Impact of PKU on the reproductive patterns in collaborative study families

Factors that relate to reproductive patterns in 129 families after the birth of a child with phenylketonuria (PKU) include birth order of the index child, age of the parents at the birth of the index child, and expressed intentions of the parents whether or not to have additional children. Factors that do not correlate with reproductive histories include knowledge of the genetic and metabolic nature of PKU, the relationship of PKU to mental retardation and special diet, parental upset about the diagnosis, sex of the affected child, parental IQ, religion, education, and social class. Correlations found related to the question, "Is PKU the reason you don't want more children?" include stress factors in family functioning, mother's upset with the diagnosis, father's concerns about being a carrier, sex of the child with PKU, and degree of knowledge about PKU. Many of the Collaborative Study clinics tend to be more concerned about the consequences of PKU on the family than on society, and feel that families should receive genetic counseling to determine their reproductive risks and future plans. Upon self-report, many clinics declare their counseling to be either "completely nondirective" or making a "conscious effort to be nondirective."