Genetic Consultation

Information about meeting with a genetics professional (such as a medical geneticist or genetic counsellor).

What is a genetic consultation?

A genetic consultation is a health service that provides information and support to people who have, or may be at risk for, genetic disorders. During a consultation, a genetics professional meets with an individual or family to discuss genetic risks or to diagnose, confirm, or rule out a genetic condition.

Genetics professionals include medical geneticists (doctors who specialize in genetics) and genetic counsellors (certified healthcare workers with experience in medical genetics and counselling). Other healthcare professionals such as nurses, psychologists, and social workers trained in genetics can also provide genetic consultations.

Consultations usually take place in a doctor’s office, hospital, genetics center, or other type of medical center. These meetings are most often in-person visits with individuals or families, but they are occasionally conducted in a group or over the telephone.

Why might someone have a genetic consultation?

Individuals or families who are concerned about an inherited condition may benefit from a genetic consultation. The reasons that a person might be referred to a genetic counsellor, medical geneticist, or other genetics professional include:

• A personal or family history of a genetic condition, birth defect, chromosomal disorder, or hereditary cancer.

• Two or more pregnancy losses (miscarriages), a stillbirth, or a baby who died.

• A child with a known inherited disorder, a birth defect, mental retardation, or developmental delay.

• A woman who is pregnant or plans to become pregnant at or after age 35. (Some chromosomal disorders occur more frequently in children born to older women.)

• Abnormal test results that suggest a genetic or chromosomal condition.

• An increased risk of developing or passing on a particular genetic disorder on the basis of a person’s ethnic background.

• People related by blood (for example, cousins) who plan to have children together. (A child whose parents are related may be at an increased risk of inheriting certain genetic disorders.)

A genetic consultation is also an important part of the decision-making process for genetic testing. A visit with a genetics professional may be helpful even if testing is not available for a specific condition, however.

What happens during a genetic consultation?

A genetic consultation provides information, offers support, and addresses a patient’s specific questions and concerns. To help determine whether a condition has a genetic component, a genetics professional asks about a person’s medical history and takes a detailed family history (a record of health information about a person’s immediate and extended family). The genetics professional may also perform a physical examination and recommend appropriate tests.

If a person is diagnosed with a genetic condition, the genetics professional provides information about the diagnosis, how the condition is inherited, the chance of passing the condition to future generations, and the options for testing and treatment.

During a consultation, a genetics professional will:

• Interpret and communicate complex medical information.

• Help each person make informed, independent decisions about their health care and reproductive options.

• Respect each person’s individual beliefs, traditions, and feelings.

A genetics professional will NOT:

• Tell a person which decision to make.

• Advise a couple not to have children.

• Recommend that a woman continue or end a pregnancy.

• Tell someone whether to undergo testing for a genetic disorder

How can I find a genetics professional in my area?

To find a genetics professional in your community, you may wish to ask your doctor for a referral. If you have health insurance, you can also contact your insurance company to find a medical geneticist or genetic counsellor in your area who participates in your plan.

Next: Genetic Testing