Genetic testing offers several benefits, not just for you, but for your entire family. Here are some key advantages:

• Understanding Health Risks: Genetic testing can identify if you or your partner are carriers of genes for certain genetic conditions. This helps you understand the risk of passing these conditions to your children.
• Informed Decisions: Knowing your genetic risks lets you make informed decisions about your pregnancy and family planning. You can consider options like IVF with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-M) testing, early interventions, or other preventive measures.
• Personalized Care: With genetic information, doctors can provide more personalized care. They can recommend specific tests, treatments, or lifestyle changes to help manage or reduce health risks.
• Family Health Insights: Genetic testing can reveal important health information that may affect other family members. If a genetic condition is identified, other relatives can also get tested and take steps to manage their health.
• Early Intervention: Detecting genetic conditions early can lead to earlier interventions and better management of the condition. This can improve the quality of life for affected individuals.
• Peace of Mind: For some, genetic testing provides peace of mind. Knowing your genetic information can alleviate uncertainties about potential health risks.
• Preventive Measures: Genetic testing allows for preventive measures to be taken, potentially reducing the risk of having a child with a genetic syndrome.

Overall, genetic testing empowers you with knowledge about your health and your family’s health. It helps you make well-informed decisions and take proactive steps to ensure the best possible outcomes for you and your loved ones.

A genetic counsellor specialising in pregnancy and fertility is a healthcare professional trained in genetics and counselling. They assist individuals and couples during preconception, pregnancy, and the postnatal period. They help assess the risk of inherited conditions, interpret test results like carrier screening or NIPT, and advise on genetic testing options.

These counsellors work with fetal medicine specialists to provide crucial support. They help families navigate the complex landscape of genetic information. This guidance enables families to understand their options for family planning, prenatal screening, and managing potential genetic risks. This support ensures the best possible outcomes for both parents and their future children.

Before and during pregnancy, genetic counselling helps expectant parents understand how genes might affect their baby’s health. This includes:

• Reviewing family and health history to determine if the baby might inherit certain health issues.
• Explaining how genetic conditions are passed on, what tests are available, and how to manage or prevent these conditions. Additionally, guiding parents on where to find more help or information.
• Providing advice to help parents make informed decisions about genetic testing and prepare for any potential health risks.

This service aims to give parents clear, simple information. It helps them feel ready and supported as they plan for their baby’s future.

There are hundreds of genomic test providers and genetic labs. Some have internationally recognised reputations, while others are relatively unknown. At London Pregnancy Clinic, we take pride in being a leading provider of NIPT in the UK. We have put enormous effort into choosing the best providers of NIPT.

Similarly, we have applied the same rigorous standards in selecting our carrier screening test providers. We’ve carefully selected the best carrier screening options available, thoroughly evaluating different companies, labs, and their tests. Our goal is to offer the most advanced tests that cover the broadest range of clinically critical genetic conditions identifiable with today’s genomic technology. We aim to avoid confusion between the numerous trade names and packages different companies offer.

We’re excited to offer you BEACON 787, the most extensive and advanced Carrier Screening Test by Fulgent. Fulgent, based in California, US, is one of the most advanced genetic labs in the world, renowned for the reliability of its genetic tests. BEACON 787 is also a pan-ethnic test, covering the most clinically critical genetic syndromes regardless of ethnic origin.

We understand that other carrier screening options might feel overwhelming, so we’re here to simplify things for you. To help you navigate these choices, we offer discounted genetic counselling for anyone considering genetic testing. This service ensures you feel informed, supported, and confident in your decisions about your baby’s health.

• Sharing Your History: Begin by discussing your family’s health history. This will help the counsellor identify any health patterns you should be aware of.
• Understanding Together: The counsellor explains how genes function and discusses potentially inherited conditions. They might explain Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT), a blood test performed during pregnancy to assess the risk of conditions like Down syndrome. They may also cover carrier screening tests, which can reveal if you or your partner carry genes for conditions like cystic fibrosis (CF).
• Discussing Tests: The counsellor provides information about available tests, their workings, and what the results might indicate. This part ensures you have all the information required to decide whether to undergo any tests.
• Offering Support: It’s a safe environment to express your feelings and concerns. The counsellor listens and provides support throughout the process.
• Making Informed Decisions: The counsellor helps you evaluate the pros and cons of testing based on your priorities. They support your decision-making process without dictating your choices.
• Continued Assistance: The support doesn’t end after you decide about testing. The counsellor explains the test results, discusses the next steps, and directs you to additional resources if needed.

Throughout this journey, you’re supported. Genetic counselling offers personalised guidance to help you navigate the genetic aspects of pregnancy and fertility, ensuring you make well-informed decisions for yourself and your future family.

