Learn Your Reproductive Risks on Sept. 21st

Austin, Texas – Sept. 9, 2014–Couples planning a family can give their children a good start with preconception genetic testing. Texas Fertility Center is partnering with Good Start Genetics to offer Austin and the surrounding communities easy access to life changing genetic information.

The genetic screening day takes place Sept. 21 from 2:30 to 6 p.m., and is open to women ages 18-40 and their partners.Reservations are required for the event that will be held at the Jewish Community Center of Austin at 7300 Hart Lane.

TFC fertility specialists recommend genetic screening for all women of reproductive age, and stress the importance of preventative care for anyone at risk for inheritable genetic disease.

Thanks to public awareness campaigns like this one, genetic testing has led to a 90 percent reduction in the occurrence of Tay Sachs disease among the Jewish community in the United States. Tay Sachs causes weakness, blindness, seizures and death in children.  Unfortunately, no cure exists for this disease.

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Genetic Testing Results Alert Unsuspecting, Symptomless Carriers

Most carriers do not have a family history of the disease, and do not have any symptoms or warning signs. For many couples, the first indication occurs when their babies are diagnosed.

“Some genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and spinal muscular atrophy, occur regardless of ethnicity or family history,” added Dr. Kaylen Silverberg, Medical Director of the Texas Fertility Center (TFC). “In fact, 1 in 16 individuals carry a genetic mutation for one of these disorders.”

Advanced Reproductive Technology Protects Children from Genetic Disease

When two carriers of a genetic disease conceive a child, their offspring have a 1 in 4 chance of developing the active form of the disease. A fertility treatment option called preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD, allows embryos to be genetically tested  prior to their transfer into the woman’s uterus during an in vitro fertilization cycle.

“PGD enabled Robert Janca and Monti Pal to conceive a baby without the threat of inheritable genetic disease that runs in Monti’s family,” says Monti’s TFC fertility specialist Dr. Lisa Hansard. “Without PGD, Monti had a 50-50 chance of having a baby with the genetic disease Hyper IGM syndrome.”

Reserve a Spot at Genetic Testing Day

If you are interested in testing, you can request a registration form on the Texas Fertility Center site. Although space is limited at the Sept. 21 Genetic Screening Day, Texas Fertility Center offers the option for genetic testing services to all of its patients.

Participants with insurance will not have any out-of-pocket costs for testing. Good Start Genetics accepts all insurance plans, except Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare. Your insurance will be billed for the test, and all copays and charges not covered will be paid with private donations.

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About Texas Fertility Center

Texas Fertility Center (TFC), one of the nation’s leading full-service infertility practices, provides advanced Infertility and Reproductive Endocrinology services to patients throughout Texas, the Southwestern United States, and the Americas.  Since 1980, TFC has been recognized nationally for outstanding pregnancy rates, cutting-edge laboratory procedures, and innovative research programs. For more information, please visit www.txfertility.com.

 

About Good Start Genetics

Good Start Genetics is a leading and innovative molecular diagnostics company setting the new standard of care for genetic screening of inherited diseases. Good Start uses a powerful technology called next-generation sequencing. By using this advanced technology, Good Start Select has been shown to detect more mutations than other routine carrier screening tests – See more at  www.goodstartgenetics.com