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Preconception and Prenatal Genetic
Counseling & Testing
PLAN FOR A
HEALTHY
FAMILY
Written By: Sonika Sachanandani-Phulwani
Genetic Counselor at Matar & Rosset Healthcare Solutions
Preconception
Testing
Everyone is at a risk of
having a child with a
genetic disease, even
if they have no family
history or symptoms
of disease. Carrier
screening is a genetic
screening for couples
and individuals of all
ethnic backgrounds
who are planning a
pregnancy or are early
in pregnancy.
Reasons
Such a test will look for
disease-causing changes,
called mutations, in a
couple’s genes that could
cause a genetic disease if
inherited by their offspring.
The risk of having a child
affected with a genetic
disease is greater if the
couple shares blood
relations for example, if they
are related.
Prenatal Testing
Most babies are born healthy, however there is always a
risk that something can go wrong. The risk will be greater
for some couples than others, depending on age, lifestyle
issues, medical history and blood relations to each other
(consanguinity).
While couples are generally advised to undergo genetic
testing, the decision to do so is ultimately up to them. It’s a
good idea to think about why they want to be tested and the
consequences for them and their family if they learn that their
baby does have a genetic disorder.
18
Mar/Apr 2015