A New Genetic Test is Transforming Family Planning
A new genetic test is revolutionizing the way moms approach family planning.
Sarah Elizabeth Orlando, 33, knew she would take a different approach to starting a family due to her genetic history. An in-utero amniocentesis had confirmed she carried the gene for fragile X syndrome (FXS), a common cause of inherited intellectual disability.
"I knew I didn’t want that for myself or my children,"
says Orlando, who has seen the challenges of caring for someone with special needs. She opted for in-vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), which allows embryos to be tested for genetic disorders.
- Orlando underwent one round of IVF, resulting in 10 embryos.
- Three of the embryos did not carry the genetic mutation.
Author's summary: Genetic testing is changing family planning for a generation of moms.