Hereditary Genetic Problems
As one childfree woman commented, "I know that for me, bad genes is one of the reasons I don't want to have kids. Both on my side and my fiance's, there are a number of at least partially genetic conditions that our hypothetical kids would have a good chance of inheriting, and since I know what it is like to deal with these things, I wouldn't want to inflict them on a kid. It's far from our main reason, there are SO many others ahead of it in the list of reasons to be childfree, but it is a factor."
Or consider this childfree person's experience: "My husband's childfree decision is based partly on genetic issues. He knows very little about his biological father, who was adopted and thus, even if we knew where to find him, probably wouldn't be a good resource. My husband doesn't have any genetic problems that we know of, but he's reluctant to take the chance. Like you said, it's not the only factor; in fact, not even in the top five, but it IS a factor."
One of the more common ailments that raises concerns is being diabetic. A childfree diabetic explained it this way: "I've had Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes for twenty years, since I was ten years old. I take two injections of insulin every day, test my blood sugar levels three or four times a day, and have to pay way too much attention to what I'm eating. I've been extraordinarily lucky in that I have not yet developed any secondary complications, which can include damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart -- it's a corrosive condition. It can also be hereditary. This means 1) pregnancy puts a horrifying strain on any human body, but even more so on a diabetic one; 2) yes, there would be a possibility of a child inheriting, and I wouldn't wish this on anyone. There is also the problem of low blood sugar, which I deal with frequently due to food/insulin imbalances, and which can affect coordination, reflexes, and -- most importantly -- the ability to think. There is no way I would be able or willing to cope with a child when I'm having one of these episodes."
Someone who deals with just such crises added, "I am a firefighter, and went on several medical calls for a diabetic emergency during pregnancy...let me tell you it isn't pretty....this
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