Family planning for parents of children with CF
If your child has been diagnosed with CF, you might be wondering what this means for future family planning. Here, we try to answer your questions about CF and future pregnancies.
If your baby was diagnosed before birth, you may have already had genetic counselling, explaining your options should you wish to extend your family.
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Can I have more children in future?
Yes! Having a baby with cystic fibrosis does not mean you cannot have any more children in future. That is a personal choice between you and your partner. Many children with CF have older and younger siblings, and some families have more than one child with CF.
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Will my future children have CF?
Not necessarily. If you and your partner are both carriers, the chances of having a child with CF are the same for each pregnancy (1 in 4). We recommend that you speak to a genetic counsellor about your options – your GP can refer you.
A genetic counsellor will be able to talk to help you understand more about your genetics and the options available to support your family planning decisions, such as PGT (pre-implantation genetic testing) which is used alongside assisted reproductive methods or IVF, and antenatal testing (testing during pregnancy to see if the baby has CF).
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What about contraception?
It’s possible to become pregnant again very soon after the birth of a baby, even before periods have returned and whilst breastfeeding. Your GP or health visitor will be able to advise you on contraception options.
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Who can I speak to for more information?
Your GP can refer you to a genetic counsellor. You can also contact our Helpline for further information and signposting.
You might also be interested in
Family planning for people with CF
If you or your partner have CF and you'd like to start a family, we've created a resource to help you.
Genetic family testing
Genetic testing is available for family members of someone who has cystic fibrosis (CF), to find out if they are carriers of CF gene mutations.
How is CF diagnosed?
There are several different ways CF can be diagnosed.
Here to help
If you’re struggling with any aspect of cystic fibrosis, we’re here to help. Contact our Helpline for support, a listening ear or just someone to talk to.