Huntington's disease is a rare inherited neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is inherited through a specific genetic mutation. Given that it is a genetic disease, it is understandable that concerns are raised about its effects on reproductive health, including fertility.
In terms of direct impact on fertility, Huntington's disease itself is not associated with decreased fertility. People with Huntington's disease are generally able to conceive naturally. Fertility problems related to Huntington's disease are usually secondary and linked to neurological and health complications in later stages of the disease. Therefore, the initial reproductive capacity is usually not directly affected.
However, several issues are critical to consider when it comes to family planning in Huntington's disease. The biggest dilemma lies in the transmission of the condition to offspring. Since it is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, there is a 50% chance of passing on the mutated gene to offspring. This raises a legitimate concern for couples in which one or both parents are carriers of the disease gene.
In these cases, many couples resort to genetic counseling and preconception genetic testing to determine the risk of transmitting the disease to their offspring. Depending on the result, they may opt for in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to select embryos that do not carry the mutation. This prevents the disease from being transmitted to the offspring.
In addition, the doctor has participated in several scientific publications and lectures, as well as taking complementary training courses
