Medical students' reproductive health perspectives: Pre- and post-Roe v Wade reversal.

The ability to make informed decisions about reproductive health is a cornerstone principle of the practice of prenatal medical genetics. Unfortunately, these reproductive health decisions have become entangled in the current, contentious political climate. This debate reached an inflection point in 2022 with Dobbs v. Jackson when the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) overturned the national right to abortion previously established in Roe v. Wade. This decision prompted a reassessment of the opinions of medical students on reproductive health and abortion. Our study focused on a medical school in Alabama, a conservative state that enacted a restrictive abortion ban following the Dobbs ruling. Two surveys, conducted in 2015 and 2022, explored students' viewpoints on reproductive health topics, including abortion. The comparison revealed a significant shift toward more pro-choice perspectives among medical students. Notably, religious affiliation did not consistently align with opinions, as many Christian students supported pro-choice views. Our results suggest that medical students' reproductive health opinions at our institution have shifted to a more pro-choice position over the last decade.

Prenatal genetic testing 2: diagnostic tests.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Prenatal genetic testing can be divided into two categories: screening and diagnosis. Prenatal genetic screening tests are used to assess carrier status or as a fetal risk assessment for a particular genetic disorder [1]. Prenatal genetic diagnostic testing is used to diagnose particular genetic conditions with as much certainty as possible [1,2]. This review will focus on the diagnostic side of prenatal genetic testing. RECENT FINDINGS: Next generation sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized prenatal genetic diagnostic testing. NGS methods are becoming more advanced and accurate as more genetic information is being linked to genetic conditions. SUMMARY: Prenatal genetic diagnostic testing involves clinicians invasively obtaining tissue via amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling to identify if a fetus has a genetic condition. This testing has traditionally been done through fluorescence in-situ hybridization, karyotype, or chromosomal microarray analysis. However, genetic testing is in a time of rapid technologic expansion and new methods like NGS, which includes targeted gene panels, whole exome sequencing, and whole genome sequencing are being used too. In this time of growth, it is important that providers educate themselves on the research support and indication behind each type of genetic diagnostic test.

Prenatal genetic testing 1: screening tests.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Prenatal genetic testing can be divided into two categories: screening and diagnostic. This article will focus on reviewing prenatal genetic screening tests. RECENT FINDINGS: Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a new prenatal genetic screening test with a high degree of accuracy for identifying certain genetic conditions like trisomy 21, 18, and 13. However, cfDNA has also been applied in the screening of other genetic conditions without similar research support. SUMMARY: Prenatal genetic screening evaluates at risk pregnancies - including both carrier screening, which can be done at any point in a person's life, and aneuploidy screening, which is done during pregnancy. Within screening, there is a new noninvasive technology that has revolutionized prenatal screening called cfDNA testing. Compared to previous methods, this technology is easier to administer and more accurate for certain genetic conditions. However, cfDNA has also been applied to test for less common genetic conditions without efficacious research support. In this time of expansion in genetic testing, it is important that providers educate themselves on the research support behind each type of genetic test. It is vital that professional organizations continuously update their testing approach to match these rapidly evolving technologies and the patient population they serve.