Impact of genetic counseling on primary and preventive care in obstetrics and gynecology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of the prenatal three-generation pedigre e in assessment of the obstetric patient's primary medical risks. STUDY DESIGN: In a case series, 250 charts of patients referred for amnioce ntesis on the basis of advanced maternal age were reviewed for a significan t genetic risk of a primary care disorder. RESULTS: A total of 40 patients (16%) were at significantly increased risk for a primary care disorder. Thirty-eight patients (15.2%) were at increase d risk for medical conditions for which early screening, detection and/or i ntervention are established. CONCLUSION: For the advanced maternal age population, formal genetic risk a ssessment performed prior to amniocentesis can be beneficial in primary car e risk assessment.