Talking to your Doctor
Anyone planning to have a child should consider genetic carrier screening. If you are already pregnant, it’s important to discuss screening with your doctor as soon as possible. It’s important to tell your doctor:
- Whether you are planning to start a family or are already pregnant.
- Your family’s geographic heritage.
- Whether there are any genetic conditions that run in your family
- Whether you come from a family with Jewish, African-American, Mediterranean or Southeast Asian ancestry.
If you have been screened before, and your test results are available, bring them to your appointment.
If you don’t have a doctor or if your doctor doesn’t offer genetic screening and counseling, you should contact a hospital-based medical genetics program in your area.
For more information on the screening process, watch the video, A Genetic Counselor on Screening.
