Genetic consultations

Genetic counseling and examinations:

Genetic counseling as a part of reproductology implies a complex approach to gathering information about the patient and the medical history of the family, as well as making an accurate genetic diagnosis and determining the appropriate treatment. Genetic consultations are highly important for couples who are just planning to become parents. Such consultations are recommended if the patient has:

• possible or confirmed genetic disorders in the family medical history
  a child with congenital malformations
• history of unsuccessful artificial insemination or miscarriage
  unknown cause of infertility
  high-risk pregnancy

You should be more considered of the health of a child due to later pregnancy (after 35), as adverse effects (mother’s illness, medications, physical and chemical factors) on the fetus are common.

Thanks to the latest scientific achievements, preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is now possible – the examination of cells of the embryo before implantation as part of the ART cycle (Assisted Reproductive Technologies). Such testing is carried out to ensure the future parents and the doctor that the embryo has no chromosomal abnormalities, which in many cases is the solution to the problem of prolonged infertility or miscarriage.

During the consultation, a geneticist collects anamnesis and can offer an expert opinion regarding the risk of passing down genetic disorders to the next generations, determine the possible causes of infertility and offer possible solutions; prescribes karyotyping (genetic blood tests) to future parents. According to the results, together with the patient geneticist discusses and selects an appropriate treatment strategy to reduce the risks or impact of genetic infertility causes for the purpose of conception and having a healthy child. Doctor issues an opinion on the need for preimplantation testing (PGT) indicating the test method, which is most relevant in the case of a particular pair.

At Genetic centre iVF Riga, patients consult geneticists Dr. Liene Kornejeva; Dr. Ieva Grinfelde

It is important for patients with ongoing pregnancy to undergo genetic counseling if:

• One of the family members has a known genetic disease or confirmed chromosomal abnormality
• History of one or more spontaneous abortions
• Structural abnormalities of the fetus have been found during ongoing pregnancy
• There have been changes in first trimester screening
• Congenital or chromosomal diseases of the fetus have been found