What is genetic risk?

Genetic counsellors take information about your family and medical history to learn what your genetic risk is.

Depending on the condition in your family, understanding genetic risk may tell you:

• the chance that you may develop an inherited condition
• the chance that you could pass the inherited condition to your children

Not all physical and cognitive health challenges are inherited. Other factors can also play a role in some conditions and not in others. Diabetes and breast cancer are examples where environment plays a role in a person developing the condition.

Learn more about inherited conditions and birth defects.