Genetic counseling is a process where a specialized healthcare professional, known as a genetic counselor, provides guidance and information to individuals or families about genetic disorders. The counselor may provide information about how a genetic condition could affect an individual or family, interpret genetic tests designed to help estimate the risk of a disease, and convey information to address the concerns of the individual or family. Genetic counseling can help people make informed decisions about genetic testing and understand how genes, birth defects, and medical conditions run in families and how they can affect health.
Here are some key points about genetic counseling:
- Genetic counseling can be helpful at different stages in life, such as planning for pregnancy, caring for children, or managing health.
- Genetic counseling can address concerns about genetic conditions that run in the family or partners family, abnormal newborn screening results, birth defects, intellectual disability or developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), vision or hearing problems, and more.
- Genetic counseling can help people understand how genetic illnesses can affect them and their family, and provide support while people make their own decisions.
- Genetic counseling can help people understand test results to make decisions about their pregnancy and baby's care.
- Genetic counseling can be provided by a certified genetic counselor, a doctor, or a nurse with special training in genetic counseling.
