Genetic Counseling before Conception
Technological and medical advances are providing us with opportunities we couldn’t have imagined only a short period ago. Genetic counseling is a perfect example.
Genetic counseling involves having a specially trained expert professional evaluate both prospective parents’ genetic traits and family history. The objective isn’t to “screen out” combinations that won’t produce ideal children, but instead to provide parents with a clear understanding of potential significant health risks that might afflict future children.
It can seem somewhat scary and akin to a science fiction film, but genetic counseling is very real and is readily available. It’s not something most couples need or want, but it does make perfect sense for partners who have certain diseases “in their family” and who are concerned that their children may suffer similarly.
Genetic counseling is costly in dollars and cents terms. Making the decision to undergo genetic counseling can also be emotionally costly. If a physician advises you, for instance, that your future children have a ten percent risk of suffering from a major birth defect, how might that impact your decision making? Genetic counseling can provide some amazing answers to important questions but can also spur some very challenging new questions.
