Pre-Pregnancy Genetics Program

The Pre-Pregnancy Genetics Program at the Columbia University Fertility Center to helps people have healthy children while minimizing the risk of severe genetic diseases. By combining the most advanced approaches in genetics and reproductive medicine, couples can safely and effectively conceive with almost no risk of having a child affected by common or rare genetic diseases.

Our interdisciplinary program thrives on the collaborative efforts of various teams across the medical center including, nephrology, clinical genetics, neurology, cardiology, cancer genetics, hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, lung disorders, ophthalmology, and women’s mental health, to name a few. Together, this interdisciplinary team continues to advance our mission to help families affected with genetic diseases.

Our Approach to Care

After an initial consult with the Pre-Pregnancy Genetics Program Director, Dr. Sinem Karipcin, or our genetic counselor lead Stephanie Galloway, our team works closely with patients to develop an individualized treatment plan.

If the couple chooses IVF for embryo genetic testing, eggs and sperm from the couple are then combined in our lab. The resulting embryos are tested for the specific disease(s) and a healthy embryo is then placed in the uterus. This approach minimizes risks for the parents and embryo.