The Importance of Genetic Testing

Many couples get genetic screening before they even get married, especially if they belong to an ethnicity or group that is prone to a certain type of genetic disease. Before you try to conceive, you and your partner should definitely consider genetic testing. If you do a little research, your health insurance may cover the cost, or you may be able to find a free provider if you cannot afford to pay for it.
 
The first step is to take a look at your family tree. Call your parents or relatives and find out if they know anyone in your family that has suffered from a genetic disease. For example, if someone in your family has cystic fibrosis, you should definitely consider screening. This will be your first “clue” as to whether you should consider genetic testing.
 
Additionally, if you fall into a certain “group” you may also want to consider genetic testing, even if you don’t have a family history of a genetic disease. For example, African Americans should consider screening for sickle-cell anemia, which is a blood disease where the blood cells have a “sickle” shape and can cause pain and other health complications. Similarly, Ashkenazi Jews, Irish-Americans, French Canadians, and Louisiana Cajun descendants should be tested for Tay-Sachs disease, which is a fatal disease that affects the brain’s nerve cells.
 
Finally, if you have had previous difficulties getting and/or staying pregnant, you may also want to have genetic screening. If you have had, for example, a stillbirth, you may want to rule out any genetic issues with genetic screening.
 
If you fall into one of the groups where screening may be a good idea (and please note that there are many groups that we are not listing in this article), there is no need to get bent out of shape! The results of genetic screening is almost always reassuring news. Keep in mind that many of these diseases are recessive, meaning that both you and your partner must carry the gene for your baby to be at risk of being affected. If you and your partner test positive for a genetic disease, certainly follow up with your health care provider to discuss your options.