Genetic Counseling Clinic

Mehr Center's Genetic Counseling Clinic

Many inherited disorders can be identified before symptoms appear, and in some cases, their transmission to a child can be prevented. The aim of Mehr Center's Genetic Counseling Clinic in Rasht is to assess risk, diagnose, and help manage genetic disorders to improve the health of future generations.

Genetic counseling is not a test; it is an assessment process. It involves reviewing family history, the family pedigree, pregnancy and miscarriage history, consanguineous marriage, and previous test results. An appropriate test is selected and requested only when there is a medical indication.

Book a Genetic Counseling Appointment

First Visit Guide

Who May Need Genetic Counseling?

A visit to the genetics clinic is reasonable in the following circumstances; however, a physician should determine whether it is necessary and how urgently it is needed:

Before marriage, particularly when the partners are blood relatives or there is a known inherited disorder in the family
Before pregnancy, to assess whether the prospective parents may be carriers
A history of two or more miscarriages or fetal death in a previous pregnancy
Having a child with an inherited disorder, intellectual disability, a congenital anomaly, or hearing loss
A family history of thalassemia, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, SMA, muscular dystrophy, or other inherited disorders
Unexplained infertility, azoospermia, or severely abnormal sperm parameters
Premature ovarian insufficiency or menopause at an early age
A family history of breast, ovarian, colorectal, or uterine cancer at a young age or in several relatives
An abnormal prenatal screening result or a suspicious finding on fetal ultrasound
Advanced maternal age or exposure to risk factors during pregnancy
Before starting an IVF cycle when there is a history of treatment failure or recurrent pregnancy loss

The Genetics Clinic Assessment Pathway

1. Consultation and Family Pedigree Construction

Family information is the most precise tool in genetic counseling. Before your visit, gather information from relatives about illnesses, age at diagnosis, miscarriages, early deaths, and blood relationships in the preceding two generations. The more complete this information is, the more precise the risk assessment and the fewer and more targeted the requested tests will be.

2. Determining Whether Testing Is Needed and Selecting the Test

The assessment determines whether testing is needed and, if so, which test is appropriate for which family member. In some cases, a sample from the affected individual (the index case) is needed before other family members can be assessed. There is no single testing package suitable for every patient.

3. Sample Collection and Testing

Depending on the test, a blood, tissue, or pregnancy-related sample is collected. Unlike routine laboratory tests, genetic test results may take several weeks, and this should be considered when planning treatment.

4. Result Interpretation and Post-Test Counseling

This is the most important stage. Genetic test results are not always “positive” or “negative”; a variant of uncertain significance (VUS) may be reported, which does not, on its own, change clinical decisions. Results must be interpreted, their implications for the individual and family explained, and the next steps determined during a counseling session, rather than by simply reading the laboratory report.

Why Choose Mehr Center's Genetics Clinic?

A distinguishing feature of this clinic is its integration into the infertility treatment pathway. At many centers, genetic counseling is a separate service disconnected from treatment; at Mehr Outpatient Surgical and Infertility Center, the genetics clinic operates alongside the Gynecology & Infertility Clinic, Andrology Clinic, laboratory, and embryology department.

The practical benefit of this structure is that, in cases involving recurrent pregnancy loss, recurrent implantation failure, azoospermia, or a need for PGD and PGT, genetic assessment and treatment decisions follow a coordinated pathway, without patients having to transfer results between different centers.

However, it should be emphasized that each test is selected only after an individual assessment, genetic testing cannot provide every answer, and no outcome can be guaranteed. The center's licenses and operating standards are available on the Accreditation & Quality Improvement page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Difference Between Genetic Counseling and Genetic Testing?

Genetic counseling is a risk assessment process based on personal and family history. It determines which test, if any, is appropriate and for whom. Genetic testing is one tool within this process. Testing without counseling may produce results that cannot be interpreted or do not change clinical management.

Is Genetic Counseling Necessary When the Partners Are Blood Relatives?

Consanguineous marriage increases the likelihood of autosomal recessive disorders, but it does not mean that a problem is inevitable. Counseling helps estimate the actual risk based on the degree of relationship and family history, with targeted testing when necessary.

My Prenatal Screening Result Is Abnormal. Does This Mean the Fetus Definitely Has a Condition?

No. Screening estimates probability; it does not provide a definitive diagnosis. A high-risk result means further assessment is needed, and in some of these cases, the fetus is healthy. Decisions about the next steps and diagnostic testing should be made during a genetic counseling session.

We Are Thalassemia Carriers. Is It Possible to Have a Healthy Child?

In many cases, yes. Available options include prenatal diagnosis or preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) during an IVF cycle. The choice depends on the mutations identified, the couple's fertility circumstances, and the treatment team's advice.

Which Genetic Tests Are Needed After Recurrent Pregnancy Loss?

Assessment usually includes parental karyotyping and, when indicated, testing of the products of conception. However, recurrent pregnancy loss has multiple causes, and genetic assessment is only one part of the evaluation. Further information is available on the Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Assessment and Treatment page.

Why Do Genetic Test Results Take Longer?

Genetic tests involve more complex stages than routine laboratory tests. In some cases, findings need confirmation using a second method or testing of samples from other family members. This time is needed to improve the accuracy of the report and should be considered when planning treatment.

Begin Your Genetic Assessment

If you are planning marriage or pregnancy, have a history of an inherited disorder or recurrent pregnancy loss, or have received a test result requiring specialist interpretation, you can book a consultation at Mehr Center's Genetics Clinic in Rasht. Bringing previous test results, medical records of the affected family member, and family history information helps make the assessment more efficient and precise.