Genetic counsellors can review your family and medical history, help you learn about how the condition is inherited, give you information about genetic tests and provide advice on support services available to you.
You may have genetic counselling if you have a family history of genetic conditions.
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 aims to help people understand and adapt to the impact that a genetic condition may have on their lives.
Why might you need genetic counselling?
If you have an inherited condition or there is a chance you have an inherited condition because it runs in your family, genetic counselling can help you understand more about the condition, what causes it and how you and your family can adjust to it and plan for the future.
Some of the genetic conditions (sometimes referred to as ‘hereditary disorders’) people talk to a genetic counsellor about are:
Genetic counselling is different from genetic testing, which involves your doctor doing tests if you have symptoms or a family history of a genetic condition. Genetic testing can tell you about the likelihood and risk of your passing a genetic condition on to any children that you conceive.
You may have diagnostic tests as part of your pregnancy checkups and scans, to find out if your baby has a genetic condition. These tests include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling or CVS.
How will I know if I need genetic counselling?
You might consider genetic counselling if you or your family have a history of a particular genetic condition. 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 it
- 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.
Genetic counselling aims to increase your understanding of genetic conditions that you have or that runs in your family. Then, you can make good decisions that take into account your family and the values that are important to you.
How can I find a genetic counsellor?
Genetic counsellors are available in many hospitals and health clinics throughout Australia:
If you have a genetic condition or are concerned about an inherited disease that runs in your family, you might want to see a genetic counsellor. For further information about genetic counselling and support services near you, contact Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436.
Sources: , Human Genetics Society of Australia(Definition of genetic counselling) Raising Children Network (Genetic counselling) , Raising Children Network(Genetic testing)
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