RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Reproductive decisions after neonatal screening identifies cystic fibrosis
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition
JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP F124
OP F127
DO 10.1136/fn.82.2.F124
VO 82
IS 2
A1 Dudding, Tracy
A1 Wilcken, Bridget
A1 Burgess, Bronwyn
A1 Hambly, Judy
A1 Turner, Gillian
YR 2000
UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/82/2/F124.abstract
AB AIMS To document the reproductive choices made by women in New South Wales, Australia, after neonatal screening has identified cystic fibrosis (CF).METHODS A sample of women attending cystic fibrosis clinics in New South Wales who had a child (or children) diagnosed by neonatal screening between 1981 and 1996 were interviewed.RESULTS Two thirds of the women chose to avoid having another child with CF. The uptake of prenatal diagnosis was 66% in women who had a subsequent pregnancy; of these 69% terminated or would have terminated an affected fetus. Fifty nine per cent of the women who decided against a further pregnancy made this decision in order to avoid having another child with CF.CONCLUSIONS These data show that having a child with CF influenced subsequent reproductive choices. In addition to the medical advantages of an early diagnosis offered by neonatal screening, this also allows informed future reproductive decisions.