Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cleft lip and palate primary prevention
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Primary Prevention
Primary Prevention
While many cases of cleft lip and cleft palate are unpredictable, you can take steps to understand or lower your risk:
- Genetic counseling: A genetic testing can tell you how much a history of clefting in both your families increases your risk, as well as how blood or DNA samples can test for chromosomal syndromes.
- Taking prenatal vitamins: Some researches demonstrate that lack of folic acid or certain other vitamins may be related to some cases of cleft lip and cleft palate. Taking a prenatal multivitamin may decrease the risk of having a cleft lip and palate baby.
References
References
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]