Genetic Counseling

Greater Washington Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Genetics offers genetic counseling. Patients being seen for a variety of reasons may benefit from this service. In some cases, genetic counseling allows you to:

• Learn about the different testing options that are available to you, reviewing the details of how each test assesses risk in your pregnancy
• Better understand the difference between screening and diagnostic testing
• Make an informed decision in regards to different testing options
• Understand the details of your test results and what follow up testing, if any, is available to you
• Feel more at ease about what will occur during the testing process
• Be more prepared for test results
• Discuss any medication or other exposures and the associated risk to the pregnancy
• Share your pregnancy and family history with the genetic counselor to determine recurrence risk and if any other testing is recommended for your pregnancy
• Family Pedigree Analysis
• Carrier screening
• Pre and Post-test counseling for Cell free DNA and First Trimester Screening
• Recurrent miscarriages /parental chromosome testing
• Teratogen / medication exposure
• Coordination/ referral for specified care /support
• Advanced Maternal Age
• Advanced Paternal Age

The genetic counselor also reviews your family and pregnancy history, checking for other possible concerns, and calls to discuss the results with you.

The genetic counselors are able to provide you with any needed resources, including but not limited to, written information to help provide additional information and support groups in the area. Genetic counselors specialize in helping you understand complex genetic information and testing. They can also find other information for you on almost any genetic condition when needed.

Genetic counseling is also available for individuals who wish to have carrier screening. We offer screening for many common diseases such as Tay-Sachs disease, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, and many others. Expanded carrier screening is also available for individuals who would like to screen for less common disorders, such as PKU, fragile X, and many others. More specialized carrier screening is also available when there is a family history of an identified genetic disease.

If concerns arise because of findings on an ultrasound, our genetic counselors are also available to discuss what these ultrasound findings may mean and the testing options, if any, that are available to you.

See more about our genetic counselors here.