PRENATAL SCREENING AND THE CULTURE OF MOTHERHOOD

Physicians use prenatal genetic tests on pregnant women to gain an inc reasing amount of information about fetuses before birth. These tests do more than predict the future health of the developing fetuses, howe ver; they transform the culture of motherhood-society's expectations o f pregnant women and women's expectations of themselves. Decisions to undergo genetic testing-and control or lack of control over disseminat ion of the results of testing-affect women's self-image, personal rela tionships, and how women are judged by institutions such as insurers a nd employers. This article reviews psychological, anthropological, and sociological research on the impacts of genetic testing and argues th at healthcare providers and policymakers should consider these impacts as they develop social policies for the use of prenatal testing.