An expert has warned of increased genetic risks in marriages between cousins.

Marriages between close relatives, particularly first cousins, significantly increase the likelihood of hereditary diseases in their offspring.

According to the expert, the main reason is the high probability that relatives will share mutated genes inherited from a common ancestor. If both spouses are carriers of the same recessive mutant allele (while being healthy carriers themselves), the risk of having a child with the corresponding disorder reaches 25%. This explains the increased incidence of autosomal recessive diseases such as cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, some forms of congenital deafness and blindness, as well as malformations of the heart and central nervous system.

In addition to genetic pathologies, consanguineous marriages are associated with risks to the pregnancy. Studies show higher rates of miscarriages, stillbirths, and perinatal mortality. One of the reasons for this is the excessive similarity of the spouses' HLA genes, which can disrupt the mother's normal immune adaptation to pregnancy.

However, kinship does not necessarily mean infertility - the ability to conceive in such couples is comparable to that of ordinary couples.

The expert strongly recommends that closely related couples planning a pregnancy seek medical genetic counseling. A specialist will assess the family history, offer genetic screening for mutations, and, during pregnancy, prenatal diagnostic methods, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT). These measures allow for an informed approach to family planning and significantly reduce risks for the unborn child.