In plain words
Amniocentesis is a test that takes a small sample of the fluid around the baby. A doctor guides a thin needle through the belly into the uterus, using ultrasound. The fluid is tested for chromosome differences and some genetic conditions. It is usually offered from about 15 weeks onward, and it gives a more certain answer than most screening tests. The test carries a small risk of , which experts describe as low. Many parents choose it after a screening result, or because of age or family history. A genetic counselor can talk through the choice. Whether to have the test is the parent's decision.
The deeper version
Transabdominal amniocentesis is typically performed from 15 weeks of gestation under ultrasound guidance. Cultured amniocytes are tested by , , or targeted testing. Procedure-related pregnancy loss was historically estimated at roughly 0.1 to 0.3 percent, and large series from experienced centers, including Eddleman and colleagues (2006, Obstetrics and Gynecology), report low rates. Diagnostic yield is high for and for microarray findings. ACOG guidance (Practice Bulletin 226, 2020) says diagnostic testing should be offered to all pregnant women, whatever their age or screening result. The controversy concerns the shift toward , which reduces the need for invasive testing, and the handling of incidental microarray findings.
Where it comes up
- Prenatal tests and ultrasounds: what each one isPregnancy: Your Body
- Pregnancy at 35 and olderPregnancy: Your Body
- Termination for medical reasonsLoss and Complications
What mothers here say about amniocentesis
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Eddleman K and colleagues, Obstetrics and Gynecology — Pregnancy loss rates after midtrimester amniocentesis (2006)
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Practice Bulletin 226: Screening for Fetal Chromosomal Abnormalities (2020)