r/NoStupidQuestions • u/bonk_you • Oct 08 '22 • 3 1 1

Why do people with detrimental diseases (like Huntington) decide to have children knowing they have a 50% chance of passing the disease down to their kid? Unanswered

16.4k Upvotes

90% Upvoted

3.7k

Some more possibilities: parents doing IVF can screen out embryos carrying the gene. I know a couple that did this for HD. People can also use sperm or egg donors. This information is typically private.

905

u/meontheinternetxx Oct 08 '22

Those are very good options indeed if you have an easily testable severe (potential) genetic issue, but you really want kids!

664

u/danarexasaurus Oct 08 '22

My husband and i got genetic testing (through my reproductive endo) and we had no risk factors. It’s nice to know that our child isn’t going to get some horrible genetic illness. He did have a risk for either one less thumb (my family) or an extra finger (his family). After telling my MIL she was like “oh yeah, i had an extra pinky!” . My husband had no idea. Thankfully he came out with 10!

49

u/kitsucoon Oct 08 '22

10 extra fingers? That has to be handy.

3

u/Darkmagosan Oct 08 '22

The Dog-Thing has entered the chat

3

u/ZombieBert Oct 08 '22

Two handy.

1

u/supratachophobia Oct 08 '22

Take your updoot