Prenatal Genetic Counselling for the IVF Patient

Background: Published research has indicated that IVF conceptions carry a modest increase in the risk for birth defects and certain genetic imprinting disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine if genetic counselors in the prenatal setting offer any additional testing to their patients who conceived via IVF. Additionally, this study aimed to assess current beliefs among genetic counselors regarding whether IVF conceptions cause increased risk to the fetus that would warrant discussion with a patient. Methods: A survey was distributed to genetic counselors through the NSGC e-mail list, the ART Special Interest Group discussion forum, and the NSGC general discussion forum. Prenatal and ART genetic counselors were invited to participate in this study. Results: In total, 174 participants responded to the survey and 155 (89.1%) participants completed the survey. More than half (58.4%) of genetic counselors believe that IVF causes increased risk to the fetus that would warrant discussion with a patient, and 70.5% believe that ICSI causes increased risk to the fetus that would warrant discussion with a patient. Approximately 20% of genetic counselors currently offer a fetal echocardiogram to a patient for the sole indication of IVF conception and 6.4% of genetic counselors offer prenatal diagnosis for imprinting disorders for all patients who have conceived via IVF. Discussion: The majority of genetic counselors believe that both IVF and ICSI cause increased risk to the fetus that would warrant discussion with a patient. However, the majority of genetic counselors do not offer any additional testing (either a fetal echocardiogram or prenatal diagnosis for imprinting disorders) routinely to their patients who conceived via IVF.