I know my wife rushed to read this article. Hi Babe 💓

The title of this article will hit you by surprise, especially if you come to the understanding that I am barely two months into married life.

Don't get me wrong, marriage is a beautiful thing. But, if you have yet to settle these things, getting married is a stupid idea.

Decisions Making: It's estimated that the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Some of those decisions may lead to unfortunate consequences if you are not careful. If you are not convinced in your own heart that you are ready for marriage, or you find yourself struggling with the decision of getting married, YOU ARE NOT READY! And, getting married is a stupid idea! Don't allow it!

Choices: I know you always make smart choices. Most of us have a pretty good idea about what we need to be doing to keep us on track toward our goals. In marriage, your choices are not limited to what you like or what you think, you have to compromise. If you think this is too much for you to handle, then, getting married is a stupid idea! Don't do it!

Standards: Please don't fall for the trap of evaluating your partner's success by other people's measure of success. If you find yourself doing that at the moment, especially with the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and every time, he or she appears to push themselves to reach that bar you've set, PLEASE HIT THE PAUSE. The man or woman you think you are dating is NOT the man or woman he or she is. He or she is only pushing to meet up to expectations. Expectations you've set. Getting married based on these standards might be a stupid idea! Don't fall for it!.

Genotype Compatibility: Genotype refers to an individual's genetic makeup, specifically the combination of alleles (gene variants) they inherit from their parents for a particular trait. In the context of genetic disorders like sickle cell disease, the two most relevant genotypes are AA, AS, and SS.

  • AA: This genotype means both parents carry normal hemoglobin alleles. It is considered the "normal" genotype.
  • AS: This genotype is known as a carrier, or "sickle cell trait." Individuals with this genotype carry one normal hemoglobin allele (A) and one sickle cell allele (S).
  • SS: This genotype signifies that both parents carry two sickle cell alleles, resulting in sickle cell disease.

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder that affects the shape and function of red blood cells. When two individuals with the AS genotype (carriers) have children, there is a 25% chance with each pregnancy that their child will inherit two sickle cell alleles (SS genotype), resulting in sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease can lead to severe health issues and a decreased life expectancy, making it essential to consider genotype compatibility in marriage.

Genotype Matches to Avoid

  1. SS + SS: The highest risk of having a child with sickle cell disease occurs when two individuals with SS genotypes marry. Such couples should avoid marriage to prevent the significant health risks posed to their offspring.
  2. AS + AS: While carriers of the sickle cell trait (AS) typically do not experience symptoms of sickle cell disease themselves, they have a 25% chance of having children with SS genotypes. Therefore, couples with AS genotypes should consider genetic counseling and their family planning options carefully.
  3. AS + SS: When one partner carries the AS genotype, and the other carries the SS genotype, there is a 50% chance of having children with sickle cell disease. It is advisable for such couples to seek genetic counseling to make informed decisions about their future together.

And with these few points of mine, I hope I've been able to... well, you know the rest of this famous quote.

Have a nice day *winks*