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Pregnancy Today's Advisory Panel Answers:
At age 37, is amniocentesis really necessary?

by Patricia Naughton
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Women's Health Specialists, Chicago 		Patricia Nuaghton

Question

Is it really necessary to undergo an amniocentesis at the age of 37? Aren't the majority of the Down Syndrome babies born to women over 35?
Answer

Amniocentesis is recommended for all women 35 years of age of older at the time of delivery. Amniocentesis detects Down syndrome as well as other less common chromosomal abnormalities (Trisomy 18). A woman that is 37 at delivery has a risk of 1 in 130 of delivering a live infant with a chromosomal abnormality and a 1 in 227 risk of delivering a child with Down Syndrome.

The majority of Down children are, in fact, born to women under age 35, because more younger women are having babies.

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