Genetic counseling

General information

Genetic counseling is an important part of patient care for hereditary diseases. It is available to anyone who is concerned that the illnesses that have occurred in their family may have been caused by a hereditary predisposition. Sick and healthy family members can present themselves for genetic counseling. Furthermore, genetic counseling is a service provided by statutory health insurance companies and is usually also covered by private health insurance companies

An initial consultation lasts about an hour and is also available in English and French. Two or more consultations are often necessary. All information is subject to medical confidentiality. All those seeking advice will receive a detailed written report ("human genetic report") by post at the end of the consultation.

Genetic counseling helps you to clarify

• whether the diseases that have occurred in your family have a hereditary cause
• whether there is an increased likelihood of developing the disease yourself
• whether and, if so, which early detection examinations or aftercare programs are suitable for you
• whether there are risk-reducing measures regarding the development of a disease
• whether other family members have an increased risk of developing the disease
• whether genetic diagnostics can be carried out in your family and what options or consequences may arise from the results of the genetic diagnostics.

Possible questions for genetic counseling are

• Hereditary cancers
• Other hereditary diseases in the family (e.g. cardiomyopathies, hearing loss, cystic fibrosis, connective tissue diseases, etc. ....)
• Childhood malformations, dysmorphia syndromes and developmental disorders
• Related marriages
• Repeated miscarriages
• Unfulfilled desire to have children
• Decision support before and after prenatal diagnostics and other examinations
• Questions about early detection examinations and risk-reducing measures

Our consultations take place in the human genetics outpatient clinic regardless of the question.

Procedure of our genetic counseling

Step 1: Registering for genetic counseling and submitting information and medical records (see making an appointment)

• Note on obtaining medical records
• Form for release from the duty of confidentiality

Step 2: Based on the information provided, a family tree of your family over at least three generations is drawn up.

Step 3: The consultations are carried out by the Institute's medical staff and take place in our Tumor Genetics Consultation Center or our General Human Genetics Consultation Center. We will ask you detailed questions about the disease(s) you or your family have (e.g. congenital malformations, cancers) and provide you with as much information as possible about (suspected) diagnoses, inheritance, probability of disease or recurrence.

• Referral form "Sample 6"
• Genetic counseling map

Step 4: If this is relevant to your question, a physical examination will be carried out. If necessary, we will take photos of you/your child for documentation purposes with your consent.

Step 5: At the end of the consultation, a written human genetic report will be sent to you by post, summarizing the contents of the consultation.

If a genetic test (e.g. chromosome analysis, genetic analysis) is appropriate and certain criteria are met, a genetic test can be carried out on you or a sick family member using a sample (e.g. blood, buccal swab). The decision as to whether such a test should be carried out lies with the person seeking advice. An examination can also be carried out at a later date.

If hereditary colorectal cancer is suspected, it may also be necessary to first examine the archived tumor tissue of patients.

If you wish, there is also the option of psychological support in making a decision for or against genetic diagnostics, in processing the disease or the test results and in Communications within the family.

Under the direction of Dr. med. Sophie Holthausen-Markou (Senior Physician in the Gynaecological Psychosomatics Department), the Clinical Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (Director: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Hillemanns) offers you as a patient and your relatives comprehensive counselling and help with mental and psychosomatic disorders/psychooncology in the event of tumour genetic and gynaecological issues.

This counseling service is offered in cooperation with the Hannover Center for Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer.