Why Prenatal Screening For Trisomy 21 Is Important…
Prenatal screening tests help identify women who have an increased risk of having a baby with certain birth defects or chromosomal variations. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that all pregnant women be offered a screening test for Down syndrome, regardless of the mother’s age. Your doctor may also recommend screening for Down syndrome if you have other risk factors such as a family history of Down syndrome. Prenatal screening for Trisomy 21 can help determine whether your baby has Down syndrome. Knowing the risk of Down syndrome can help you, your family and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about your pregnancy.
What Is Trisomy 21?
Trisomy 21 is the most common cause of Down syndrome. Down syndrome is a condition in which extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically. Not everyone with Down syndrome is affected in the same way, and there is no way to determine before birth how a child may be affected.
Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 800 babies. Approximately 5000 babies with Down syndrome are born each year. It is the most common chromosomal variation. The risk to have a child with Down syndrome does increase with the mother’s age, but mothers of all ages can have a child with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome is most often caused by extra genetic information from chromosome 21. It is important to know that most cases of Down syndrome are not inherited. In fact, most cases of Down syndrome happen randomly by chance.