Pregnancy Loss

Pregnancy Loss

Genetic testing for miscarriage and pregnancy loss

No one wants to talk about the trauma of a pregnancy loss, but we want you to know that we are compassionately here for you and there are options to help you understand the reason for your loss.

Even though miscarriage is common, this fact does not reduce the emotional impact it can have. If you have recently experienced a miscarriage (within the first 20 weeks of a pregnancy) or a pregnancy loss (after 20 weeks), support groups, both online and off, can often provide comfort and encouragement.

There are misperceptions about miscarriage and it is common for women to believe an isolated stressful event or a personal action resulted in miscarriage, however this is rarely the case. There are many reasons for pregnancy loss, but most pregnancies end because the baby is not developing normally. About 50% of first trimester miscarriages are due to a chromosome abnormality in the developing baby.  

Genetic counseling

Genetic counseling 

Genetic counseling can help you better understand genetic conditions that may impact a past, current, or future pregnancy. Genetic counselors are experts at evaluating your personal medical and family history, assisting in identifying your genetic risks, helping you understand the tests available to you and explaining the results of your testing. With the largest commercial network of genetic counselors in the US, we’re doing all we can to ensure you get all the support you may need. Our genetic counselors will guide and advocate for you as you navigate through difficult, emotional information. 

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Reveal® SNP microarray

Reveal SNP Microarray

The Reveal®​ SNP Microarray POC (products of conception) test offered by Integrated Genetics may help you to understand why your pregnancy loss occurred and your potential risk in future pregnancies. Reveal POC uses advanced technology called 'microarray' to analyze tissue from a miscarriage or termination for various types of chromosome abnormalities.

Reveal POC can detect

  • An extra or missing chromosome, called aneuploidy
  • Extra or missing pieces of chromosomes, called duplications or deletions
  • Whether a pair of chromosomes came from just one parent instead of both parents, called uniparental disomy
  • If there are other more subtle chromosomal differences associated with a genetic disorder

In some cases—and especially for those who have experienced more than one pregnancy loss—additional information may be found during the first trimester of a future pregnancy through testing such as NIPS (NIPT).

Additional Resources

References

  1. Van den Berg M MJ, Van Maarle MC, Van Wely M, et al. Genetics of early miscarriage. Biochim et Biophys Acta. 2012; 1951-1959. doi: 10.1016/j. bbadis.2012.07.001.
  2. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Miscarriage. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pregnancy-loss-miscarriage/symptoms-causes/syc-20354298?p=1. Date accessed June 24, 2019.
  3. Horsager-Boehrer R. It’s not your fault: Understanding miscarriage. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. June 2015. https://utswmed.org/medblog/understanding-miscarriage/. Date accessed August 13, 2019.
  4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The Use of Chromosomal Microarray Analysis in Prenatal Diagnosis. Committee Opinion No. 581 (2013). Obstet Gynecol. 2013;122(6):1374-77 doi: 10.1097/01. AOG.0000438962.16108.d1