You may want genetic counseling if: You have or think you have
a genetic condition
, or you have a child with a genetic condition, like cystic fibrosis or sickle cell disease, or a birth defect, like a heart defect or cleft lip or palate. These conditions may run in your family or ethnic group.
Why is genetic counseling recommended?
“Genetic counseling services can
determine if your child is at risk for genetic disorders and provide support along the way and help you prepare
for the birth of a child with special needs.” Genetic counselors help people understand how birth defects, genes and medical conditions run in families.
Who do genetic counselors work with?
Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals who work with
individuals, families, communities and other healthcare professionals
to empower them to understand how genetic information impacts their lives or the lives of their patients.
At what point would you recommend genetic counseling to a parent to be?
It’s especially important to consider genetic counseling if:
a standard prenatal screening test has an abnormal result
.
an amniocentesis yields an unexpected result
.
either parent or a close relative has an inherited disease or birth defect
.
Do doctors recommend genetic testing?
Genetic testing is useful in
many areas of medicine
and can change the medical care you or your family member receives. For example, genetic testing can provide a diagnosis for a genetic condition such as Fragile X or information about your risk to develop cancer. There are many different kinds of genetic tests.
What diseases can be detected through genetic testing?
- Intro. (Image credit: Danil Chepko | Dreamstime) …
- Breast and ovarian cancer. …
- Celiac disease. …
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) …
- Bipolar disorder. …
- Obesity. …
- Parkinson’s disease. …
- Psoriasis.
Is genetic counselor a doctor?
While genetic counselors
are not medical doctors
, they are part of your healthcare team and work with you and your doctor to help you understand: Your genetic risks based on your family history. Your genetic risks for certain diseases or cancer. Whether genetic testing might be right for you.
What does genetic Counselling involve?
Genetic counselling involves
talking about a
genetic
condition with a health professional who has qualifications in both
genetics
and
counselling
.
Genetic
conditions are caused by changes or mistakes in
genes
. These conditions may be inherited from one or both parents.
What will a genetic counselor ask me?
Questions you might ask your genetic counselor
Does the disease in question run in families? If my family member has a disease, might I get it? If I have a disease, are my family members at risk of getting it? Is any kind of genetic testing available?
Is genetic counseling normal?
Genetic counseling is
not
necessary for the majority of couples who are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant. Genetic counseling should be considered by couples who have one or more of the following risk factors: Abnormal results from routine prenatal testing.
What happens in a genetic counseling appointment?
What happens during an appointment with a genetic counselor? Your genetic
counselor will ask about your personal medical history and the results of any cancer screening tests
. Then they will look at your family’s cancer history. The counselor will map out your family tree and include at least 3 generations.
Why do doctors push genetic testing?
Advocates say genetic tests can help
doctors identify people who are more likely to have some types of cancers or chronic illnesses
and recommend steps they can take to manage that risk.
Why genetic testing is bad?
Some disadvantages, or risks, that come from genetic testing can include:
Testing may increase your stress and anxiety
.
Results in some cases may return inconclusive or uncertain
.
Negative impact on family and personal relationships
.
What are the potential problems with genetic testing?
Generally genetic tests have
little physical risk
. Blood and cheek swab tests have almost no risk. However, prenatal testing such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling has a small risk of pregnancy loss (miscarriage). Genetic testing can have emotional, social and financial risks as well.
Is it worth getting genetic testing?
The obvious benefit of genetic testing is the
chance to better understand of your risk for a certain disease
. It can help ease uncertainty. Testing is not perfect, but it can often help you make decisions about your health.
What are the three types of genetic testing?
The following information describes the three main types of genetic testing:
chromosome studies, DNA studies, and biochemical genetic studies
. Tests for cancer susceptibility genes are usually done by DNA studies.
