Who should consider reproductive genetic counseling and/or prenatal diagnosis?

-Women who are over age 35
-Women who have had a positive maternal serum screening test
-Women who have had an abnormal finding on a previous ultrasound
-Parents who have had a child with a chromosome abnormality such as Down syndrome, a birth defect such as spina bifida, or a heart defect
-Parents who have a family history of a genetic condition such as some forms of intellectual delay, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy, Tay-Sachs, or other rare conditions
-Women/couples known to be carriers for a genetic mutation or chromosome rearrangement
-Couples with a history of multiple pregnancy losses
-In certain situations, women with exposure to medications, drugs, infections, or women with certain chronic illnesses.
Historically, prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome and other chromosome abnormalities has been offered to women 35 years of age or older. With multiple screening methods now available, women of all ages have many options for screening and prenatal diagnosis.