Genetic Counseling

You may want to consult with a genetic counselor if you have a personal or family history of a genetic condition, an abnormal test result you don't fully understand, or questions about inherited risk before pregnancy.

That includes people planning to conceive with their own eggs or sperm, anyone selecting an egg or sperm donor, couples who share ancestry linked to certain recessive conditions, and people who have had recurrent pregnancy loss or a child affected by a genetic condition.

In a fertility clinic, the most common reasons patients meet with a genetic counselor are:

• To review personal and family history before starting fertility treatment
• To discuss genetic carrier screening options
• To review known carrier status for a recessive or X-linked condition
• To discuss a known or suspected chromosomal condition, such as a translocation or inversion
• To discuss preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for embryos created through IVF
• A known family history of a genetic disorder
• A genetic risk assessment of a particular egg or sperm donor

You don't need an existing diagnosis or a confirmed family history of genetic conditions to book an appointment. If any of the above sounds like your situation, or you simply want help making sense of your genetics, genetic counseling may be right for you.

The cost of genetic counseling varies by insurance plan, diagnosis, and whether the appointment is billed as a specialist visit. Some plans cover genetic counseling when there is a documented medical reason, such as a family history of an inherited condition, an abnormal carrier screening result, or a pregnancy at increased risk.

What you pay out of pocket usually depends on your deductible, copay, or coinsurance. The counseling appointment and any genetic testing that follows are billed separately, so ask about both. Your Illume Fertility financial coordinator can help you understand estimated costs based on your insurance policy.

Visit our Finance Hub to learn more about confirming your fertility benefits and what questions to ask your insurer.

No. Genetic counseling is non-directive by design.

Your counselor will explain the medical facts, relevant inheritance patterns, and the realistic options in front of you, then support whichever decision best fits your values and your circumstances. That includes the decision to skip testing entirely.

Your counselor can explain common next steps and how people weigh them, but the final decision remains yours.

No. Genetic counseling helps individuals and couples understand how inherited conditions, genes, and family health history could affect their own health or the health of a future child. That includes people hoping to conceive without fertility treatment, people planning for pregnancy, and anyone selecting an egg or sperm donor.

Counseling is often especially useful during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, but our counselors are here for anyone who wants expert, non-directive guidance as they plan to expand their family or make sense of their genetics.

No. Many patients meet with a genetic counselor precisely because they haven't decided whether to proceed with testing. Your counselor will explain what each test can and can't tell you (and how long results typically take), so you're always making an informed decision.

If you've already completed genetic testing elsewhere, bring the reports when possible.

If you haven't completed any testing yet, your first appointment with the genetic counselor will involve a comprehensive review of all available medical and family history, your family-building goals, and which tests may be recommended.

A genetic counselor may ask about your personal medical history, your family health history on both sides going back roughly three generations, previous pregnancies or losses, and any genetic testing you or your partner (if applicable) have already completed.

Expect questions about relatives with inherited conditions, cancer diagnoses and the ages at which they occurred, birth differences, developmental delays, and ancestry, since some conditions appear more often in certain populations.

If you're using donor eggs or sperm, your counselor will review each donor's screening report and help you understand any genetic concerns so you can narrow your search.

Remember: You don't have to bring all of this information to your first appointment. Your Care Team will let you know what may be necessary depending on your specific situation.