Every year, millions of couples who are facing difficulties to conceive, turn to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Genetic Counseling may be an important first step in coping with infertility or recurrent miscarriages and considering IVF.
Genetic counseling serves two functions:
- To help identify if a genetic condition is at the root of the infertility,
- To increase the chances of successful implantation through IVF, using appropriate genetic testing.
What causes infertility and persistent miscarriages varies depending on the couple. While in many cases it’s a result of hormonal or anatomical factors, some couples do experience difficulty conceiving for genetic reasons. For both men and women, this can be in the form of a chromosome translocation. Other genetic factors for men include Klinefelter syndrome.
Couples who have high risk for genetic disorders (chromosome disorders, thalassemias, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis) may choose preimplantation genetic testing (PGTA, PGTM) to ensure that only the “disease free” embryos will proceed, increasing their chances of successful implantation.
Since all successful Assisted Reproduction pregnancies are considered to be “precious”, the availability of Genetic Counseling is extremely valuable in both practical and emotional levels, aiming to reduce related stress and to fulfill the couple’s needs in expecting the miracle of life.