At Inovi Fertility & Genetics Institute we recognize the mind and body are closely linked. They work in harmony and have been proven to be important not only for your well-being but also to the success of your pregnancy outcomes.
Our counselors are highly trained in reproductive therapies and have helped many couples work through the stresses of fertility treatment and donor choices.
What genetic testing is recommended?
Reproductive Counseling Can Include:
Donor Counseling
When you are faced with decisions to choose an egg or sperm donor or even both, the process to arrive here can be difficult without clear thinking and support of knowledgeable counselors. At Inovi we provide the opportunity for you to receive the help you need.
Genetic Counseling
Your fertility evaluation and treatment plan includes genetic (carrier) testing of both partners. The most basic testing recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) includes those for Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-1). Your provider may offer comprehensive genetic testing allowing for the evaluation of more than 370 different genes. Detection of an abnormal gene in one or both partners will allow your doctor to counsel you about risks for your pregnancy and how to avoid them through Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-M) or other options.
What Genetic Testing is Recommended?
You and your partner may be considering genetic testing to determine if genetic abnormalities could occur in your baby or interfere with your ability to become pregnant.
Currently the minimum recommendation by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for minimum testing includes:
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF)
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-1)
Given carrier screening panels include both Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-1), as well as many other genes for a similar cost of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA-1) alone, your doctor will usually recommend the carrier screening panel. If there is a family history of a particular genetic disorder, your doctor will recommend testing for that disorder before conceiving and may also recommend Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-M).
Learn more about Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
How Do I Know if I Need a Counselor?
We want you to understand and expect it is normal to experience any or all of these conditions prior to or during treatment but each should possibly alert you that a reproductive counselor might be a great option:
- Depressed or unable to perform daily activities
- Mood swings
- Difficulty engaging in scheduled intercourse
- Anxiety
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Marital problems
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to keep scheduled appointments
- Anger
- Increased use of alcohol or drugs
- Sleeplessness
- Change in weight
In addition to our reproductive counselors, there are many resources to help you prepare and cope with fertility treatment. Here are a few options:
- Single Mothers by Choice: Offering support and information to single women who are considering motherhood and to single mothers who have chosen this path to parenthood, singlemothersbychoice.org
- InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc. (INCIID): inciid.org
- Parents Via Egg Donation: An organization created to provide information to parents and parents-to-be and to share information about all facets of the egg donation process, pved.org
- Pop Luck Club: The Pop Luck Club has evolved into a substantial voice, helping to support the growth of our wonderfully diverse LBGT community, popluckclub.org
- RESOLVE: A national infertility support organization, Resolve.org
- Frank Talk: A peer-support Website dedicated to helping men deal with erectile dysfunction, FrankTalk.org
- Magazines: Fertility Road, Fertility Magazine, Conceive Magazine, Gay Parent Magazine