Trigger warning – This article discusses testing and termination of a disabled fetus/ baby in the womb that may cause upset to some readers. Please take care when reading. These are the views of the writer and not The Unwritten.
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as Brittle Bones, is a genetic condition caused by a mutation in one of the genes responsible for the production of type one collagen, a major protein in bone. This leads to weak bones which fracture easily.
According to the Brittle Bone Society, OI affects around 1 in every 15,000 people, meaning around 5000 people in the UK are currently living with the condition.
Those with OI have a 50% chance of passing it on to their children, although 25% of children born with the condition have no family history of it.
