If you might be at higher risk for a health condition based on your genes, you may want to know more about the odds you’ll develop that condition. Information about your risk can help you take preventive steps, make lifestyle changes and understand how the condition could affect any children you have or might have.
Genetic testing and genetic counseling are two tools that can help you learn more about your risk so you can make decisions about your health care and your future.
What is genetic testing?
Genetic testing is a medical test that looks at your DNA (your body’s instruction manual) to spot changes or mutations in your genes or chromosomes that could be linked to health risks.
“Genetic testing can help diagnose genetic conditions, determine your risk of developing certain diseases, guide treatment decisions and even estimate the risk of having children with a specific disease,” said Esteban Astiazaran Symonds, MD, a medical geneticist with Banner - University Medicine.
Genetic testing can help uncover risks related to conditions like cancer, heart health, neurological disorders and even brain health.
However, not every medical condition can be diagnosed with genetic testing. “Most medical conditions develop due to a combination of many genetic and environmental factors, not a single genetic change that could be detected by a test,” Dr. Symonds said.
How genetic testing works
To start the process, a health care provider collects a sample of your blood or saliva, which is sent to a laboratory. Specialists there analyze the sample to look for genetic variations that may impact your health.
The three main types of genetic tests are:
- Diagnostic tests: These tests confirm or rule out specific genetic conditions.
- Predictive tests: These tests estimate your risk of developing certain health issues in the future.
- Carrier screening: These tests check to see if you have genes for hereditary conditions that could affect your children.
Many health insurance plans cover the cost of genetic testing. If yours doesn’t, Dr. Symonds said that out-of-pocket costs have decreased a lot in the last 10 years and there are patient assistance programs that may be able to help.
Genetic testing benefits
Genetic testing gives you important insights into your health:
- Early disease detection: You can identify risks before symptoms appear.
- Understanding family history health risks: You can learn about inherited conditions that could affect your relatives.
- Personalized health strategies: With your results, you can work with your health care provider to create targeted prevention or treatment plans.
What is genetic counseling?
Genetic counseling services go hand-in-hand with genetic testing. With genetic counseling, a trained professional helps you understand your genetic testing results.
“Genetic counseling is the process in which a medical geneticist or a genetic counselor interprets your family and medical histories. They help you understand how your genetics could play a role in your health,” Dr. Symonds said. “During genetic counseling, we provide education about inheritance, management, prevention, resources and research.”
How genetic counseling works
Genetic counseling typically starts with reviewing your family and medical history to assess hereditary health risks.
“Pre-test genetic counseling is performed before you take tests to make sure you understand the medical, psychological, legal and family implications of genetic testing,” Dr. Symonds said.
After you get the results of genetic testing, counselors can offer education on topics like inheritance, prevention and treatment options. If cancer runs in your family, counselors can help you manage your risk.
Benefits of genetic counseling
During a genetic counseling session, a medical geneticist or a genetic counselor will offer:
- Guidance tailored to you: You’ll get customized advice that fits your unique health concerns.
- Simplified results: They will break down complex genetic findings and explain them in terms you can understand. They are prepared to answer any questions you may have.
- Emotional reassurance: They help you manage the emotional side of learning about your genetic risks.
- Family planning advice: They can explain how any genetic risks could affect your children or partners.
Key differences between genetic testing and genetic counseling
Genetic testing identifies mutations or risk factors. The testing is done by medical professionals or lab technicians. You may want to consider genetic testing if you're concerned about family history health risks or you want to better understand your genetic predisposition to certain diseases.
Genetic counseling is provided by trained professionals, such as a genetic counselor or medical geneticist. These professionals interpret your findings and explain what they mean for your health. You may also want to meet with a genetic counselor to decide if you want to go ahead with testing or to interpret test results.
The role of genetic testing and counseling in proactive health care
Genetic testing and counseling work together to help you make informed health decisions. Testing gives you information about your hereditary health risks, and counseling – both before and after testing – makes sure you understand that information so you can use it effectively.
For example, if genetic testing shows a mutation that’s linked with breast cancer, a genetics professional can help you explore options like early screenings or lifestyle changes. They can also give you emotional support and make sure you feel empowered to act on the information you receive.
You could also choose genetic counseling without genetic testing. “Sometimes people are concerned about their risk for a genetic disease and genetic counseling can help you understand how likely a genetic cause is and determine whether or not genetic testing would be helpful,” Dr. Symonds said. “Even when genetic testing might not be needed, people usually feel glad and empowered after gaining a much deeper understanding of their risk through genetic counseling.”
The bottom line
Genetic testing and counseling help you take control of your health. Genetic testing can show your hereditary health risks and genetic counseling helps make sure you understand and address them.
If you’d like to find out more about your risk for genetic health conditions, contact your primary care provider or an expert at Banner Health. Our health care providers can help you with everything from prevention plans to early detection to treatment.
