Pregnant patients are offered blood tests to identify the chance of certain genetic conditions, such as Down syndrome, and the predicted sex of the pregnancy, if desired. These blood tests are considered screens. The purpose of a screen is to identify pregnancies that are more likely to have a genetic condition and then offer more robust diagnostic testing either while the person is still pregnant or after birth.

We are all linked to our relatives through our genes. Our parents pass down genetic information that influences traits like hair texture, eye color, height, and even the likelihood of developing conditions like diabetes.

Environmental factors also play a significant role. For example, while someone's genes may predispose them to be tall, if they do not have enough nutrition growing up, they may be shorter than their genes would suggest.

Genetic information can offer valuable insights into our health and that of our children. A genetic counselor can assist in reviewing your family history to identify potential inherited conditions.

When it comes to fertility, much of the focus is often on female reproductive health. However, it's important to remember that conception is a two-way street, and male factors can play a significant role. One such factor that is gaining attention is sperm DNA fragmentation. In this blog post, we'll explore what sperm fragmentation is, its potential implications on fertility, and what can be done if you suspect it may be a concern.

There are a ton of tests performed in pregnancy and what seems like an endless checklist. Included in those tests may be genetic assessments such as carrier screening or general screening. Each genetic test is evaluating for different conditions in a different way. Check out the informational page on the testing available in pregnancy. In this blog post, I’ll reference organizations that can be used to better understand the more common conditions assessed, but this is not a comprehensive list of the conditions nor organizations.

In this blog post, we will get a bit technical and discuss the difference between two diagnostic tests that are available: karyotype and microarray analysis. Someone may be offered either one of these analyses either for themselves or for their pregnancy. The post will start with a review of chromosomes as this is what both of these analyses will ultimately evaluate and then the differences between the two in the context of pregnancy. In order to perform the karyotype or microarray analysis in pregnancy, a procedure like the chorionic villi sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis would need to be performed. Check out the links to learn more about the procedures.