WHAT IS GENETIC COUNSELING?
Genetic counseling is a meeting with a trained health professional (geneticist or genetic counselor) about:
• Genetic or chromosomal disorders.
• Your risks for health conditions that are passed down through families (inherited).
This information is kept private and confidential. Genetic counseling can:
• Explain the diagnosis of a condition.
• Tell you about your risk of developing certain conditions, such as cancer.
• Help you understand patterns of disease in your family.
• Help you find resources for coping with a diagnosis.
• Help you plan for next steps. This may include referrals to specialists.
WHO DOES GENETIC COUNSELING?
People who do genetic counseling are health professionals, …show more content…
• Find out if counseling and testing are covered under your health insurance plan.
• Make sure you have all recommended screenings or tests.
• Gather your personal medical records.
• Bring information about your family’s medical history.
• Write down any questions you may have.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING MY GENETIC COUNSELING SESSION? Plan to talk about:
• Your family and personal medical history.
• Possible patterns of inherited conditions.
• Genetic testing options or the results of genetic tests.
• The results of tests for genetic conditions.
• The meaning of a diagnosis, if your health care provider says it is genetic, inherited, or chromosomal.
• Strategies for preventing, identifying, or managing genetic conditions.
• Resources for further information, support, or care.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER GENETIC COUNSELING?
• You should receive a letter summarizing the information you discussed with your genetic counselor.
• You may want to follow up with specialists or other resources for support and information.
• You can also talk to your genetic counselor again for more information or support.
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