Translocation Chromosome + Fertility - Tips and Advice Please

[artlover80]

Hi all - this is my first foray into the world of mumsnet (a suggestion of a close friend as she raves about it and thought you might be able to help...).

My husband has been diagnosed (?) with translocation chromosome and originally told that meant we could not have kids. However his dad has the same condition (although they didn't know at the time) and has had 3 healthy children.

We are struggling to conceive and didn't know if there is any of you out there who has experienced the same thing and if you are able to give any tips to getting pregnant or advice of your experiences? I appear to be fine, although have not had any real tests (doctor advised against it for now).

Many thanks x

[thewalrus]

Hi
Didn't want to leave you unanswered, but not sure how much help I'll be. I think generally not enough is known about translocations and how they affect fertility, so you'll probably hear different things from different people.
My husband has a balanced Robertsonian translocation and a sufficiently low sperm count that we were advised to go straight to IVF with ICSI. (We found out about the sperm count first, and only learnt about the translocation halfway through the IVF cycle.) Our IVF cycles were successful and we now have 3 children. I had several extra scans in pregnancy to rule out serious fetal abnormalities and we were advised that there was a higher risk of miscarriage assocatiated with it.
I think if you're worried about it, I would push for a referral to an andrologist/fertility specialist. If your husband hasn't had a sperm analysis yet then I'd try to get that done.
The other bit of our experience that might be relevant to you is that my husband's sperm count did improve (despite the translocation) with vitamins/exercise and virtually cutting out alcohol.
If you have any specific questions I'll try to answer them. We got quite a lot of advice and support from the genetics people at UCH, so if you're in London I'd def recommend them.
Good luck with it all x

[artlover80]

Thank you! It's certainly a start and given me some directions to head. x

[DollyDaisy]

Hi - we were in the same situation. DH has a translocation (13:14) and we were TTC for 4 years before realising this was probably the issue. We were recommended to go for IVF - but before the clinic would start (the LIster) they wanted us to get a view from a geneticist. Luckily my GP referred us to one of the UK's leading geneticists from St George's in London - and she was quite supportive of going ahead with IVF, initially without doing PDG. Apparently with the translocation my husband has, any potential problems would either end in a miscarriage in the first trimester or should be identified at the 12 week scan.

We have done 2 IVF cycles with ICSI - both successful and we are expecting DC2 in 10 weeks.

As with the poster above I was put under consultant care and was offered extra scans to be sure. I also paid for a private scan at the Fetal Medicine Centre in London at 12 weeks just for added comfort - as felt their more detailed scan was worth it

Hope that helps and good luck