Outcome of premarital genetic counseling for couples at risk of hemoglobinopathies in Kingdom of Bahrain.

This article focuses on the marital decisions and reproductive outcomes of couples at risk for hemoglobinopathies in the Kingdom of Bahrain following compulsory premarital screening and genetic counseling. The study found that 67% of at-risk couples proceeded with marriage despite counseling, often citing the availability of preventive reproductive technologies such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), although cost was a significant barrier to their use. Among couples who conceived, most pregnancies were spontaneous, with a substantial proportion of affected infants born, and a majority of couples expressed reluctance toward elective abortion even if legally permitted. The findings suggest that premarital screening alone may have limited impact on reducing at-risk marriages and highlight the need for supportive programs and public awareness campaigns to improve access to and acceptance of preventive reproductive options.