Genetic counseling was at one time considered rare and only for high-risk patients. It is, however, becoming more common in today’s society. It is now known that many of the congenital malformations found in newborns today can be linked to the individual’s genetic heritage. Pregnant women and individuals who might be considering starting a family can benefit from genetic counseling.
There are many reasons to seek genetic counseling. One such reason is that the parents of the unborn child are advanced in age. Women over the age of 35 should be offered genetic testing due to the increased risk of having a child with a chromosomal abnormality. Another reason for counseling is if a couple has had other children who were born with an abnormality. This increases the chances of other children suffering the same problems. Certain ethnic origins are also more prone to genetic abnormalities and should also consider genetic counseling.
Doctors will typically conduct a screening during which they will ask about ethnicity as well as if a person has any close relatives that were born with certain genetic disorders. This would put a person in a higher risk group than others.
The most obvious and common reason for genetic counseling is if the person who is pregnant or wishes to become pregnant has a genetic disorder themselves or has had fertility problems in the past. This counseling can let the individual know what the risk factors are, the probability of having a child with health issues as well as how to plan for and cope with these situations.
Some specific disorders that are sought out through genetic counseling are heart defects, Down Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Spina Bifida, mental retardation, and Sickle Cell Anemia. Some doctors also look for diseases that run in families such as Diabetes, Cancer, and kidney disease.
Your doctor will most likely conduct a screening to see if you are in need of genetic counseling. You may also want to seek it out on your own if you feel like you or your child might be at risk for a genetic abnormality.
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