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It takes two: uptake of carrier screening among male reproductive partners
Author(s) -
Giles Choates Meagan,
Stevens Blair K.,
Wagner Chelsea,
Murphy Lauren,
Singletary Claire N.,
Wittman A. Theresa
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.5588
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , medicine , parity (physics) , prenatal diagnosis , carrier testing , pregnancy , prenatal screening , obstetrics , gynecology , family medicine , fetus , pediatrics , genetics , biology , physics , particle physics
Objective To describe uptake of carrier screening by male reproductive partners of prenatal and preconception patients. Methods A retrospective database review of all prenatal and preconception patients seen for genetic counseling in Maternal Fetal Medicine clinics was performed. Descriptive statistics and chi‐square analysis were used on the data set. Results Within the study period, 6087 patients were seen for genetic counseling, of whom 661 were identified as a carrier of an autosomal recessive disorder by their referring provider or genetic counselor. Despite guidelines recommending partner testing for risk clarification when a woman is known to be a carrier of an autosomal recessive condition, only 41.5% male partners elected carrier screening to clarify the couple's reproductive risk, with a majority of males (75%) having screening consecutively. Of all assessed variables, the only significant predictors of male carrier screening uptake were female parity and earlier gestational age ( p < .0001, and p = .001, respectively). Conclusion With less than half of male partners pursuing carrier screening when indicated, its utility becomes severely diminished. More research is needed to explore reasons why males elect or decline carrier screening.