When deciding whether or not to get Ashkenazi Jewish genetic testing, consider the following questions:

• "Why am I getting tested?"
• What will these tests mean for me?"
• "What are the benefits of testing?"
• "Are there any limitations to testing that I should consider?"

PROS

Some reasons why people choose to have Ashkenazi Jewish genetic testing include:

• They have a family history of a relative who was/is affected with one of these diseases.
• They have a family history of a relative who is a carrier of one of these diseases.
• They think that their risk for being a carrier is high.
• They or their partner are currently pregnant or are contemplating pregnancy.
• They would consider having prenatal testing (amniocentesis or CVS) if both partners are found to be carriers of the same disease.
• They would consider having preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) if both partners are found to be carriers of the same disease.
• They would consider using an egg donor or a sperm donor if both partners are found to be carriers of the same disease.
• They would utilize the information to help decide whether or not to continue a pregnancy.
• They would like information to prepare themselves for the birth of a child with special needs.
• They can afford to pay for the testing or know that testing is covered by their insurance company.

CONS

Some reasons why people choose not to have Ashkenazi Jewish genetic testing include:

• They are not concerned about their risk to have a child with one of these diseases.
• They would not do anything differently during a pregnancy, or in preparation for a pregnancy, if they knew that both partners were carriers of the same disease.
• They know that their insurance company will not cover the cost of the testing and they cannot afford to pay out-of-pocket.
• They are concerned that testing may reveal that their biological relationship to family members is not what they had thought (e.g., non-paternity).