening and leaving them in possible pain and with shortened lives, no

I’m not sure the poll works like you wanted it to.

It would make a difference - would it have stopped me altogether? I dunno... My father does have a genetic condition, 50/50 chance. So I wouldn't even be here if my parents had made the 'sensible' choice. They did have fewer children than my mum really wanted. Fortunately for me I was in the lucky 50% and didn't have to make that decision.

I carry a precursor to a genetic disease that causes learning difficulties that can range from very mild to very severe, no test can say where in the spectrum the baby (if passed on) would fall. The chances of passing it on are 50/50 if a boy and much lower if a girl. I thought quite good odds but all the females in my family carry it! It definitely was a big part in me not wanting children...I fell on completely by accident and didn't find out til 10 weeks. We made the decision to carry on the pregnancy and once heard the horrific odds with the amnio tests decided not to test as was having a girl. Genetic councilling was terrible. Partner got annoyed at her as she kept saying 'only 1%' chance of miscarriage over and over. As we knew the test wouldn't change our mind on the outcome of the pregnancy then was unnecessary risk.
We aren't going to have another as we've realised how much we are with the one we have. She's only two but I really don't think she has learning difficulties

Yes, you are right the pole isn't working, But that's okay, just happy to hear what people think :)

The PGD idea is something to think about, if you have the money I guess.

In terms of the kind of genetic disease, I think something that you can't spot in utero. CF was a good example.

Yes

I think some make very selfish decisions.

I'd have PGD (but then I can afford it). I think it's wrong to knowingly pass on a life-limiting disease like CF and all the awful suffering it entails.

I do understand the massive desire for biological DC though.

Yes. I was diagnosed as autistic this year following dd1s diagnosis of autism and today is the first appointment for dd2 to get her diagnosis. Had i known i would not have had children. Which makes me evil incarnate on most autistic support groups. But watching my girls struggling and knowing its my fault is horrendous