Here’s a comprehensive list of questions you might consider asking our genetic counsellor about carrier screening:

1. What does carrier screening look for? Ask about the range of conditions and their different inheritance patterns.
2. How accurate is carrier screening? Inquire about the test’s reliability for detecting carriers.
3. What will the results tell us? Understand what you can learn from the outcomes and their implications.
4. What happens if the test results are positive or unclear? Discuss follow-up steps and options for further testing.
5. Are there any risks associated with carrier screening?
6. How do the carrier screening tests at London Pregnancy Clinic compare to other carrier screening tests?
7. When and how will we receive the results? Timing can be crucial for your peace of mind and planning.
8. What are the costs, and can the NHS offer this testing in your case? Financial planning is an important aspect to consider.
9. Considering our family health history, how relevant is carrier screening for us? Get personalized advice based on your specific situation.
10. How do different carrier screening brands and providers compare? Each may offer unique tests or have different strengths.
11. What are the pros and cons of various carrier screening options? Discuss the benefits and limitations to find what’s best for you.
12. Should we also consider additional genetic tests in pregnancy, like NIPT? Other tests can look for different conditions for a comprehensive view of your baby’s genetic health.
13. What causes unclear results, and what do we do if that happens? Understand why carrier screening sometimes doesn’t give a clear result and what the next steps are in that scenario.

Asking these detailed questions can really help you feel prepared and informed about carrier screening and any other genetic tests you’re considering during your pregnancy. It’s all about making sure you have the clarity and confidence to make the best choices for you and your little one on the way.

Carrier screening is ideal before pregnancy, especially if you are testing alone without involving your partner, which can save you money. If no mutations (abnormal genes) are detected, your partner doesn’t need the same carrier screening panel. If you do have an abnormal gene, your partner should be tested for the same genetic condition. Genetic counselling is essential if both of you are carriers of the same gene.

Don’t worry; there is ample time and many options to consider for diagnostics and prevention. The most advanced option includes IVF with Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single-Gene Disorders (PGT-M). PGT-M can help couples avoid the risk of having a child with an inherited genetic disease. It looks for single-gene disorders (monogenic syndromes), allowing for the selection of unaffected embryos for implantation into the womb. This process ensures resulting children are protected from inheriting the disease.

Why is Preconception Genetic Counselling Important?
Preconception genetic counselling acts as a roadmap for your future family’s health. Here’s why it’s essential:

• Understanding Family Health Risks: Review both partners’ family health histories. This helps identify any potential risks of passing certain health issues to your baby.
• Identifying New Mutations (de novo mutations): New health issues (like Down syndrome) can sometimes arise unexpectedly. While not everything is predictable or preventable, knowing about these possibilities can help you make informed pregnancy decisions.
• Reducing Genetic Risks: Discover ways to lower the chances of having a baby with genetic issues. Not all conditions can be avoided, but being informed helps you plan effectively.
• Carrier Screening Tests: These tests determine if you or your partner carry genes for conditions like cystic fibrosis without having the condition yourselves. Understanding this helps you know if your baby might inherit these conditions and explore options to prevent transmission.
• Exploring NIPT Options: Learn about Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) available during pregnancy. NIPT screens for genetic conditions like Down syndrome early on, providing peace of mind and valuable information for decision-making.
• In summary, genetic counselling offers critical insights and advice for ensuring a healthy baby. It covers what tests might be useful before conception and early in the pregnancy.

Most people carry a few abnormal genes called mutations. If you take an advanced genetic test like BEACON 787, there is more than a 50% chance it will detect that you are a carrier for one or more genetic syndromes. There are a few things about this.

Don’t Worry About Being a Carrier! If you are a carrier of a recessive condition, our genetic counsellor will discuss the result with you. There is a 50% chance you could pass this gene to your child, but it typically would not affect their health. For most conditions we screen for, there are only implications for your pregnancy if your partner is also a carrier of the same condition. This is why we recommend your partner undergo the same carrier screening test. If their results are negative, no further action is needed.

• Risk for Couples Who Are Both Carriers: If both partners are carriers of the same condition, there is a 25% chance their baby could be affected by that genetic condition. Our genetic counsellor will advise you on your options, including the possibility of testing during pregnancy.
• X-Linked Conditions: X-linked conditions are genetic disorders linked to genes on the X chromosome (female chromosome). Males are more frequently affected since they have only one X chromosome, while females can be carriers without showing symptoms. However, if you are a carrier of an X-linked condition, this result may have implications for your own healthcare. Our genetic counsellor will discuss this possibility with you during your pre-test counselling session.
• Family Implications: Finding mutations in your genes may have implications for other family members, especially your siblings. They may also want to have a career screening test if they plan to have children.