Genetic factors
Genetic factors can also play a role in an unfulfilled desire to have children.
In order to find out the causes of infertility and to assess the chances of success of infertility treatment, we may recommend additional genetic tests, which can be carried out with a simple blood sample.
Our human genetics specialist, Dr Simone Sauter, will discuss with you which human genetic tests are appropriate in your case as part of the genetic counselling.
This is expressly about identifying individual genetic risks in you as a couple and optimising our treatment for you.
Human genetic counselling
Human genetic counselling is recommended to clarify genetic factors of infertility and especially before ICSI therapy. Genetic counselling should help to understand medical genetic facts and to classify their significance for your own life plans, to understand decision-making options and to make a self-determined decision appropriate to your individual life situation.
Genetic counselling is available to anyone who has a hereditary disease themselves or who is suspected of having such a disease, as well as to those seeking advice on issues that might incur a burden on the family. The counselling session usually lasts about an hour. At the beginning, the question and medical history are discussed, then a family tree is collected over at least three generations.
Depending on the issue being explored, we will inform you about genetic disease patterns and explain the significance of genetic factors in the development of disease. We also identify special genetic risks, show the possibilities and significance of genetic tests and offer you support in individual decision-making.
In the case of planned fertility therapy, possible genetic causes for childlessness are discussed. In this context, we explain and arrange appropriate human genetic tests, explain the results of the tests and relate them to the personal and general risk of fertility treatment.
Human genetic counselling is also recommended in cases of repeated miscarriages, where genetic causes for miscarriages are explained and possible human genetic tests are explained and arranged.