Genetic Testing

Should my DH and I get tested before we start TTC? Have any of you got tested? My sister in law got pregnant and then got tested. It turned out she and her husband were carriers of the cystic fibrosis gene. Luckily the my nephew was fine!! Why do they wait till your pregnant to test??

Re: Genetic Testing

I'm not sure about genetic resting but we haven't done any of that! I guess we will if the RE or OB suggest it ....

If they find out there's something you're a carrier for, is there something they can do to make the baby born normally?

I don't want to stir up any drama here... but if the purpose of the test is just to KNOW but there's not anything they can do about it.. why go through unnecessary aggravation? Why know that there MIGHT be a problem when in the end it could all work out FINE! ... Like I said, I'm NOT trying to stir up any drama here!!!!!! (so please.. no flames.. ) This is just my opinion!!

I also don't know much about genetic testing.

Edit: Ok, so before anyone pegs me as an ignorant jerk ...... I just googled some info about genetic testing. I actually think it's very worthwhile and I'll be inquiring about it. I haven't actually thought about it until now!

Message edited 2/4/2010 9:32:35 PM.

Re: Genetic Testing

When I first started seeing my RE, they did numerous tests right away, including genetic testing. I think it's really important, so if you will feel better while TTC, I say go for it!

Re: Genetic Testing

My OBGYN said he would be worried if we were both Jewish. I forget the name of a defect that is possible if both parents are.

As far as getting tested to find out possible things with the baby I can remember when my SIL was pregnant. They told her the baby may have downs and they could test further to see. My SIL debated for a while and my mom said 'look, why test? Are you going to abort if the baby DOES have downs?' My SIL realized my mom was right and decided to test anyway to know ahead of time. She wanted to be able to research since she had no prior knowledge of babies with downs and what needs that it may have. She knew she would never abort, but wanted to know what she had in her future. The baby turned out to be fine. A brat, but fine.

Re: Genetic Testing

i did a full genetic testing panel with DH when we first stated TTC. i am jewish and DH is 50% jewish so that's why i had it done. i wasn't a carrier for anything so DH didn't need to be tested.

for me, id rather know what i was getting into beforehand.

Re: Genetic Testing

I spoke to my dr about it and am going for some tests before we start TTC. She agreed that it was a good idea.

Re: Genetic Testing

My DH and I are both Jewish so we tested before TTC. It is something all my Jewish friends do and even friends who are not Jewish but are married to Jewish or half Jewish people do. The reason is that there are quite a few diseases that are commonly carried by Jews of eastern european descent. The test is for a whole slew of diseases, including cystic fibrosis (its not a test for Down Syndrome though).
The most serious disease, and the main reason why Jewish people get tested, is Tasak's (sp?). It is fatal, children do not live long with it. So, if both parents are carriers they may opt to have children through other options.
I tested positive for another common Jewish disease that runs in my family. Thankfully, my DH was negative. If we had both been positive and the risk was high that a baby would get it, I would have spoken to my dr about other options, including whether there was a possibility of testing embryos before implantation.
Other ethnic groups have other diseases that are common to them so you should prob speak to your Dr and see what he/she thinks. But, it cant hurt to do it before hand and its one less thing you will have to worry about when you do get pregnant.
I did call my insurance company first to make sure they covered pre-pregnancy genetic testing. Some insurance companies wont pay for it so that could be a reason why Dr's dont have their patients test before hand.

Re: Genetic Testing

Re: Genetic Testing

We were tested. We are both Jewish and of Ashkenazi descent and my sister died of Tay Sachs so I knew the possibilities. Because both of my parents were carriers, there was a 50% chance I would be too, and I did end up being a carrier. My husband, thankfully ws not. If he was, we would have had a 25% chance with every pregnancy that our child would have a fatal disease. We would have looked into other options and likely not tried to conceive naturally if that were the risk.

Re: Genetic Testing

The last ob i saw last said it might be a good idea to get tested. but i only went to her as an emergency. i dont really have a regular ob yet.

Re: Genetic Testing

We had genetic testing done and Thank God we did cuz i turned out to be a carrier for CF. and my DH got tested for it and he was not a carrier.
I just felt better knowing than being surprised later

Re: Genetic Testing

My DH and I did the testing b/c we are both jewish, our rabbi even suggested we test prior to marriage.. ( we waited till a month or so prior to TTC to get the tests)