National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Genetic Counseling is the National Human Genome Research Institute
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Genetic Counseling
If you are expecting a baby or planning to have a baby, your doctor can run many tests to help assess the health of both you and your baby. Your doctor may also refer you for genetic counseling. Genetic counseling provides information and support to people who have, or may be at risk for, genetic disorders. A genetics professional meets with you to discuss genetic risks. You may follow up with genetic testing.
There are many reasons to seek genetic counseling. You may consider it if you
- Have or are concerned you have an inherited disorder
- Are pregnant or planning to be pregnant after age 35
- Already have a child with a genetic disorder or birth defect
- Have had two or more pregnancy losses or a baby who died
- Have had ultrasound or screening tests that suggest a possible problem
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Start Here
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Frequently Asked Questions about Genetic Counseling(National Human Genome Research Institute)
- Genetic Counseling(Nemours Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
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Frequently Asked Questions about Genetic Counseling
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Learn More
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
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Reference Shelf
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For You
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Overviews
- Genetic Counseling(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Genetic Counseling(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation)
- Also available in Spanish
- Making Sense of Your Genes: A Guide to Genetic Counseling(Genetic Alliance) - PDF
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Latest News
- Prenatal Test Presents Dilemmas to Expectant Mothers(09/28/2012, HealthDay)
- Genetic Diabetes Counseling May Not Inspire Change(09/06/2012, Reuters Health)
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Specific Conditions
- Genetic Counseling and Evaluation for BRCA1/2 Testing(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Genetic Counseling for Congenital Heart Defects(American Heart Association)
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Related Issues
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Genetics Home Reference(National Library of Medicine)
- Patient FAQs(National Society of Genetic Counselors)
- What to Expect When Meeting with a Genetic Counselor(American Society of Clinical Oncology)
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Who Should Have a Genetics Consultation?(National Center for Biotechnology Information)
- Your Family History(National Society of Genetic Counselors)
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Genetics Home Reference
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Genetic Counseling(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Genetic Counseling
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Genetic Consultation(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Genetic Consultation
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
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Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms
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Directories
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Cancer Genetics Services Directory(National Cancer Institute)
- Find a Genetic Counselor(National Society of Genetic Counselors)
- Genetics Clinic Directory Search(University of Washington)
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Cancer Genetics Services Directory
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Organizations
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Law and Policy
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Genome Statute and Legislation Database(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Issues in Genetics and Health(National Human Genome Research Institute)
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Genome Statute and Legislation Database
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Children
- What Is a Pediatric Geneticist?(American Academy of Pediatrics)
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Patient Handouts
- Genetic counseling
- Also available in Spanish
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You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA
