Q: Both my wife and I are suffering from minor thalassemia. Kindly advise what precautions do we need to take and when.

A:Most important precaution when both are having thalassemia minor is to get their thalassemia mutation analysis. Once female conceives, between tenth and twelfth week of pregnancy, get Chorionic Villus Sampling examination. The obstetrician / geneticist will do the test and will advise accordingly. Generally, if fetus is normal/ thalassemia minor; continue the pregnancy. If fetus is thalassemia major; general advice is to discontinue the pregnancy. So consult the center where prenatal diagnosis facility for thalassemia diagnosis is available, before planning the family. Second minor advice to every patient of thalassemia minor is to take supplement oral folic acid tablet regularly.