Sorry - - I just became a member and for some reason the logon isn't working for me. I am currently not trying to get pregnant yet, but my husband and I are starting on that path.
In regards to genetic screening..... We did test him to see if he was a carrier. If this is something you are thinking about doing, it really is a load off of your mind. Also, a genetics counselor will sit down with you and explain the risk depending on where you get tested - CF center or elsewhere - and what level of confidence you can have with the test result. They will also discuss other options, artificial insemination, in vitro, etc. For example, we decided not to go with the CF center screening because our insurance would not cover any of the cost, and it would have cost us an additional $500 out of our pocket. The difference between the CF center and the local blood center was being either 99.97% positive he was not a carrier (CF center) or 99.96% (local blood center). So, we are 99.96% positive that he is not a carrier of any of the mutated genes that determine CF.
It depends on what your screening options are within the area you are living. CF centers tend to screen for many more mutations than an outside center, but it may not translate to being better because frequency within the population with the specific gene mutations they screen for, race, and family histories also plays into the statistics. At the end of the day, they can never give a 100% answer to not being a CF Carrier.
My health is very good so when I speak with my dr. about having children, it is usually focused on if we start trying and we have any difficulties. She did give me some names of dr's in our area that she has referred other CF patients in the past. She did this to save us time because she said it is possible if I would see other dr.'s not already familiar with CF they will end up going through a battery of tests for me to detemine infertility cause when it is probably related to mucus thickness. Instead of double checking spouse, and then just going forward with artificial insem.
I urge you to look at the home page of this website and go to the links page. There is a woman name Norma who has a link to her webpage- also including it below. She is a 41 year old with CF, retired nurse, and she has tons of helpful info - pregnancy related. This has provided me with quite a bit of information.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/CF.htm
">http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/CF.htm
</a>
Good luck - what an exciting time! - - Regards - Point (28 year old/f / CF)
In regards to genetic screening..... We did test him to see if he was a carrier. If this is something you are thinking about doing, it really is a load off of your mind. Also, a genetics counselor will sit down with you and explain the risk depending on where you get tested - CF center or elsewhere - and what level of confidence you can have with the test result. They will also discuss other options, artificial insemination, in vitro, etc. For example, we decided not to go with the CF center screening because our insurance would not cover any of the cost, and it would have cost us an additional $500 out of our pocket. The difference between the CF center and the local blood center was being either 99.97% positive he was not a carrier (CF center) or 99.96% (local blood center). So, we are 99.96% positive that he is not a carrier of any of the mutated genes that determine CF.
It depends on what your screening options are within the area you are living. CF centers tend to screen for many more mutations than an outside center, but it may not translate to being better because frequency within the population with the specific gene mutations they screen for, race, and family histories also plays into the statistics. At the end of the day, they can never give a 100% answer to not being a CF Carrier.
My health is very good so when I speak with my dr. about having children, it is usually focused on if we start trying and we have any difficulties. She did give me some names of dr's in our area that she has referred other CF patients in the past. She did this to save us time because she said it is possible if I would see other dr.'s not already familiar with CF they will end up going through a battery of tests for me to detemine infertility cause when it is probably related to mucus thickness. Instead of double checking spouse, and then just going forward with artificial insem.
I urge you to look at the home page of this website and go to the links page. There is a woman name Norma who has a link to her webpage- also including it below. She is a 41 year old with CF, retired nurse, and she has tons of helpful info - pregnancy related. This has provided me with quite a bit of information.
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/CF.htm
">http://www3.nbnet.nb.ca/normap/CF.htm
</a>
Good luck - what an exciting time! - - Regards - Point (28 year old/f / CF)