Genetic counseling: Overview
The results of genetic testing can affect your life. Genetic counselors are trained to help you understand your risk of getting genetic diseases or having a child with an inherited disease, such as cystic fibrosis. It may be a good idea to get genetic counseling before deciding to have testing.
Genetic counseling
Genetic counseling is done by specially trained health professionals who offer guidance to people concerned about their risk of genetic diseases.
A genetic counselor may:
- Look at family and personal medical history and medical records. This is done to see if genetic testing would be helpful. If so, the counselor can talk about which tests would be best and what age to have tests.
- Show a person how a specific condition is inherited or passed from parents to a child.
- Explain the pros and cons of genetic testing and what the results might mean for the person being tested and their relatives.
- Help a person understand the results of a genetic test, including their risk for a genetic condition.
- Discuss how to reduce the risk for a genetic condition, how to manage the condition, and what resources are available.
Why is genetic counseling done?
Genetic counseling can help you and your family:
- Understand medical facts, including what causes diseases, how a diagnosis is made, and what you may be able to do to help yourself manage a disease.
- Understand how your family history contributes to the development of a disease.
- Understand what you can do to help prevent a disease.
- Learn about caring for a family member who has a genetic disease, including getting referrals to specialists or joining support groups.
How is genetic counseling done?
Genetic counseling may involve:
- Discussing what problems an inherited disease may cause.
- Teaching you and your partner about how a specific disease is inherited or passed from you to your child.
- Discussing whether and how to test for an inherited disease before you become pregnant or before your child is born.
- Discussing the likelihood that you and your partner will have a child with an inherited disease, based on test results.
Medical geneticists and genetic counselors are trained to help you and your family make informed decisions that are right for you. They are sensitive to physical and emotional aspects of these decisions. Your privacy and confidentiality are carefully protected.
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