Can Thalassemia Patients Get Pregnant? What Should Be Noted?

Thalassemia is a hereditary condition. If both parents have thalassemia or carry the gene for this disease, the risk of passing it on to the next generation varies. If both spouses carry the gene for beta thalassemia, there is a 25% chance the child will be completely normal, a 50% chance of inheriting the beta thalassemia trait, and a 25% chance of becoming a severe beta thalassemia patient. Patients with mild beta thalassemia are typically asymptomatic and do not require treatment; however, moderate to severe patients may require regular blood transfusions and iron chelation therapy.

Can Thalassemia Patients Get Pregnant?

Thalassemia patients can get pregnant but should discuss this with their doctor beforehand. Whether through natural conception or assisted reproductive technology such as IVF, it's essential to have thorough discussions with a medical professional to ensure appropriate health management and planning. Women with severe beta thalassemia may experience difficulty conceiving and pregnancy may pose significant risks to both the mother and the fetus, making natural conception not advisable. Thalassemia patients planning to have children should undergo thalassemia screening before marriage, pregnancy, or early in pregnancy, primarily through blood tests such as mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), to determine if both spouses have thalassemia and their specific type.

It's recommended that thalassemia patients undergoing IVF consider Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic or Single Gene Defects (PGT-M), which allows for the selection of embryos without the thalassemia gene, thereby reducing the risk of passing the disease to their children.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic or Single Gene Defects (PGT-M) Addresses Genetic Risks

PGT-M, also known as Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), is specifically used to screen for genetic diseases caused by single gene mutations, such as thalassemia. PGT-M technology can assist couples desiring children, particularly carriers of thalassemia, in reducing the risk of transmitting this genetic disease to the next generation. During the IVF process, healthy embryos can be selected for implantation, increasing the chance of having a healthy child. Thalassemia patients are advised to consider this technique and IVF to conceive healthy offspring.

Considerations for Pregnancy with Thalassemia

Prior to pregnancy, individuals with thalassemia should discuss and devise a fertility plan with their physician, undergoing necessary genetic and health condition checks. This includes examining hemoglobin gene types, assessing heart, endocrine, liver diseases, and chronic viral infections to minimize risks during pregnancy. Especially when both spouses or one of them is a carrier of thalassemia, further evaluation of embryo or fetal health should be conducted. In the early stages of pregnancy, fetal health should be assessed through methods like ultrasound scans, with sampling analysis of cells or tissues when necessary.

For high-risk individuals with thalassemia, it's recommended to utilize PGT-M technology to screen embryos, ensuring the selection of embryos without the thalassemia gene. This not only increases the chances of successful pregnancy but also helps prevent passing the disease to the next generation. Additionally, for patients whose physical conditions are not suitable for pregnancy, considering surrogacy to fulfill their fertility plans is an option. Surrogacy is a legal choice in the United States and can help thalassemia patients with fertility needs achieve their desires while avoiding the risks of pregnancy.

How Does RSMC Ensure Baby's Health?

Thalassemia patients, whether undergoing surrogacy or natural pregnancy, need to carefully consider and decide. It's recommended for pregnant women to communicate and negotiate with their doctors thoroughly. RSMC ensures the baby's health from the implantation of embryos screened through PGT-M gene testing to five prenatal checks after the surrogate mother becomes pregnant. Additionally, a client case manager provides weekly prenatal examination reports of the surrogate mother to the intended parents, closely monitoring the condition of the baby and the surrogate mother.

RSMC has an advisory committee consisting of neonatologists, maternal-fetal medicine experts, and obstetricians with doctoral degrees and years of experience. It is the only surrogacy agency in the United States managed by doctors. Our advisory committee offers their respective experiences and expertise to support our intended parents and surrogate mothers in receiving advanced medical services, collectively reducing all risks during pregnancy and childbirth to ensure the safety of the surrogate mother and baby.

If you are interested in our services, feel free to inquire online with our 24/7 multilingual team: Line / WeChat: rsmctw or join WhatsApp: +1 858-342-6046 to start a conversation.

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