Genetic Testing and Counseling in Tbilisi, Georgia
At Clinic Atlas in Tbilisi, we combine genetic testing with counseling to help you understand findings that may affect your reproductive plans. We review your medical history, explain relevant testing options and discuss what the results could mean for your care.Our aim is to support informed decisions, not to recommend every available test to every patient. The appropriate approach depends on your circumstances and the specific question being investigated.
What Is Genetic Counseling?
Understanding Your Personal and Family History
Genetic counseling is a discussion about how inherited conditions or chromosome changes might affect you or your family. It can help you decide whether testing is relevant before pregnancy or during fertility treatment.During a consultation, we review your personal medical history and any known conditions in your family. Previous genetic reports, pregnancy outcomes and relevant findings from your partner’s family can also provide useful information.
Explaining Your Testing Options
We discuss what a proposed test looks for, its limitations and how the findings might influence your treatment choices. Counseling also provides an opportunity to address the emotional and practical implications of genetic information.
Your Decision About Testing
Receiving genetic counseling does not commit you to having a test. We support your right to ask questions, consider the alternatives and decide whether to proceed.
Which Genetic Tests May Be Discussed?
Carrier Screening
Carrier screening looks for genetic changes associated with selected inherited conditions. A person can carry a genetic change without showing symptoms of the condition.Depending on the screening panel, testing may include conditions such as cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy or certain forms of thalassemia. No panel covers every inherited condition.
What Does a Carrier Result Mean?
A carrier result does not automatically mean that you will have an affected child. The reproductive risk depends on the condition, its inheritance pattern and, where relevant, findings in your partner or donor.We explain whether further testing or specialist assessment may help clarify that risk.
Karyotype Analysis
Karyotype analysis examines the number and structure of a person’s chromosomes. It may identify chromosome rearrangements that are relevant to fertility or pregnancy.Some rearrangements do not cause noticeable health problems in the person carrying them but may affect reproductive outcomes. We discuss whether this test is appropriate rather than treating it as a requirement for every patient.
Preimplantation Genetic Testing
Preimplantation genetic testing, or PGT, examines sampled cells from embryos created through IVF before transfer. Different forms of PGT address different questions.PGT for aneuploidy assesses chromosome number. PGT for monogenic conditions investigates a specific known inherited condition. PGT for structural rearrangements examines chromosome imbalances associated with a known parental rearrangement.
Choosing the Relevant Type of PGT
These tests are not interchangeable. A family history of a specific condition may require a different assessment from chromosome number screening.We discuss the purpose and limitations of the proposed test. PGT does not guarantee pregnancy or the birth of a healthy baby, and chromosome screening is not automatically necessary for every IVF cycle.
Genetic Screening in Donor Treatment
If you are considering donor eggs, sperm or embryos, understanding the available screening information is important.We can explain which genetic conditions were included in the donor’s screening and whether additional assessment is relevant. A negative donor screening result does not eliminate every genetic risk.
When May Genetic Counseling Be Helpful?
Before Pregnancy or IVF
Counseling before treatment can give you time to review results and consider your reproductive options. It may be particularly useful when you or your partner have a known genetic condition, a relevant family history or an existing carrier screening result.
After Pregnancy Loss or an Affected Pregnancy
Genetic counseling may form part of an assessment after repeated pregnancy loss or a previous pregnancy or child affected by a genetic condition.These experiences do not necessarily have a genetic cause. We consider your history before discussing which investigations may be appropriate.
How Do We Explain Genetic Test Results?
Negative Results and Remaining Risk
A negative result means that the test did not identify the findings it was designed to detect. It does not rule out every genetic condition.We explain the test’s coverage and any remaining uncertainty so you can understand the result in context.
Uncertain or Unexpected Findings
Some tests may identify a genetic change whose clinical significance is unclear. Such a finding should not automatically be treated as a diagnosis or proof that a future child will be affected.We discuss whether specialist interpretation, additional testing or a later review may be needed.
Preparing for Your Genetic Consultation
What Information Should You Bring?
Please bring previous genetic reports and relevant fertility records if you have them. Information about known family conditions, previous pregnancy outcomes and testing already completed by your partner can also help.Original laboratory reports are particularly useful because they show which test was performed and what it covered.
Discuss Genetic Testing with Clinic Atlas
Contact Clinic Atlas in Tbilisi, Georgia, to arrange a consultation about genetic testing and counseling. We can review your questions and discuss how genetic information may relate to your fertility treatment or pregnancy plans.
