The meaning of patient informed consent in prenatal diagnostics and reproductive technologies

Abstract

Embryo genetics and epigenetics analyzes genes and their associations with environment that has impact on prenatal human development. In prenatal diagnostics informed patient consent is necessary, especially if the pregnancy has occurred after in vitro fertilization. Doctors knowledge about fetal physiology is mandatory applying reproductive technologies. During 2007 – 2011 years 1156 patients were examined and 49 (4.2%) alterations of karyotype were determined, out of which 30 (61%) are related to Down syndrome, 14 (29%) to Edwards syndrome and 5 (10%) are related to Patau syndrome. After studying the data of the questionnaire and case records, on the basis of the statistical reliability of data analysis, the influence of the main reproductive factors (abortions, contraceptives) and other risk or environmental factors (smoking, genetic diseases and the use of medicines) to fetal anomalies was determined.