Everyone has to decide for themselves whether they want to have children. If you have the changed HD gene, your children are at 50 per cent risk of also having the gene and developing HD in the future. Some people are prepared to take the risk in the hope that by the time their children become adults a cure will have been found or better medication will be available. Some people choose not to take that risk and decide not to have children.

There are options available these days to reduce the risks. Once a person is pregnant, the foetus can be tested to see if it has the changed gene. This is called Prenatal (say: pree-nay-tul) Genetic Testing. This would be done at a genetics centre and you would speak to a genetics specialist beforehand to talk through your concerns and the possible outcomes.

There is also a procedure using In-Vitro (say: in vee-tro) Fertilisation (IVF) techniques that is available in some places. This is called Pre-implantation (say: pree-im-plant-ay-shun) Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and uses IVF techniques to fertilise the eggs in a laboratory and test them for the changed gene. Only embryos that are free of the changed gene would then be implanted into the womb, thereby making sure the baby will be free of the changed gene. Like all IVF procedures this can be a lengthy process, and you may have to pay towards some of the cost.

Other options for having children include using a donated egg or sperm.

So there are options to consider when you're thinking of having children. Talk things through with your partner, family and friends, and speak to a genetics specialist to get more information so you can make the right decision for you.

http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/pregnancy_newborn