While conditions like autism and cancer are the result of variants in a complex network of genes, many inherited disorders are typically caused by mutations in a single gene. Although these single gene disorders are relatively rare in the general population, certain factors put some individuals at higher risk of inheriting and passing down these conditions.
In some cases, family history of a genetic disease increases the likelihood of a couple having an affected child. Parents may not be aware of their carrier status prior to genetic testing because they are asymptomatic. However, if you find you are a carrier of a genetic condition, there are options open to you. Preimplantation genetic testing with PGD Insight is an important step in your IVF process that allows you to screen the embryo for a specific genetic condition prior to implantation.