Jewish Marriage and Jewish Engagement: How to Talk About Genetic Testing

If you’re a Jewish bride or groom, chances are that planning is becoming an exciting, yet whirlwind experience. But as you plan and prepare for a wedding, understand that now is also the time to get genetic testing with your future spouse.

Medical professionals agree: the emerging consensus is that every Jewish adult should be offered genetic testing before having children.

Too many times, families are taken by surprise when they have a child born with a life-threatening genetic disorder. Luckily, many genetic diseases are preventable if a person knows they are a carrier by taking a genetic test.

When preparing for marriage, creating a healthy family should be in the plan for every Jewish bride or groom. Click here to learn more about the JScreen test for Jewish hereditary diseases and how options with our genetic counselors can help ensure the best future for your family.

Remember: the earlier you know your carrier status, the more options you have.

 What options do I have if my fiancé and I are both Jewish?

If you and your partner are both Jewish, the JScreen test is a good option for both of you. If necessary based on your results, we have a network of genetic counselors and will refer you to someone in your area for one-on-one counseling face-to-face. If there is no one in your area, we may refer you to a genetic counselor who provides tele-counseling.

 I’m not Jewish but my fiancé is. How do we get tested?

JScreen’s panel includes more than 100 genetic diseases that are commonly found in both the Jewish and general populations. Therefore, the JScreen panel is still a great option! JScreen recommends that you both be screened at the same time. However, if only one of you decides to get tested, we suggest screening the female first.