Angelina Jolie wrote a heartfelt column, "My Medial Choice" for the New York Times Tuesday, detailing her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy at age 37. She explained that her choice was based on her abnormally high genetic predisposition for breast cancer; doctors estimated there was an 87% chance she would get breast cancer and a 50% chance she would get ovarian cancer. As the mother of six, Jolie says that she would hate for her children to lose her too early; her own mother died when she was just 56 years old.

SEE ALSO: Why Mapping Your DNA Could Save Your Life

After having her DNA tested — a process which can cost anywhere from a hundred dollars to several thousand — Jolie learned that she is a carrier of a defective BRCA1 gene. That defect, though not the only determinant of breast cancer, meant a 65% chance she'd get the same disease that killed her mother.

If you're looking to learn more about your genes, and are interested in having your DNA tested, there are several options you can pursue, that will ship direct-to-consumer. In addition to learning about your health, personal genetics services will often reveal things you didn't know about your ancestry. We've rounded up some online resources, so you can get your search started online. Keep in mind, direct-to-consumer genetic testing is illegal in New York and Maryland, meaning your results cannot be shipped to those states. Whether you chose to pursue testing or not, we recommend you consult a doctor or gentic counselor before making any medical decisions.