Genetic and Reproductive Counseling Unit
It is a Unit dedicated to specialized counseling to patients in cases of family disease and its recurrence, in carriers of some genetic alteration, in cases of pregnancy with fetal alteration or simply to couples who want preconception genetic counseling.
VITA, integrated into IMED Hospitales, has the multidisciplinary team to provide this type of consultation and respond to this demand: gynecologists, geneticists, pediatricians, psychologists.
The aim is to transmit all possible information about the case in order to make the most appropriate decisions. Likewise, this genetic counseling is essential before starting many of the assisted reproduction treatments, and it can even be equally valid when seeking a spontaneous pregnancy.
Furthermore, it is interesting to study the possible scope of the disease to other members of the family, especially those of reproductive age.
How is genetic counseling done?
In this type of consultation, the advisor studies the family history in its entirety, through the so-called family tree. They inform about the found disease and its pattern of inheritance and especially about the risk of recurrence and finally advise on the best option to avoid it before the reproductive process. They logically convey their full support regarding the decisions made.
When would it be indicated to carry out a genetic counseling consultation?
There are many situations for which its realization is indicated:
- Family already diagnosed with a genetic disease.
- Parent carrier of a genetic disease.
- Couple with several previous abortions.
- Intrauterine fetal death.
- Termination of a previous pregnancy due to fetal anomaly.
- Child born with disease.
- Current pregnant woman diagnosed with fetal malformation.
- Cases of consanguinity in the same family.
- Simply in cases of couples who want to know the possible risk of having children with a genetic disease.
