Genetics and Fertility

Have you ever wondered if your struggle to conceive could be caused by your genes? In this episode we answer that question and more about genetics and fertility by talking with two certified genetic counselors with CooperGenomics: Sharyn Lincoln and Sheila Johal.

In this episode, we cover:

Infertility is a disease affecting nearly 7% of all couples. It is a highly heterogeneous pathology with a complex etiology that includes both environmental and genetic factors.

We will be focusing on the genetic in this episode.

1. What percentage of infertility can be attributed to our genes?

Genetics and Female Infertility

2. 47,XXX (trisomy X; Triple X)

3. Turner syndrome (monosomy X)

4. Single Gene Disorders

5. Polygenic, complex female infertility (environment & genetics)

Genetics and Male Infertility

6. Klinefelter syndrome

7. 47,XYY syndrome

8. Structural chromosomal abnormalities (SCAs) include deletions, duplications, translocations (balanced, imbalanced, and Robertsonian), and inversions.

9. Single Gene Disorders (Cystic Fibrosis)

10. Why has it been so hard to pinpoint the exact genes associated with male and female fertility?