The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has released updated guidance on carrier testing for genetic conditions. The updated guidance includes, for the first time, a recommendation that all women who are pregnant or considering pregnancy be screened for spinal muscular atrophy. Previously, carrier screening was only recommended for women with a known family history of SMA.
Founded in 1951, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is an association of more than 58,000 board certified ob-gyns. The recommendations were published in the March 2017 issue of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The recommendations of the committee are not binding, so each individual and family should work with their doctors and make their own decisions about how to approach carrier testing in a way that is consistent with their personal priorities and values. The ACOG recommends that, if possible, carrier screening be done before a woman becomes pregnant, so that she and her family can choose from a full range of reproductive options, including prenatal testing, adoption, or preimplantation genetic diagnosis.
For more information, please see the genetics section of our webiste.