Genetic counseling can help you decide if you need to get tested for genetic conditions. Knowing if you or a family member have a genetic condition can help you manage your health, but the decision to get tested isn’t easy.
Read on to understand all about genetic counseling, including knowing if genetic testing is right for you and how to prepare for it.
What Is Genetic Counseling?
Genetic counseling is when you talk to a healthcare professional about the likelihood that you (or a family member) will have a genetic condition. When you sit down with a genetic counselor, they will collect information about your health and your family’s health history. Then, they will help you decide if genetic testing is right for you.
People get genetic counseling for many reasons, and your doctor can determine if a referral to a genetic counselor is appropriate for you.
Reasons For Genetic Counseling
Everyone’s health history and situation is different. There are many reasons to talk to a genetic counselor. Here are the most common reasons to get genetic counseling.
Planning for pregnancy
Some people want genetic counseling when planning for a pregnancy. You might be a good candidate for genetic counseling before pregnancy if you have any of the following:
- History of miscarriages or stillbirth
- History of infertility
- Having a child with a genetic condition or birth defect
- Family history of genetic conditions
During pregnancy
Genetic counseling during pregnancy can determine if your baby is at risk for any genetic conditions. Most women will have cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease testing during pregnancy, but other genetic tests are reserved for people who are at risk. You’re considered at risk if you have a family history of genetic conditions, abnormal routine tests during pregnancy or if you’ve had certain infections during pregnancy.
Caring for children
If your child shows symptoms of genetic conditions, you may want to get evaluated. You may consider genetic counseling for your child if they:
- Have abnormal newborn screenings
- Show signs of intellectual or developmental disabilities
Genetic counseling can be really helpful for families whose kids are showing these signs and don’t have access to a complete family health history.
Managing your own health
You may need genetic counseling to help manage some of your health conditions. You may want to talk to a genetic counselor if you’re showing symptoms or have a family history of:
- Hereditary breast and ovarian cancers
- Colorectal cancers
- Muscular dystrophy
- Huntington’s disease
If your healthcare provider decides that you’re a good candidate for genetic testing, the next step is to work with your doctor to get genetic testing.
What Is Genetic Testing?
If your healthcare provider determines you’re a good fit for genetic testing they will take blood samples or collect saliva. These samples will be sent to a lab and tested for specific genetic conditions or gene mutations. Genetic testing can provide extremely valuable information and diagnose complex medical problems.
Reasons For Genetic Testing
Many people struggle with health problems and have a hard time getting answers. People get genetic testing mainly to diagnose a specific medical condition.
Other reasons to get genetic testing include:
- To learn if you have a genetic condition that runs in your family
- To understand your risk for cancer
- To assess if an unborn child is at risk of developing genetic conditions that run in the family
If you decide to go through with genetic testing, there are different types of tests you may get.
Types of genetic tests
There are a few types of genetic testing, and each one is a little different. Which test you get will depend on what condition your provider is looking for.
Single gene test
This test looks for changes in one gene and is done when your doctor looks at one specific genetic condition. For example, single gene tests are used when you’re doctor is looking for sick cell disease or muscular dystrophy.
Panel testing
This is one test that looks at changes in many different genes. Panel testing is used when your doctor is concerned about a group of genetic conditions based on specific characteristics like low muscle tone or breast cancer.
Large-scale genetic or genomic testing
Large-scale genetic testing can look at all the genes in a DNA sequence or someone’s entire DNA. This testing will occur under very specific circumstances and is reserved for people with complex medical histories.
How To Prepare For Genetic Testing
There is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to genetic testing. Here are some ways you can prepare for your genetic testing.
Know your family history
There will be a lot of questions about your health and your family’s health history. Not everyone has access to their family or their health history but if you do, getting as much information from them as possible will help you during your counseling sessions.
You might want to find out:
- Your family’s cancer history
- What genetic conditions run in your family and who has them
- Results of any family member’s genetic results
Remember, the more specific information you can get on genetic conditions that run in your family and who has them, the more information your counselor will have to make recommendations.
Write down your questions
Genetic counseling helps you understand your risks for a genetic condition but it can help you get all your questions answered.
As questions come up, write them down. Bring your list of questions to each visit. Ensure you have all your questions answered to be prepared for your testing and understand the results.
Understand insurance coverage
When it comes to genetic testing, insurance coverage may vary. For many genetic tests, prior authorization is required. This requires your doctor to submit medical documentation that the test is necessary. You’ll want to make sure you understand your insurance coverage for genetic counseling and testing and if there will be any out-of-pocket costs.
The decision to get genetic testing isn’t easy but understanding your risks and talking to a genetic counselor can help you make the best decision for you and your family.
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