In this episode, we sit down with Kelsey Reynolds, a Board-Certified Reproductive Genetic Counselor with a unique entry into the field. Inspired by her own parents' decade-long journey with infertility and her mother’s bedtime stories explaining their family's inherited chromosomal translocation as simply a "funky chromosome," Kelsey’s career path led her to helping families navigate the complexities of genetic testing during conception, pregnancy, and parenting.
The conversation unpacks the clinical realities of Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT) during IVF, detailing the differences between available screenings and addressing one of the most painful and frequent questions faced by the fertility community: how pregnancy loss can still occur even after embryos have been genetically tested. She gently explains that while PGT is an incredibly powerful screening tool, it is not a 100% guarantee, highlighting the vital need for both patients and providers to balance hope with realistic expectations.
Looking ahead, Kelsey highlights exciting, rapid advancements in prenatal screening, such as non-invasive blood tests for single-gene conditions and personalized therapies that can treat genetic conditions like cystic fibrosis during pregnancy. She offers practical advice on how patients can prepare for a genetic counseling appointment to make the most of their time, and shares valuable community resources like the Undiagnosed Disease Network that can guide and support families who are navigating rare diseases while trying to conceive and beyond.
Finally, the hosts and Kelsey invite listeners to join them at the upcoming Footsteps for Family Building Walk in October. Driven by her passion for equity in healthcare, Kelsey is walking to support AllPaths' vital work in making family building options more accessible and to help raise the awareness and funding needed to continue to support the fertility and family building community.
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
Fertility treatment, IVF, family building, genetic counseling, reproductive health, infertility support, IVF process, preconception genetic testing, embryo genetic testing, Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT), PGT testing, carrier screening, genetic testing options, pregnancy loss, PGT-A, PGT-SR, emotional support for families, navigating infertility, reproductive genetic counselor, family planning resources, pregnancy journey, genetic conditions, genetic testing for embryos, support for parents, community support, rare disease support, Footsteps for Family Building Walk
