What Are the Options After Genetic Counseling?

Genetic counselor provides support when people decide what is right for them.

  1. Options Before Pregnancy- After genetic counseling, people thinking about getting pregnant might consider,
  • A Pre-implantation Diagnosis - This is when eggs that were fertilized in a laboratory (not inside the womb) are tested very early for genetic illnesses. Only fertilized eggs without the illnesses are used to create a pregnancy.
  • Using donor sperm or donor eggs.
  • Adoption
  1. Options During Pregnancy- After genetic counseling, someone who is already pregnant may decide to have the baby, undergo surgery while the baby is still in the womb, and end the pregnancy.

  2. Other Options- People having a high risk of acquiring genetic illnesses can make changes that can help. For example, someone having a high risk of getting cancer can get more frequent screening tests.