ABSTRACT
Genetic counselling because of unusual findings in one of the partners is a very stressful situation for the couple. With regard to sex, age, race, religion, genetic status, social circumstances etc. the resulting different ethical conflicts lead to individual opinions and decisions. According to the ‘Code of Ethical Principles for Genetics Professionals’ these decisions should be respected by the counsellor within a frame of ethical norms implemented by professional associations. After gynaecological counselling and evaluation, the couple is referred for genetic counselling. In principle two different types of counselling situations exist. Theses principles are the sterile otherwise healthy couple without any unusual genetic risk for future offspring – which means most probably they have the same general risk as everybody, and the sterile couple with unusual findings: e.g. a monogenetic disorder or a chromosomal aberration in one of the partners.
