Question
I am a 40-year-old pregnant woman. The results of my Down syndrome screening show a risk of 1 in 12. Is this risk high?
Answer
Hello, for cases with a high risk of Down syndrome, prenatal diagnosis is usually recommended. Currently, common diagnostic methods include amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling, with amniocentesis having a relatively lower risk. For the health of both you and your baby, it is suggested that you undergo amniocentesis for an accurate diagnosis. Additionally, there is a new method of detecting fetal chromosomes by analyzing the mother’s blood, which has no adverse effects on the fetus or mother and is highly accurate, but it is not yet a standard diagnostic method. You can visit the website of BGI to learn more information, and some hospitals also offer this testing service.