More than 30 years ago, a 37-year-old friend of mine with an unplanned fourth pregnancy was told by her obstetrician that an amniocentesis was “too dangerous” and could cause a miscarriage. She ultimately bore a child severely affected by Down syndrome, which could have been detected with the test.
Today, my friend’s story would have a different trajectory. She would have a series of screening tests, and if the results suggested a high risk of Down syndrome, then an amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (C.V.S.) to make the diagnosis. She’d be given the option to abort the pregnancy.
In the future, a woman who decides to continue a Down syndrome pregnancy may also be offered prenatal treatment to temper the developmental harm to the fetus.
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Read the full, original story here: Breakthroughs in Prenatal Screening
Additional Resources:
- “Pre-natal testing: Promise or Peril?” Center for Bioethics and Culture
- “Prenatal testing: Is it right for you?” Mayo Clinic
- “This Simple Blood Test Reveals Birth Defects — And the Future of Pregnancy,” Wired
