About Hemophilia Who Gets Hemophilia?
For most people who live with hemophilia or provide care for a person with hemophilia, the journey begins when they discover the genetic nature of the disease. Prospective parents who have a family history of hemophilia often wonder if they will pass it on to their kids. And for moms who learn that they can pass on hemophilia to their children, it's an emotional first step.
Parents who find out that their child has hemophilia should not blame themselves. As a genetic condition, there is nothing moms or dads could have done to prevent their sons from being born with hemophilia.
Get Educated About Hemophilia
The first thing new parents should do is get educated about the genetics behind hemophilia.
Through reading, talking with physicians and meeting other families like them, parents can begin to realize that their son can have an active life, despite hemophilia. Also, parents will learn that they should not discourage themselves from having more children. If they choose to have more children, they should consult with a genetic counselor to determine if they are a carrier of bleeding disorders.
Carrier testing is another important assessment that geneticists use. If testing reveals a mutation in a male, his sisters, mother, and mother's relatives can be tested if they are interested in knowing their carrier status.
Find More Help And Resources Here
- Learn how to do the 5!
- View the emergency room checklist.
- More information about sports & exercise.
- Want to connect to the hemophilia community?
- Proactively manage your health insurance.
New Options, New Hope
In most cases, parents start families without taking special steps to avoid having a child with hemophilia. Many parents who are carriers of hemophilia genes decide to have children knowing that the child might have hemophilia. However, they know that they will love the child with or without hemophilia.
Genetic testing can still help prepare these new parents for the diagnosis of hemophilia – if the child does inherit the disease – and discover whether the mother has low factor levels herself.
Other options include choosing to remain childless, adopting a child, and being tested during pregnancy to determine whether the child is affected. A variety of screening methods are available for that purpose.
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
