A woman with thalassemia can have a child. There are two types of thalassemia: thalassemia minor and thalassemia major. Mild thalassemia is not harmful, it may cause fatigue and weakness easily and does not require special attention. Thalassemia major almost always requires a blood transfusion or bone marrow transplant, which is extremely dangerous. If only the female partner has thalassemia minor and the male partner is normal, there is a one in four chance of having a child with thalassemia minor. There is a three-fourths chance that the child will be normal and there is absolutely nothing to worry about. If both spouses have the same type of thalassemia, there is a one in four chance that a child with thalassemia major will be born, and a child with thalassemia major cannot be born.