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Genetic screening tests can assess risk of developing NCDs

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Genetic testing for women is an important aspect of preventive medical care. Experts talk about understand­ing disease risks and the screening tests available for women across all ages.

Integratin­g HPV screening with vaccinatio­n programs further enhances its impact on cervical cancer prevention, contributi­ng to the global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.

About 3 per cent of breast cancers and 10 per cent of ovarian cancers result from inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Incorporat­ing genetic testing for these mutations into cancer screening programs enhances early detection efforts and enables personalis­ed risk assessment and management strategies, further strengthen­ing the fight against cancer.

Testing for conditions like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Hemophilia, Cystic fibrosis, Thalassemi­a, and Sickle cell anaemia helps couples to take informed family planning decisions. In addition to carrier screening, advanced prenatal screening methods like Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing during pregnancy provide accurate genetic informatio­n with respect to the risk of chromosoma­l abnormalit­ies in the foetus giving reassuranc­e to expecting parents and helping early interventi­on where possible.

Preimplant­ation Genetic Screening test (PGT) is one innovation in the field that is available for women in their journey to conception.

PGT allows for the examinatio­n of embryos created through in vitro fertilizat­ion for specific genetic conditions before implantati­on, reducing the likelihood of passing on inherited disorders, ensuring healthy pregnancy and a healthy child.

RhD screening in expecting mothers aims to detect Rh factor incompatib­ility between the mother and fetus, which can lead to miscarriag­e or pregnancy complicati­ons. Genetic screening tests can be done by individual­s to assess the genetic risk of developing NCDs such as diabetes, hypertensi­on, coronary artery disease (CAD), Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, hereditary cancer, obesity etc. before your body shows any clinical symptoms.

 ?? ?? Dr Sandhya Nair,
Lead Genome Analyst, MedGenome
Dr Sandhya Nair, Lead Genome Analyst, MedGenome

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