| At times, it is fatal to undermine the importance of | | | | fibrosis usually afflicts people of Caucasian origin. This |
| genetic counseling. In cases where the woman is | | | | disease affects the lungs. African Americans are |
| more than 36 years of age or where the couple is in | | | | usually born with the sickle cell disease, a blood |
| relation to each other, it is important to find the | | | | disorder. The tay-sachs disease can cause fatal |
| family history of the couple. Genetic counseling helps | | | | damage to the brain and usually afflicts the |
| in diagnosing of any risk factors to the impending | | | | descendants of east European Jews. The screening |
| pregnancy. If the couple is in close relation, then their | | | | tests can also determine the Huntington's disease and |
| genes may be the same, which may force the | | | | the hemophilia disease. How can one undermine the |
| pregnancy into deformities. In such cases, you are | | | | importance of genetic counseling. |
| assigned to support groups, which make you | | | | These tests forewarn parents working in factories |
| understand the risks to which your child will be | | | | and poor conditions, where they are exposed to |
| exposed if you decide to opt for pregnancy. It is | | | | substances like radiation and teratogens, whether |
| important to understand the situation clearly at the | | | | their bodies are fit to become parents or not. |
| pre pregnancy stage to avoid having mental and | | | | Genetic counseling helps them to organize |
| physical disorders in the child. | | | | themselves, free themselves of these harmful |
| Reasons For Genetic Counseling | | | | substances at the pregnancy planning stage, and |
| Everybody wants to have a healthy offspring. | | | | deliver healthy babies. AFP is another screening test |
| However, it is not always so. Therefore, to be on | | | | that determines birth defects and other defects like |
| the safe side it is important to take genetic | | | | the spina bifida and anencephaly. It also detects |
| counseling if you have any of the following conditions, | | | | neural tube defects. In modern times, the ultrasound |
| at the pre pregnancy planning stage. | | | | test has become very common among pregnant |
| If your partner is 35 years old. | | | | women. This test can find out if the fetus has any |
| If you are related to each other.if you have a | | | | deformity or malformation of any part of the body. |
| disorder like cystic fibrosis.if you have a child with | | | | Genetic disorders and developmental disorders can be |
| mental disorder.if your child has genetic disorder.if you | | | | detected with the test of Amniocentesis. The |
| have constant miscarriages or if your babies are still | | | | importance of genetic counseling is evident again |
| born.if you have STD.if you have been exposed to | | | | over here. |
| or have exposure to toxins like teratogens.if your | | | | Not Very Costly |
| family has had a history of a particular disease.if you | | | | The cost of genetic counseling is quite affordable. It |
| have a physical deformity of any kind.if you catch | | | | can cost anywhere from $100 to $300. Most |
| pregnancy infectionsif your family has a history of | | | | insurance policies cover genetic counseling. Do not be |
| epilepsy. | | | | daunted by the costs or the unpleasing words of |
| Classification Of Tests | | | | wisdom. Always understand it is in the best interest |
| Certain carrier and screening tests are performed on | | | | of the child. Moreover, if at all you are advised |
| couples who have any of the aforementioned | | | | against pregnancy, then you can always adopt a child |
| conditions. The carrier test examines for a kind of | | | | from a childcare center. You as parents are going to |
| blood disorder called Thalassemia. This disorder afflicts | | | | give the most precious gift to the child, LOVE. |
| people of Mediterranean origin, and people belonging | | | | Therefore do not take it lightly and give due |
| to Africa and southern Asia. The disease cystic | | | | importance to genetic counseling. |