To have PGD or not?

[KelseyB]

Hello, me and my husband had our initial consultation at the Guys hospital yesterday. During the discussion about our plan of care, the doctor recommended using PGD.

My husband has recently been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, and we have been told the chances are that this is a genetic condition. He has had one lot of genetic screening done which came back negative. However, since this a further 20 genes have been tested, However, we have been told that there are thousands of genes that could of caused his condition so the chances of them finding the exact cause is low. Despite this, our children will have a 50% chance of inheriting his condition.

I explained to the fertility doctor that we both feel like we would like to proceed without waiting or his genetic results as PGD probably wouldn't be for us but I feel like I was a being judged for it and am being 'irresponsible' and like a bad mother before I am one?

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

[rivershark]

I am so sorry your clinic made you feel like that. My husband has an optic nerve genetic disorder And is partially sighted. The first ivf clinic we went to were interested in PGD but like you my husband had genetic testing over 200 genes but nothing was found. Also we decided we wouldn’t go ahead with PGD anyway as it’s not for us. My husband has a good quality of life - career and otherwise and his eyesight hasn’t stopped him doing anything. Plus advances and understanding in medicine have been happening really quickly too so the way I look at it Is that anyone born now with my husbands condition will hopefully have better treatment options in the future If needed.

Please don’t feel judged. It is your decision to make. Wishing you the very best xxx

[KelseyB in reply to rivershark]

Thank you very much, this has made me feel better about what we think we want to do. I feel the same, my husband still leads a normal life, yes he needs medication and needs to be monitored but he’s well. I just felt like I was being irresponsible but don’t think it’s right for us. I’m glad I’m not alone in feeling like this. Thank you x