Transforming Family Planning with Genetic Testing
A new genetic test is revolutionizing the way a generation of moms approach family planning.
Sarah Elizabeth Orlando, 33, is one example. She knew she carried the gene for fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common cause of inherited intellectual disability, due to an in-utero amniocentesis before her birth.
"I knew I didn’t want that for myself or my children,"
says Orlando, who has seen the challenges of caring for family members with special needs. She chose in-vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) to avoid passing on the genetic mutation.
After one round of IVF, Orlando had 10 embryos, with three not carrying the genetic mutation.
Author's summary: Genetic testing is changing family planning for a new generation of moms.