QI’ve had several miscarriages and my doctor has referred me to a genetic counselor—why
A genetic counselor is a highly trained professional who supports families before and after conception. Often a miscarriage is caused by a genetic abnormality in the fertilized egg or embryo. This is usually a one-time occurence and can affect anyone.
However, if a woman has recurrent miscarriages, it may be that she is carrying a genetic condition. Women and their partners are referred to a genetic counselor if either partner has a condition that can affect future children or the chances of
becoming pregnant or continuing with a pregnancy since they may be more likely to miscarry or be offered a termination. For example, if there is a history of sickle-cell disease, a blood disorder that causes chronic anemia and increases the risk of a
preterm birth and health problems in the baby, it may be that either or both parents are carrying a gene that can affect a baby. A genetic counselor helps you understand how your genes could affect conception and pregnancy and about the tests available to determine if a fetus is affected. The counselor will discuss a range of issues,
including the moral and ethical issues related to genetic testing, since it is common for couples to feel stress, guilt, and confusion in this type of situation