Pregnancy is a time of expectant wonder, but also a period when a mother-to-be wants to be certain that everything is alright with her child. Just a few decades ago, learning anything about a baby's health was only possible after birth. Today, however, modern genetics allows us to peek into the world of DNA even before the child is born.

NIPT tests, prenatal screenings, genetic risk analyses – it all sounds complicated, but it's really about one goal: to make sure that the pregnancy develops without complications, and that parents are prepared for any possible scenarios.

Dmytro Mykytenko (photo provided by Dmytro Mykytenko)

Especially for LIGA.net Dmitry Mykytenko, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, and Geneticist, explained who needs these tests and why, what exactly they can show, when it's worth considering testing, and whether it's really possible to predict genetic risks before a child is born.

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Prenatal genetic testing: who needs it and why

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