5 Reasons Universal Genetic Screening for Potential Parents Is Highly Recommended 

Planning a pregnancy involves many decisions, from choosing a provider to understanding your fertility options. With all these concerns, we at University Reproductive Associates don’t want you to overlook genetic screening. 

These blood tests can help identify whether you or your reproductive partner carry gene changes that could be passed on to a child and increase the risk of certain inherited conditions. 

The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) recommends offering carrier screening to people planning a pregnancy and those who are already pregnant. 

Here are five reasons to consider universal genetic carrier screening as part of your reproductive care.

1. You can carry a genetic condition without knowing it

Many people who carry a genetic variant have no symptoms and no family history of the condition. Even if you’re healthy with no symptoms, you may still carry a gene change that could be passed on to your child.

Carrier screening identifies certain risks before they become a concern during pregnancy.

2. Screening looks beyond family history and ancestry

Some inherited conditions are more prevalent in certain populations; that's why screening has traditionally been guided by a person’s ancestry or family history.

However, family histories may be incomplete, and ancestry doesn’t always predict carrier status. Universal screening offers a more consistent approach, helping more people access information about their reproductive risks.

3. Screening identifies risks of serious inherited conditions

Depending on the screening panel, testing may assess carrier status for conditions such as cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy, and certain blood disorders. 

Expanded carrier screening can evaluate hundreds of genetic conditions in a single testing panel. The conditions included vary by laboratory and test panel.

4. It helps you make informed reproductive decisions

If screening identifies one partner as a carrier, the other partner should be tested for the same condition when appropriate. If both partners carry disease-causing variants in the same recessive gene, there may be a risk of having an affected child.

For many autosomal recessive conditions, when both parents carry a relevant variant in the same gene, each pregnancy has a 25% chance of being affected. 

Results can help couples explore options such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) with preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic conditions (PGT-M), prenatal diagnostic testing, donor gametes, or conceiving without additional intervention.

5. Screening can yield valuable information before pregnancy

Ideally, carrier screening takes place before conception. Having results in advance gives you more time to understand the findings, consult a genetic counselor, and consider available options without the time pressures that can arise during pregnancy.

Screening can also provide useful information for biological relatives who may share the same inherited variants.

Is genetic carrier screening right for you?

Genetic screening is your choice, and while testing can provide helpful information, it can’t detect every inherited condition. A negative result means you’re less likely to carry the conditions tested for, but it doesn’t rule out every possibility.

Our team can help you understand the benefits, limitations, and costs of screening, and determine which approach best fits your needs.

Understanding your genetic risks can be an important part of planning your future. Call University Reproductive Associates today or request an appointment online to discuss genetic screening.

We proudly serve women and their partners in Hasbrouck Heights, Hoboken, Wayne, and Millburn, New Jersey, and Goshen, New York.