Bay Area Genetic Counseling

Recently, this couple had a difficult choice to make regarding their egg donor who had an unusually complicated psychological evaluation. I had previously met with them to discuss a mosaic embryo transfer. This is what they said "My husband and I have worked with Amy on two occasions and both times her responses were quick, data-driven, and well-researched. She provided written reports based not only on research and medical records, but went so far as to conduct interviews with other providers to fully understand our issues. The attention to detail is gratifying.
But even more than her competence—which is considerable—what I respect most about Amy is her candor. Anyone who has been through IVF knows how difficult the process is, not just physically, but mentally, and emotionally. We are always waiting for the other shoe to drop, but not with Amy. She gives direct, thoughtful answers of the unvarnished truth without caveat. In a process that often seems opaque, she is transparent and clear. She has our whole-hearted recommendation." SO SATISFYING to help people in this field!

Nice way to start my morning: "Amy, thank you again for spending the time with us yesterday afternoon. It was the most informative call we've had in this whole fertility process."

Ohhh, happy Friday :)
"After my father developed Huntington's disease, i knew i had a 50% chance of inheriting the gene and needed to get tested to plan for the future. I searched for available information on the internet, but without a medical education i could not understand the medical articles and could not confirm reliability of other sources. I needed genetic counseling; Amy explained everything i needed to know about the disease, my risks, the testing procedure, and shared great practical advice about insurance considerations. She also provided much-needed support during the more than 6-month journey to the moment when the test results came back negative. I am beyond grateful to her for her support and tactful guidance during this difficult period of my life. THANK YOU!
-Patient at risk for Huntington's disease."

check out my blog entry on WHAT IS GENETIC COUNSELING Donor Concierge

What is a genetic counselor? What is a genetic counselor and how do they help you find a healthy egg donor? We talk to Amy Vance, a genetic counselor.

Jennifer Aniston Opens Up About Trying to Get Pregnant At 53, the actor opens up about her path to leaving regrets and some deeply personal pain behind.

love getting these notes from patients! "You popped into my head recently and I realized i never let you know that my baby was born. I can't tell you how much talking with you helped ease my anxiety during my pregnancy. Even with a genetically tested ‘normal’ embryo the pressure and stress put on me by the doctors felt overwhelming at times".

A recent study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, reliability and validity of the Shared Decision-Making Process Scale in evaluating genetic testing decisions and invited participants from a large hereditary cancer genetics practice to participate. Learn more about the findings in the Journal of Genetic Counseling: https://bit.ly/3opsCIa

Tuesday love from a client :My husband and I were pursuing IVF when we had a rare and confusing result appear on our carrier screening. We spoke to two different genetic counselors at two popular testing facilities to help us understand our risk. Both calls provided rather high-level overviews of our results, with none of our case-specific questions answered. Then, our fertility doctor recommended Amy Vance. She came to our call highly-prepared with expert knowledge and tons of references specific to our case, and it was truly a lightbulb moment. We finally understood our risk. She showed us a level of personalized care and thoroughness we’d been seeking for months. I highly recommend Amy Vance to anyone seeking top-notch genetic counseling, and who doesn’t just want the PDF of their results read back to them over the phone.

This is so awesome

Mattel introduces first Barbie doll with Down syndrome Mattel on Tuesday introduced its first-ever version of the Barbie doll representing a person with Down syndrome.

Relatively Speaking: An Update on New Research from Genetic Counselors Unveiled at the NSGC Annual Conference New research from genetic counselors unveiled at the National Society of Genetic Counselors Annual Conference.

Proactive is my MO for sure. No one gets away from me without a thorough family history no matter the indication for referral!.......
As a result of the advice you gave me during our genetic counseling session, I went to see a cardiologist. The EKG was normal but he also ordered a cardiac calcium scan which showed a few blockages. given the family history, he put me on a treatment plan to reduce the risk for cardiac events. I never would have thought to be so proactive if it had not been for your recommendation, so thank you very much for that. With good fortune i will not face the same challenges my father and grandfather did and outlive them both by several decades.
-Couple referred for genetic counseling for their egg donor, but family history for the patient revealed family history of aortic dissection. This was never addressed by his own physician.

Happy Mother’s Day 😂

Happy Mother’s Day, science moms!

Why I Got Retested for the Breast Cancer Gene Healthline contributor Cathy Cassata shares why she decided to undergo genetic testing for breast cancer gene mutations a second time after receiving a negative result on her first test 12 years ago.

We’re deeply concerned about the leaked draft opinion that would overturn both Roe and Casey and stand by our position statement on reproductive freedom, supporting the right of all individuals to make reproductive choices, including having access to safe abortion.

One Inflammatory Disease Increases the Risk of Another The immune system has an incredible ability to remember past infections, so it can defeat pathogens that return more quickly.

Happy National DNA Day! Today we celebrate the anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project as well as the anniversary of the discovery of DNA’s double helix.

For prospective genetic counselors, real-world experience helps them become well-rounded applicants for GC programs. As genetic counseling applicant Allaina Brock shares in this Perspectives piece, working at a patient-facing setting such as a non-profit can be a beneficial experience. We wish good luck to Allaina and other future GCs on Match Day tomorrow! bit.ly/3v28XhY

The value of the in-person meeting: "I wanted to thank you for your excellent presentation at the Donor Egg Meeting, as well as thank you for the additional conversation you had with me afterward. I left your presentation feeling a much stronger pull to discuss family genetics with the donors and intended parents I work with; I usually do the best I can and then refer them to a genetic counselor. I now feel empowered to ask even more questions and explain the importance of family history and the role it plays outside of genetic testing/screening (while still referring them to a genetic counselor)."

Really excited about this!

Fertility Services | Livwell Nutrition Consulting

I love PCRS!

Peter Dundas on surrogacy: ‘People think, oh, same-sex couples — they buy a baby’ The fashion designer Peter Dundas and his partner, Evangelo Bousis, are sitting on the sofa in the eclectic lounge of their Mediterranean-style Beverly Hills ho

How do researchers find genomic variants that are associated with complex diseases? They study the genomes of groups of people who have the same disease and compare it to the genomes of people who do not have that disease. https://go.usa.gov/xen6m

I put a lot of effort into helping people feel cared for during my consults, how can i not share this! "I felt like you were a friend by the end of call :) " I LOVE THIS!

From Feb 8-10, we’re hosting the FREE Healing Healthcare Mindfulness Summit where together, we’ll share our stories, celebrate what’s working, and envision a path forward that brings humanity back to healthcare.
Are you a healthcare provider? Share your story with the hashtag ! What aspect of the pandemic has been most challenging for you personally? What personal strength or resource has helped you the most during the pandemic?
Learn more about the summit and register for free here: https://loom.ly/l4aC1hw

The Importance of Genetic Counseling In Healthcare And Medicine The purpose of genetic counseling is to increase a family's awareness and understanding of particular genetic diseases.