Genetics and Your Family
A full array of genetic services to support a healthy pregnancy.
About Our Genetics Program
Genetic testing has become an integral part of reproductive medicine and has helped many be more informed when making important reproductive decisions that have consequences for their reproductive options and the health of their offspring.
Markham Fertility Center is proud to have on-site genetic counselors. Diane Myles-Reid leads our genetics program and shares her vast expertise with all patients pursuing Carrier Screening (ECS), Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT), and Prenatal Testing. Consultations with one of our genetic counselors will cover the types of tests you can take, what is involved in doing those tests, interpreting test results, and counseling so you can make informed decisions about your care and treatment. Markham Fertility Centre hosts webinars on PGT, prenatal testing, and Expanded Carrier Screening several times weekly.
You might need or consider genetic testing in the following circumstances:
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Identify potential causes of infertility
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You are using a known egg or sperm donor
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Prevent transfer of a known genetic disorder to offspring
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Reduce time to pregnancy by avoiding transfer of non-viable embryos
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Identify genetic conditions in early pregnancy
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Make decisions about the long term storage of your embryo(s) based on genetic testing
Genetic Testing Services Provided by Markham Fertility Centre
Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT)
After IVF, testing of an embryo to help eliminate those with genetic abnormalities that would impact implantation and live birth.
Prenatal Screening
During pregnancy to identify whether your baby is more or less likely to have certain genetic conditions
Your Genetics Team
Meet Diane and Courtney, our in-house genetic counsellors, dedicated solely to Markham Fertility Centre patients.
Diane is considered a leader in the field of reproductive genetic counselling. She has served on the Genetics Counselling Special Interest Group for the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society and is the current President Elect for the Canadian Association Genetic Counsellors. We are blessed to have such an accomplished person on our team. Diane is a down-to-earth individual who excels in helping patients make informed decisions about their reproductive care.
Courtney is a new addition to Markham Fertility. Courtney is a board-certified genetic counsellor who is passionate about the reproductive genetics field. Her experience includes hospital-based prenatal clinics as well as the provincial pregnancy and birth registry. In her role at Markham Fertility Centre, Courtney dedicates her time to addressing questions about family history, educating about genetic testing and supporting patients in making personalized and informed decisions at various stages of their fertility journey. Courtney is also the Co-Chair of the Education Committee for the Canadian Association of Genetic Counsellors. Her special interests include preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) and building families through the Donor & Surrogacy Program.
Ravneet is our administrative professional on the genetics team whose primary role is to help our genetics team deliver exceptional care to our patients.
Making reproductive decisions based on genetic test results can be complicated and stressful. Together, Diane, Courtney, and Ravneet will ensure you are well cared for and that your questions are answered.
