"The challenge of recording and keeping accurate family histories is more difficult as families continue to be more splintered and mobile than ever before," explains Ms. Benkendorf. "But, it is imperative that this information is collected and documented."

Ms. Benkendorf suggests that women sit down with relatives from both sides of their families to discuss personal health histories as well as health information about other family members. Documenting as many family members and generations as possible can help to provide a comprehensive family medical history. Reproductive histories are also important to document.

Three important questions to ask during the interview are:

• which relative was affected?
• how exactly is he/she related to me?
• at what age did the disease or condition develop?

She recommends recording comments or descriptions that a family member shares during a family medical history interview even though the details may not seem important. Many barriers can prevent a person from identifying a family medical condition accurately, but other comments may describe a condition or illness that a geneticist or other health professional may be able to interpret as relevant to a medical history. It has only been within the last several decades that many families feel comfortable openly discussing diseases like cancer, or pregnancy loss, for example, and many illnesses continue to be stigmatized. Older relatives may be more influenced by this type of barrier than younger relatives.

Heart disease, breast, ovarian, colon, and other forms of cancer, kidney disease, migraine, alcoholism, depression, schizophrenia, diabetes, osteoporosis and Alzheimer's disease, are only a few examples of diseases that are believed to have a genetic component to them.

Once a family pedigree is constructed, it is also important to share health information with other members of the family, when appropriate. "As women, we are familiar with screening tests such as mammograms and Pap smears and what they mean for our health. Family health pedigrees can be even more important," says Ms. Benkendorf.

From How to Be A Savvy Women's Health Consumer, a Healthy Women 2000 seminar sponsored by the U.S. Public Health Service Office of Women's Health and the National Women's Health Resource Center.