Avoiding+SMA

As was stated in the "Risks and Inheritance" page, Sam had a 25% chance of inheriting the disorder that he did. The chances stay equal for each child produced by Sam's parents. To better understand the risks, a genetic counselor may be able to help and explain. Since both parents now know that they are at risk for passing on the disorder, they can get help from an organization called FSMA (Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy).

[|FSMA]

FSMA offers genetic testing and can further understanding for the family in passing on the disorder.

A method called preimplantation genetic diagnosis can also potentially allow a couple to produce a child without the disorder. The process begins with the woman going through in-vitro fertilization, which means that she will take specialized drugs to make her produce more eggs. These eggs are later mixed with the father's sperm and later tested for the mutation causing SMA. A doctor can then identify the cells that do and do not have the mutation and transfer them into the woman's womb. Although this does not guarantee pregnancy, it can potentially produce a child without the disorder, and also a content couple.

media type="youtube" key="GeigYib39Rs" height="315" width="560" This video will help to explain the process women undergo during in-vitro fertilization.