Genetic Counselling

What is genetic counselling ?

  Genetic counselling involves talking about a genetic condition with a health professional who has qualifications in both genetics and counselling.

  Genetic conditions are caused by changes or mistakes in genes. These conditions may be inherited from one or both parents.

  Genetic counselling can help you understand more about an inherited condition, what causes it and how you and your family can adjust to it and plan for the future.

How will I know if I need genetic counselling ?

  You might consider genetic counselling if you have an inherited condition or there is a chance you have an inherited condition because it runs in your family.

  If you are pregnant, you might want to speak with a genetic counsellor about the likelihood of your baby having any congenital disorders.

Other reasons you might want to have genetic counselling include :

•   If your prenatal tests reveal an abnormality or a risk of an abnormality with your fetus.
•   If you are thinking of having a child with a relative.
•   If you’ve been exposed to a chemical or environmental agent during pregnancy and want to know if it may cause birth defects.

What can I expect in a genetic counselling session ?

Genetic counselling sessions usually combine many different elements :

•  talking about your family and any illnesses or conditions that are common in your family
•  Learning about specific conditions and how they are inherited
•  Finding out what tests are available
•  Talking about how to manage and prevent the condition
•  Learning what support and resources exist
•  Organising genetic tests