rent. Some people carry changes in a gene which can mean there is a chance that they may have a child with a genetic condition.
Who should have Carrier Screening?
Everyone is at risk to have a child with a genetic disease, even if they have no family history or disease symptoms. In fact, such cases commonly occur in families with no history of genetic disease. Because of this, professional medical organizations recommend carrier screening for all individuals who are planning a pregnancy, early in pregnancy, or undergoing fertility treatment.
Carrier screening is the only way to find out if you carry mutations that may predispose your child to a genetic condition. Having healthy children does not necessarily mean that you and your partner are not carriers of a genetic condition. If you have already had a child, and are planning to have more children, carrier screening would still be recommended.
When should You have Carrier Screening?
The best time to pursue carrier screening is before pregnancy, as this will give you more reproductive options. However, carrier screening is also commonly performed during pregnancy. Because results do not change over time, you may apply the knowledge from your screening to both current and future pregnancies.
What Options you can choose if you find out that you are a carrier?
If you find out before you’re pregnant, that you are a carrier of certain disease, you may decide to try
- Artificial insemination with sperm from a donor who is not a carrier
- In-vitro fertilization, with special testing of the embryo before it’s implanted or
- Some couples decide to adopt a child instead or not to have children at all.
If you’re already pregnant and want carrier screening, it should be done as early as possible during your pregnancy.
Once you have got yourself screened for a carrier, this will give you time to counsel with your healthcare professionals about the possibility of your baby having one of these disorders and figure out whether you want to have diagnostic testing.
Early screening may also help you to take early treatment in case your child is affected. You can seek prior consultation with the right medical specialists, to start treating your child after delivery.