Doctors speaking with female patient during examination for chest sounds.

Genetics

Genes. Everyone has them. And these tiny particles decide things like your height or hair and eye color. And if you’re at risk of having health problems.

If you’re at risk of an inherited (runs in families) genetic condition, getting a genetics evaluation, genetic counseling and, if necessary, genetic testing is important. When you know what your genes are doing, you can take control of your (and your family’s) health today and in the future.

Cleveland Clinic’s genetics team is here to help you do this. Your primary care provider can help you connect with these experts. Our team will spend time going over your personal and family health histories and do a physical exam. And if you do show signs of a genetic condition or have a gene alteration, we’ll make sure you get regular tests to keep tabs on any emerging symptoms. And we can quickly get a care team in place for treatment or prevention.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Genetics Care?

Trusted experts:

Cleveland Clinic is among the nation’s leading experts in genetic medicine and research. We’re committed to offering the most comprehensive genetic counseling, testing and care possible — if you have an inherited condition or are at risk. Meet our team.

Comprehensive treatment:

Our genetics team gives personalized care for many genetic conditions and specialties. From cancer to heart conditions, bone marrow failure to inherited eye conditions or even for the genes which help metabolize drugs (pharmacogenomics), we have your whole body covered. And we’ll work with your primary care provider to make sure your overall healthcare plan reflects your genetic information.

Innovation and research:

Our commitment to you reaches beyond treatment. Our team continually researches new tests and treatments. These studies have helped us better predict your risk for a genetic condition and offer the best therapies if you have one.

Specialized knowledge:

You know something’s wrong but can’t get any definite answers. That’s because some genetic conditions are rare and complex. And this can mean there’s a long journey ahead to figure out what’s going on. Cleveland Clinic can often use whole genome sequencing to reduce the time it takes to pinpoint your undiagnosed condition.

Virtual visits:

You have a busy life, and traveling to in-person appointments can be time-consuming. Our virtual visits are a convenient alternative for follow-ups and quick check-ins with your providers. You can get the same great care online using your smartphone, tablet or computer.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

A Few Things to Know About Genetic Testing and Care

There are many reasons why you may want genetics care. Maybe you have a family history of a health condition and want to know if you’re at risk of getting it — or passing it to your children. Maybe you have symptoms that point to a common genetic disorder. Or you might know something’s wrong but can’t figure out what and just want answers.

Genes carry a lot of information. The changes in normal genes (mutations) can cause health problems in any part of your body. And these changes can be passed down from person to person through families. Some are present at birth. Others may develop over time. But in all cases, that genetic information is baked into your system. Whether you’re aware of it or not.

Our genetic providers can pinpoint your risk of having a genetic condition or if you’re a carrier (someone who passes down a gene). And if needed, we can diagnose and help you manage many different genetic conditions, like:

This is only a sampling of the genetic conditions we diagnose and treat at Cleveland Clinic.

Having a Genetics Evaluation at Cleveland Clinic

If you know your family has a history of a genetic condition or think you may have signs of one, we can help. The first step is to talk with your primary care provider.

Why? Because you need a referral from your primary care provider to start your journey of genetic discovery at Cleveland Clinic. Once you have a referral, we’ll set up a genetic counseling evaluation.

What to expect during your evaluation

When you come for your evaluation, you’ll learn more about your risk of developing a genetic condition or having a child with one. During this visit, you’ll spend time with a genetic counselor who’ll review your medical history and your family’s medical history.

As you talk with each other, your genetic counselor will map out a family tree with people like your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. The more information you can share about your extended family and their health, the more detailed this tree can be. You can expect to answer questions like:

Have you been diagnosed with any health conditions?
Does anyone else in your family have these same conditions?
At what age were you or your family member diagnosed?
Are the family members with health conditions still living?
Has anyone in your family had genetic testing?

The genetic counselor may also use tools to help them find out what kind of risk you have. They’ll also talk with you about genetic testing and what types would be best for you.

Genetic testing

The kinds of genetic tests you’ll have will depend on your family history and risk factors. There are many types, like:

To do these and other genetic tests, we’ll take a blood sample. We can often do this on the same day as your evaluation. It may take several weeks to get test results.

Meet Our Genetics Team

When you come to Cleveland Clinic for a genetic evaluation, there are a few providers you may work with. Genetic counselors can work with you to help you learn more about your potential risks for certain conditions and get recommendations. You may also work with physicians who specialize in genetics. These providers can give you detailed information about your results and help you with the next steps. Throughout it all, your team will also be in contact with your primary care provider.

Once your team has the information they need, they can bring in additional specialists they need to help you get the best possible care.

Providers Who Offer Genetic Services

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at our main campus in Northeast Ohio.

Treating Genetic Conditions at Cleveland Clinic

If we learn you have a genetic condition that needs treatment, you’ll get highly personalized care. Your treatment depends on the condition you have or are at risk of getting. We use the results of your evaluation and testing to guide us in the next steps of preventive care or treatment of your condition.

There are many other ways we build treatment plans if you have a genetic condition or have a high risk of getting one. Let’s say you discover you have the genes that can cause breast cancer. You may then decide to remove your breasts with a preventive mastectomy. For some conditions, your care team may try gene therapy. This experimental treatment introduces new genes into your body to replace disease-causing genes.

Taking the Next Step

Understanding your genetic make-up and risk of getting an inherited genetic condition can help you take charge of your health. Especially if certain health conditions run in your family. Our genetics team works with your primary care provider and other specialists to help you understand any genetic risks you may have — or can pass along to future generations. We’re here to listen to your concerns, answer your questions and find out what your genes say about you, your health and your future.