How do I plan a family with haemophilia?
For people with haemophilia or women who carry the gene, planning a family can raise a number of questions:
- Will their children have haemophilia or carry the gene alteration?
- If so, how will this affect them?
- How can they find out?
- What are the options for planning a family?
- How can a mother who is a ‘carrier’ plan for a safe pregnancy and delivery?
- Who will help with all of this?
Who can help?
- The team at the Haemophilia Treatment Centre can help with information and advice about haemophilia, having children, genetics and genetic testing.
- The Haemophilia Treatment Centre can provide a referral to a genetic counsellor or other counselling, if needed.
- The woman, her partner and family can talk to the Haemophilia Treatment Centre or the counsellor individually or together. Many find this helpful.
- A general practitioner (GP) or any other doctor can also provide a referral to a genetic counsellor or other counselling.
It may be useful to review the information about how haemophilia is passed on to children.
For more information on inheriting haemophilia, see HAEMOPHILIA INHERITANCE
Often an understanding of haemophilia is based on memories of a brother, father or grandfather’s experience. Treatment for haemophilia has improved a great deal over the years. It can be valuable to speak with a Haemophilia Treatment Centre or other haemophilia families to learn more about current treatments and to see how things have changed.