Genetic Counseling

Genetic counseling for existing fertility issues

We have specially trained genetic counselors who work with fertility issues. You may wish to see one of these team members if:

• You have male fertility issues
• You have unexplained fertility issues
• Either partner is 35 or older
• Either partner has a family history of a genetic condition, birth defects, or pregnancy losses
• Either partner has a family history of fertility issues
• You have recurrent pregnancy losses (miscarriages)

Genetic counseling for future treatments

You might also like to discuss genetic issues if you are going to use one of the following infertility services:

• Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
• Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS): This technique is offered to couples who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). It involves removing one cell from an eight cell embryo and testing it for a specified genetic condition. This can help to determine which embryos are the best to use. PGS is used to screen for the most common chromosome conditions, such as Down syndrome. Couples may wish to consider this if they:
  1. Are of increased reproductive age
  2. Have had a previous pregnancy with a chromosome condition
  3. Have unexplained infertility and have failed to conceive despite several IVF cycles
  4. Have a history of repeated miscarriages, especially when testing reveals no clear explanation.

  PGD is used to look for a specific genetic condition, such as Duchene muscular dystrophy. It is primarily used for couples who have a known family history of a genetic condition and are at increased risk of conceiving a child with this condition. Additionally, it may be used for individuals who carry a balanced chromosome translocation or rearrangement.