Genetic Counseling

What is Genetic Counseling?

Genetic counseling gives you information about how genetic conditions might affect you or your family. The genetic counselor or other healthcare professional will collect your personal and family health history. They can use this information to determine how likely it is that you or your family member has a genetic condition. Based on this information, the genetic counselor can help you decide whether a genetic test might be right for you or your relative.

Reasons for Genetic Counseling

Based on your personal and family health history, your doctor can refer you for genetic counseling. There are different stages in your life when you might be referred for genetic counseling:

Planning for Pregnancy: Genetic counseling before you become pregnant can address concerns about factors that might affect your baby during infancy or childhood or your ability to become pregnant, including
- Genetic conditions that run in your family or your partner’s family
- History of infertility, multiple miscarriages, or stillbirth
- Previous pregnancy or child affected by a birth defect or genetic condition
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) options
During Pregnancy: Genetic counseling while you are pregnant can address certain tests that may be done during your pregnancy, any detected problems, or conditions that might affect your baby during infancy or childhood, including
- History of infertility, multiple miscarriages, or stillbirth
- Previous pregnancy or child affected by a birth defect or genetic condition
- Abnormal test results, such as a blood test, ultrasound, CVS, or amniocentesis
- Maternal infections, such as CMV, and other exposures such as medications, drugs, chemicals, and x-rays
- Genetic screening that is recommended for all pregnant women, which includes cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, and any conditions that run in your family or your partner’s family

Caring for Children: Genetic counseling can address concerns if your child is showing signs and symptoms of a disorder that might be genetic, including
- Abnormal newborn screening results
- Birth defects
- Intellectual disability or developmental disabilities
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
- Vision or hearing problems

Managing Your Health: Genetic counseling for adults includes specialty areas such as cardiovascular, psychiatric, and cancer. Genetic counseling can be helpful if you have symptoms of a condition or have a family history of a condition that makes you more likely to be affected with that condition, including
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome
- Lynch syndrome (hereditary colorectal and other cancers)
- Familial hypercholesterolemia
- Muscular dystrophy and other muscle diseases
- Inherited movement disorders such as Huntington’s disease
- Inherited blood disorders such as sickle cell disease

Following your genetic counseling session, you might decide to have genetic testing. Genetic counseling after testing can help you better understand your test results and treatment options, help you deal with emotional concerns, and refer you to other healthcare providers and advocacy and support groups.