Of all the fertility testing available today, only one benefits every single couple that plans to get pregnant: preconception testing. Not a fertility patient? You still might want to consider preconception testing.

Dr. Dan Gehlbach with Midwest Reproductive Center works with a third-party genetic testing laboratory to screen for inheritable genetic disease. It is not a requirement prior to pursuing fertility treatment with his office, but genetic testing can help reveal possible problems before it’s too late to take action.

Know the odds for passing down a genetic disease

If both you and your partner are known carriers of a inheritable recessive gene, you have a 1 in 4 chance of passing the genetic disease to your baby. Many people are symptomless, and unaware of their carrier status until they give birth to an affected child. Why not err on the safe side?

Preconception testing can provide peace of mind for newly married couples, couples trying to conceive, or couples that have a known history of genetic disease.

Should something turn up, Dr. Gehlbach will explain your fertility treatment options, including preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), to help protect the next generation.

What is preconception testing?

Preconception testing involves either blood or saliva testing and results will include a panel of genetic markers. If you test positive for a life-threatening or life-altering genetic disease, a genetic counselor can help you understand and work through the implications. A fertility specialist like Dr. Gehlbach can help explain your reproductive options.

Read more about preconception testing on the Midwest Reproductive Center website.