Reproductive Decision-Making in Women with BRCA1/2 Mutations.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Chan JL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5409889 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Reproductive Decision-Making in Women with BRCA1/2 Mutations.
Chan Jessica L JL Johnson Lauren N C LNC Sammel Mary D MD DiGiovanni Laura L Voong Chan C Domchek Susan M SM Gracia Clarisa R CR
Journal of genetic counseling 20161028 3
Expanded genetic testing of BRCA mutations has led to identification of more reproductive-aged women who test positive for the mutation which might impact attitudes and decisions about relationships, childbearing and the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) and prenatal diagnosis (PND). A cross-sectional survey was administered to 1081 self-reported BRCA carriers to investigate how knowledge of BRCA status influences these issues. The mean age at BRCA test disclosure was 44 years and 3 ...[more]
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Project description:Previous research indicates that a considerable number of women with an unintended pregnancy experience difficulty deciding about continuing or terminating the pregnancy. We examined the decision-making processes of women who experienced high decision difficulty and women who experienced little decision difficulty, to gain insight in the factors that contribute to experienced decision difficulty. Sixty-nine women who had an abortion, and 40 women who had decided to continue their unintended pregnancy, participated in qualitative interviews. We found that women's decision processes varied on 11 relevant criteria. The decision-making processes of women who experienced little decision difficulty differed from that of women who experienced high decision difficulty, but the decision-making processes of women who carried their pregnancy to term and the high decision difficulty abortion group were strikingly similar. Implications of our findings for future research and for professional care for women who are in need of support during decision-making are discussed.
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