Such conditions combine a pre-disposition to develop a disease with other factors which may also contribute. There may be an undefined familial history of the condition. Where two affected children are born there may be an increased risk of recurrence. An example of a condition which falls into this category is Cleft Lip and Palate . This is available at Regional Genetic Centres throughout the country.
Genetic counselling can quantify risks for particular parents in their individual circumstances.
It can also provide support and advice for families who already have an affected child and wish to enlarge their family. There are a number of techniques which are used to diagnose pre-natal defects in fetuses whose mothers are at risk of having a baby with an abnormality. This may be a question of a family history of an anomaly, or that the parents have already had one child with, say, a heart defect. On the other hand pre-natal testing may be performed on the grounds of the age of the mother. Results may take three to four weeks.