Patient's question:
The husband's own sister, 30 years old, is mentally disabled from birth and suffers from epilepsy (her first attack was at the age of 14 or 15, with an unknown cause). She is married with one daughter (8 years old), who is also mentally disabled. There are three siblings in the husband's family, including an older brother (who is normal) who has a normal son. The husband and his parents are all normal, and there is no history of heredity in the family.Doctor's answer:
In the past, consanguineous marriage could increase the risk of deformities and intellectual disabilities, as well as complications caused by medications taken during pregnancy. Therefore, if you want to have a child, you should prepare well for pregnancy, avoid taking medications, and keep your body in good condition. Regardless of whether the child is male or female, they will be born healthy. Although their genes record everything in the family history, they are still normal individuals. Every living person carries genes that date back millions of years, documenting all the diseases that have occurred in each generation, without exception. This is a necessary record caused by evolution, but it does not lead to illness. When the genes of two people mix, they become different. As long as you and your partner are healthy and take care to prepare for pregnancy and maintain proper prenatal care, nothing will go wrong.