The Hidden Risk: Why Carrier Screening Should Come First with Orren Alperstein and Janet Rosenfield

Before you start trying to conceive, there’s one step most people never think about, but it can completely change how you plan for a healthy pregnancy.

Genetic carrier screening isn’t just for people with a known family history. In fact, most carriers are completely healthy and have no idea they carry a genetic condition. So the question becomes: what don’t you know and how could that information shape your choices?

In today’s episode, I interview genetic counselor Janet Rosenfield, who brings over 40 years of clinical and teaching experience, and Orren Alperstein, founder of Canavan Foundation, whose personal connection to this work adds a powerful, human perspective. Together, we break down what carrier screening actually is, why timing matters, and how this information can shape your fertility journey. 

From real patient stories to the future of genetic testing, this conversation is all about making informed, values-based decisions as you plan to grow your family.

Guest Bio:

Janet Rosenfield: Is a clinical prenatal genetic counselor with over 40 years of experience in both private practice and academic medical settings. Most recently, she served as a counselor in the Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts. She has also been a lecturer in the Brandeis University Master’s Degree Program in Genetic Counseling.

Orren Alperstein: Trained in publishing and not for profit marketing, and a retired teacher of special needs preschool children, Orren is a founder and President of the Canavan Foundation. As the mother of a child born with Canavan disease, she knows firsthand the challenges that come with caring for, and losing, a child to the disease. These experiences inform her work as president of the foundation, inspiring her to work to prevent Canavan disease.  

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Related Episode Links:

• Canava Foundation - Get Screened
• Canada Foundation Facebook page
• www.JScreen.org as a way to get screened easily

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Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.