Genetic/Preconceptual Counseling?
My husband and I are hoping to get pregnant by year's end. Now, when I was a baby I had cancer, which caused me to be disabled (partial paralysis). I'm also small (4'8", 85 lbs.). So my GYN wants my husband and I to have genetic/preconceptual couseling before we even try to have a child.
I'm confused about what genetic counseling/preconceptual counseling involves. Blood tests? Sperm counts? Huh? And my insurance is all "We'll pay 100% for the office visit, 90% for lab work, and nothing if the diagnosis is infertility." How can he diagnose infertility before we even try? I would think my regular OBGYN would diagnose that. I'm so confused .....
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
Well, it sounds to me like your insurance company has a standard statement for this type of counseling, and some people go to these counselors when they cannot conceive, to find out why. As well, the treatment you had for your cancer may have rendered you infertile, or may have possibly caused genetic damage to your eggs.
They will likely do blood tests - not chemical ones like how much sugar and hemoglobin there is, but to get DNA from you. They'll talk with you and your partner, get your medical history, family medical history. They'll find out as much as you can tell them about what type of cancer you had, the treatment you had, and any other cancers in your and your husband's family.
Once they have all of this and your DNA, they'll be able to assess the risk of your children having cancer.
They'll discuss (hopefully) what that 'risk' means. However in the end, the decision to have or not have a child if you can is up to you.
I had to go to genetics counselling prior to conceving as I have several deformities AND I was artifically inseminated for my son (who by the way is GORGEOUS and 29 years old now)....They will take background information from both you and your spouse... (medical history of your family as far back as you can get.).... for example, I knew of my great great grandparents health issues and could go on from there up to my husband and myself. They will take blood and other tests just to make sure you are ABLE to not only conceive but CARRY a child to term. (by the way, I am only 4'9" as well)....My pregnancy was brutal and delivery was HORRIBLE, but the outcome as I said was one BEAUTFUL, NORMAL and VERY handsome son.... The reason for the genetic counselling is to see what the percentages would be of you having a child with any abnormalities also.... for example if your cancer problem could be hereditary ...it can also tell you what the possibility of you having a child with something like AUTISM are---or any other mental illness (based on your gene match with your husband)....... When the insemination took place (back in 1977), I had to pay for THAT out of pocket but all the genetics screening was covered by my insurance.... Oh and just to let you know---WAY BACK THEN, it only cost $30 each time I was inseminated (had to do it twice before I got pregnant) ... Now, I guess it is a HECK of a lot ,more for an insemination...