Question
When I mentioned to my doctor during the prenatal test that I wanted to have a Down syndrome screen, the doctor said it didn’t matter whether I did or not, which confused me.
Answer
The primary purpose of Down syndrome screening is to detect any congenital abnormalities in the fetus, particularly conditions such as trisomy 21 and congenital neural tube defects. The doctor may suggest whether or not to undergo the screening based on your age, the risk factors of the pregnant woman, and the accuracy of the test. However, the screening is not 100% accurate, and in some cases, even if the test result is positive, it does not necessarily mean there is a problem with the fetus. Therefore, the doctor’s recommendation may be based on your personal circumstances and the latest guidelines in the medical community. If you have doubts, you can discuss them further with your doctor to understand more about the screening and its significance to you personally.