» What is amniocentesis?

• It is a procedure in which a doctor uses a thin needle to pierce through the abdomen into the amniotic sac of the fetus to draw out a small amount of amniotic fluid. The fluid contains fetal cells that have naturally sloughed off. The doctor will then analyze the amniotic fluid in a laboratory to check for chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome and Patau syndrome, as well as other genetic diseases like thalassemia, and certain infections.
• Amniocentesis is typically performed between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. This timing is ideal because the amniotic sac is large enough and there is a sufficient amount of amniotic fluid to safely perform the test.

» Who should have amniocentesis?

• Amniocentesis is a highly accurate test, but it carries a risk of complications, such as miscarriage (about 1 in 900 cases). Therefore, doctors usually recommend it only for high-risk mothers, including:
  • Mothers who are 35 years of age or older on the due date of delivery, as the risk of the baby having chromosomal abnormalities increases with age.
  • Have a history of giving birth to a child with a chromosomal or genetic abnormality, such as having given birth to a child with Down syndrome.
  • Abnormal results from preliminary screening tests, such as blood risk screening (Quad Test, NIPT) or ultrasound, indicate a high risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
  • There is a family history of genetic diseases that may be passed on to children.
  • The doctor detects abnormalities during the ultrasound, such as abnormalities in the baby's structure or organs.

For more details, please contact the Women's Health Center, Building 2, 3rd Floor, Tel. 0 2530 2556 ext. 2310, 2320.