Genetic screening and counseling: family medicine obstetrics

Abstract

Genetic screening and counseling have become routinely offered during prenatal care in the United States, involving invasive and noninvasive options for assessing fetal genetics. As DNA testing continues to expand proportionately to the increasing ability to detect genetic variations, ethical and fiscal concerns arise. Societal shifts, such as delayed childbearing and the associated genetic consequences, have made antenatal genetic screening more common. Still, genetic screening may be confounded by inaccurate information, false-positives, socioeconomic barriers to testing, and cultural differences. This article reviews these concerns and provides a framework for training in family medicine obstetrics training.