Question
A pregnant woman at 16 weeks and 2 days asks: Is there a need for Down syndrome screening?
Answer
Down syndrome screening is highly recommended. It is a test to check if the fetus may have Down syndrome. The best time for the screening is between weeks 15 to 20 of pregnancy. If the screening results indicate a high risk, further tests such as amniocentesis and fetal chromosome analysis should be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Down syndrome is a sporadic condition, and all pregnant women have the potential to give birth to a baby with Down syndrome, and the risk increases with the mother’s age. Children with Down syndrome often have severe intellectual disabilities and difficulties with self-care, and may also have complex heart conditions, which will bring significant emotional and financial burden to the family.