A successful writer turned to a specialized bank because she wanted to get pregnant. He chose a father using the images provided by the respective doctors, then performed an IVF treatment at a private clinic in Moscow.
Nothing abnormal so far, and as for the man whose image he chose, he was a guy with rich hair, higher education, excellent fitness, and a height of 1.82 meters.
The woman – her identity was not made public, of course – was 40 years old and, given her age, considered this her last chance to get pregnant. However, later serious medical problems appeared, and the woman had a shock.
The unborn baby was diagnosed with achondroplasia. It is an incurable, rare disease that affects one child in 20,000. The effect of this disease is dwarfism. The woman gave birth to the baby, but was told that her son would reach a maximum height of 1.20 meters,
and easy limbs and features will not develop normally. The bank has been sued, the lawsuit is ongoing, and the woman – recounting the drama she is going through – wants to warn the sperm bank’s customers about such risks.
Enlarged head and prominent forehead
Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder that results in dwarfism. In those who suffer from this condition, the arms and legs are short, while the torso is usually of normal length.
Those affected have an average height of 131 cm for men and 123 cm for women. Other features include an enlarged head and a prominent forehead. The disease does not affect intelligence.
Achondroplasia occurs as a result of a mutation in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene (FGFR3). In about 80% of cases, it appears as a new mutation during early development. In other cases, it is inherited from someone’s parents in an autosomal dominant manner. Those with two affected genes do not usually survive.
The diagnosis is generally based on symptoms but can be supported by genetic testing if there is no certainty.