Before you begin looking into in-vitro and ICSI, please take the time to have your partner tested as a carrier of the Cystic Fibrosis Gene. The reasons and statistics are explained below.

Genes are strung together on Chromosomes, rodlike sturctures found in the nucleus of each cell.   Human beings have 46 chromosomes, arranged in 23 pairs.  In each pair, one chromosome is contributed by the mother, the other by the father.  The gene involved in CF is found on chromosome 7.  Each person has two copies of the gene, one on each chromosome.  Because this gene is recessive, a person must inherit two genes containing a mutation-one from the mother, one from the father-to experience the symptoms of CF.  If only one gene has a mutation, the person will be a carrier, who can pass the gene on but will not have symptoms of the disease.  From Growing Older with CF-A handboook for Adults.

Dr. Mark Hughes, the "guru of single gene defects" emphasizes that if a male has no sperm in his semen analysis and is negative for the CF gene on the CF Genetics Test, the female partner should still be tested as a carrier because he feels the test either missed that man's mutations or he may carry a rare mutation that is not yet identified, or the laboratory has limited testing abilities.  This testing on the female will decrease the likelihood of a couple giving birth to a child with CF.  Dr. Mark Hughes' medical research has shown that essentially all men with CBAVD carry a CF mutation.

Carrier Parent CF Parent Noncarrier Parent Carrier Offspring CF Offspring Noncarrier Offspring

CF Carrier Testing

25% chance unaffected; no CF, no carrier Status

50% chance carrier

25% chance affected (CF)

50% chance affected (CF)

50% chance carrier

50% chance unaffected; no CF, no carrier Status

50% chance carrier