Reproductive Genetics

Reproductive Genetics

Part of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, the Reproductive Genetics Service was created to help women with medical conditions encountered or made worse by a pregnancy or whose prenatal testing reveals a birth defect or genetic condition in the fetus.

Genetics in obstetrics can be complicated because the genetic make-up of three people – the mother, the father of the baby, and the unborn child – must be considered. Many women have a genetic condition that is unrecognized until they become pregnant.

Reproductive Genetics Service geneticists and seven board-certified counselors help couples understand how genetics can affect their pregnancy, offering counseling for those planning to have a baby or women who are already pregnant.

Contact Information

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
2 Dudley Street | 5th Floor
101 Plain Street | 6th Floor
Providence, RI 02905
P: (401) 274-1122, ext. 47452

Reproductive Genetics Service
The Reproductive Genetics Service is located at 101 Plain St., in the Prenatal Diagnosis Center. The office is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You must be referred by your obstetrician or primary care physician. Appointments can be made by calling (401) 453-7515.

Please be advised that this location is a provider-based clinic and both a physician and facility fee will be assessed, which may result in a higher out-of-pocket expense.

Why You Come to Us

Women can be referred to the Reproductive Genetics Service for many reasons, including:

  • Advanced maternal age.
  • Drug exposure, including medication for chronic disease.
  • Exposure to viruses, chemicals or other dangerous agents at work or home.
  • Family history of birth defects.
  • Family history of developmental delays or psychiatric problems.
  • Abnormal ultrasound.
  • Repetitive fetal loss or stillbirth.

The staff also works with men who have genetic conditions that cause infertility and, with fertility treatments, might be passed on to the fetus

Your Visit

Visits include family history mapping and possible blood testing. We also use the Prenatal Diagnosis Center to offer tools to help with patient counseling and management, so a future visit might include:

  • Level I and II prenatal ultrasound.
  • Fetal echocardiogram.
  • Amniocentesis Non-stress test.
  • Biophysical profile.
  • Fetal transfusion.
  • Fetal shunts.
  • Placental laser ablation for twin to twin transfusion, available with Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Once our geneticists make a diagnosis, they work with your regular physician to provide an additional level of care during your pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, you can work with the geneticists and counselors to design a specific care plan for the pregnancy.

Seamless Care

Specializing in both high-risk pregnancy and genetics allows the doctors at the Reproductive Genetics Service to work with women from preconception through delivery, so you and your unborn baby are cared for in one location. They work with pediatric genetic specialists at Hasbro Children’s Hospital to provide seamless care after a baby with a genetic condition is delivered.