The Importance Of Genetic Counseling – It Pays To Keep Eyes Open
Reasons For Genetic Counseling
Everybody wants to have a healthy offspring. However, it is not always so. Therefore, to be on the safe side it is important to take genetic counseling if you have any of the following conditions, at the pre pregnancy planning stage.
If your partner is 35 years old.
If you are related to each other.
if you have a disorder like cystic fibrosis.
if you have a child with mental disorder.
if your child has genetic disorder.
if you have constant miscarriages or if your babies are still born.
if you have STD.
if you have been exposed to or have exposure to toxins like teratogens.
if you have problems of infertility.
if your family has had a history of a particular disease.
if you have a physical deformity of any kind.
if you catch pregnancy infections
if your family has a history of epilepsy.
Classification Of Tests
Certain carrier and screening tests are performed on couples who have any of the aforementioned conditions. The carrier test examines for a kind of blood disorder called Thalassemia. This disorder afflicts people of Mediterranean origin, and people belonging to Africa and southern Asia. The disease cystic fibrosis usually afflicts people of Caucasian origin. This disease affects the lungs. African Americans are usually born with the sickle cell disease, a blood disorder. The tay-sachs disease can cause fatal damage to the brain and usually afflicts the descendants of east European Jews. The screening tests can also determine the Huntingtonâs disease and the hemophilia disease. How can one undermine the importance of genetic counseling.
These tests forewarn parents working in factories and poor conditions, where they are exposed to substances like radiation and teratogens, whether their bodies are fit to become parents or not. Genetic counseling helps them to organize themselves, free themselves of these harmful substances at the pregnancy planning stage, and deliver healthy babies. AFP is another screening test that determines birth defects and other defects like the spina bifida and anencephaly. It also detects neural tube defects. In modern times, the ultrasound test has become very common among pregnant women. This test can find out if the fetus has any deformity or malformation of any part of the body. Genetic disorders and developmental disorders can be detected with the test of Amniocentesis. The importance of genetic counseling is evident again over here.
Not Very Costly
The cost of genetic counseling is quite affordable. It can cost anywhere from $100 to $300. Most insurance policies cover genetic counseling. Do not be daunted by the costs or the unpleasing words of wisdom. Always understand it is in the best interest of the child. Moreover, if at all you are advised against pregnancy, then you can always adopt a child from a childcare center. You as parents are going to give the most precious gift to the child, LOVE. Therefore do not take it lightly and give due importance to genetic counseling.
There is no denying the Importance of genetic counseling for pregnancy planning. Genetic counseling plays a vital role in pre pregnancy planning because by this process you can rule out the possibility of genetic disorders in your future child at the pre pregnancy stage and take remedial measures. Most Fertile Period is your free online resource providing more information on genetic counseling, fertility treatments, pregnancy, cord blood banking, maternity clothing, breastfeeding, and other pregnancy related issues.
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Keywords: blood disorder, caucasian origin, cystic fibrosis, deformities, genetic counseling, genetic disorder, history of epilepsy, infertility
, mental disorder, miscarriages, physical deformity, planning stage, pre pregnancy, pregnancy planning, risk factors, safe side, screening tests, southern asia, teratogens, thalassemia.
