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Genetic counseling and reproductive uncertainty.
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|May 1, 1984
Summary
Genetic counseling helps many women decide about pregnancy, but reproductive uncertainty often persists. Factors like family size desires and social concerns, rather than medical facts, influence these decisions.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Genetic Counseling
- Decision Making
Background:
- Many women seek genetic counseling for information regarding pregnancy decisions.
- A significant portion of women are uncertain about pregnancy intentions before counseling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of genetic counseling on reproductive uncertainty.
- To identify factors associated with persistent reproductive uncertainty after counseling.
Main Methods:
- Survey of 836 women seeking genetic counseling.
- Pre- and post-counseling assessment of pregnancy intentions.
- Stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify significant factors.
Main Results:
- 28% of women remained uncertain about pregnancy intentions post-counseling.
- Pre-existing uncertainty and concerns about social impact/caregiving were key factors.
- Uncertainty was not linked to medical facts or risk level of birth defects.
Conclusions:
- Genetic counseling does not fully resolve reproductive uncertainty for many individuals.
- Factors outside the typical scope of genetic counseling significantly influence pregnancy decisions.