Geneticist consultation when planning pregnancy: what is worth visiting

Why is it worth going to an appointment with a specialist during the period pregnancy - said the expert of the talk show "Taumnitsi DNA" at STB, clinical geneticist Lyudmila Turova.

According to the expert, it is worth consulting a geneticist when planning a pregnancy. Such research will help determine how healthy a couple is genetically and what "information" can be passed on to their children.

“It is much better to consult during pregnancy planning. In Europe, this is almost a mandatory program for every couple. There are several tests for this. The first thing to know - your karyotype - to check the chromosomes. They can be balanced or not. There are changes that do not affect the appearance or intelligence of the host, but during fertilization can lead to pathologies in the fetus.

The second point is that you can pass a genetic analysis for the carrier of common mutations. Nobody is perfect, we all carry mutations, some of them are serious. It may not appear on the carrier, but, for example, if a girl meets a man with the same variation of genetic pathology, then the probability of having a child with the same mutation is very high. Such a couple may have difficulties with pregnancy, and subsequently with the health of the unborn baby. This is especially important to do if there were certain pathologies, miscarriages or others in the pedigree. pregnancy problems, genetic diseases, mental disorders, cancer and similar ",

- says Lyudmila Turova.

The geneticist notes that such tests are not only for information. Using the results, you can determine the risk of possible pathologies in the child and prevent them.

“Each case is different. If, for example, a couple has chromosomal abnormalities, we can recommend doing biochemical screening and a non-invasive prenatal test in the early stages of pregnancy. The latter is done in the 9th week of pregnancy - blood is taken from the mother, and fetal DNA is extracted from it. Already during this period, chromosomal abnormalities can be seen. Also, invasive methods of prenatal diagnostics can be recommended - intrauterine interventions under ultrasound guidance in order to obtain fetal material for analysis. The choice of an invasive method is determined by the gestational age and indications (amniocentesis, cordocentesis, chorionic villus sampling).

If there are serious genetic predispositions, the IVF method can be recommended as a last resort. Again, everything is individual. In this case, before embryo placement, the embryo is immediately checked for the presence of the pathological gene, only a healthy embryo is transplanted, ” - the specialist shares.

According to Lyudmila, you should definitely visit genetics if your history is burdened and there were pathologies in the family. For example, a pregnancy with a mother or grandmother was difficult. Another nuance is the tendency for late births. By the age of 30, a certain genetic load has already accumulated, which can be realized in the fetus. In this case, it is also worth visiting a geneticist consultation. If there were no nuances in the family and you and your partner feel great, you can turn to genetics for maximum extension of youth and beauty - having recognized your individuality, you will be able to manage your health!

Let us remind you that the premiere episodes of the talk show "Taumnitsi DNA" are aired on Sundays at 22:00 on STB.