A
male
age
41-50,
*ollegeboy33
writes:Tami and I are gonna move to Virginia Beach this summer and move away from our family. Since we were young we both been physically, mentally,and sexually abused. We both have alot in common not alot of people understand why we are so close together. So, we decided to move and start our own family. My question is when we have children will the fact we are cousins affect the baby? Some people say yes and some people say no.. I'm confused.
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female
reader, k_c100  +, writes (6 December 2010):
 This website should help: http://www.hgc.gov.uk/Client/Content.asp?ContentId=741
But just to summarise their key points:
- the overall risk to first cousins having children rises to about six in every 100 births, i.e. double the risk in the general population. The great majority of pregnancies do not result in abnormalities.
- there is a potential health risk arising from recessive genetic disorders (basically families often carry certain genes that are defective and when two people of the same family have the same defective genes it comes out fully in the child. If you had a child with a non-carrier outside of your family then the defective gene would remain dormant and never show itself - hence why they are deemed recessive disorders - they are hidden until two carriers come together and have children).
- Overall the health risks to the child when first cousins are the parents are around the same as the health risks that come with increased maternal age (an older woman having children, which medically they put at 35+).
So yes there are definitely health risks, generally double the risk compared to non-family members aged under 35. However it is still around 6 in every 100 births, which is is not a huge statistic. But when you think it is DOUBLE the risk compared to non-family members, you do still need to take it seriously.
What I do suggest is you visit your doctor and speak to them about Genetic Counselling (see here for more info - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_counseling)
Hopefully your doctor will be able to point you towards a service in your local area where they can look at your family history, see if there are any genetic diseases in your family history and then calculate the risks for you both to have children together. This really is the best way to make sure you are not going to end up having children who are very ill and who will have a poor quality of life.
So have a little read on the web and do your research, try and think to any illnesses you remember your parents or grandparents having - and then pay a visit to your doctor.
I hope this helps and good luck!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (6 December 2010): I am not an expert on the whole genetic thing (as evidenced by my complete disability to even get words out to title it!)... Your love is the most important thing here; forget about social stigma, ok? It is not 100% that your children will be disabled or deformed in any way (don't quote me, but I am Quite sure... take a looksie at English monarchial history... some weird facial features going on, but nothing major...). I don't mean to sound teasing or offensive in any way, if that's how I'm coming across.
Your relationship has my full support, and I'll watch this one,
Tante Victoire
...............................
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