It's debatable whether getting your genes tested can tell you anything very helpful about your health, for now at least. But it could make a huge difference to your children's.
Genetic tests can reveal if you are a carrier of disorders such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease and spinal muscular dystrophy. In some countries, tests for some genetic diseases are already recommended to would-be parents, but many couples, of course, do not consult their doctors before trying to conceive.
If you are a carrier, various options are open to you. One is to ensure potential partners aren't carriers, too, if you want to have children. By promoting this approach the Jewish organisation Dor Yeshorim has greatly reduced the incidence of Tay-Sachs, a genetic disorder that slowly kills young children.
Another option, where there is a risk of passing on a serious disease, is preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or ...
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