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Your risk is crucial
During routine prenatal care including the CVS test, everyone has the option of being screened for genetic issues. They might be invasive as in CVS or Amniosentisis or non-invasive as in NIPT in nature, but their intention is to look for markers that could point to Down syndrome or Trisomy 18 (a genetic condition that is often fatal).
Of course, it’s your decision as to whether you want to know if you’re at high or low risk; many women opt out of screening for ethical or personal reasons and opt to simply be watched to ensure that the baby is healthy and developing normally. Let’s learn about the risk associated with the CVS test in this blog.
What does CVS test detect?
A prenatal diagnostic procedure called chorionic villus sampling uses a small sample of placental cells to identify genetic disorders. Many women prefer CVS because it can be done between 10 and 14 weeks after your last menstrual period, which is earlier than amniocentesis.
CVS can be carried out either transabdominal or transvaginally, depending on where your placenta is. The ideal strategy will be decided by your perinatal specialist. Complications from the procedure can result in cramping, light bleeding, and in rare cases, spontaneous abortions.
At Jammi Scans, we have certified fetal medicine specialists who perform CVS, a specialized diagnostic procedure with great acumen. Make an appointment to learn more so that you can decide which diagnostic test is best for you.
What are the risks of CVS?
Complications are possible with any invasive procedure. The following issues could arise, but they’re not the only ones:
- Bleeding, cramping, or amniotic fluid leakage (water breaking)
- Infection
- Miscarriage
- pregnancy labor
- Infant limb defects, especially after CVS procedures performed before 9 weeks (rare)
People who have a medication allergy or sensitivity should tell their doctor in advance.
To study each baby, researchers will need samples from each placenta from women who are carrying twins or other multiples.
Depending on the specific medical condition you have, there might be additional risks. Prior to the procedure, be sure to discuss any worries you have with your doctor.
CVS may be hampered by particular elements or ailments.
These components include, but are not restricted to,
- A pregnancy that begins before week seven or ends after week thirteen
- Baby’s position, placenta’s size, the amount of amniotic fluid present, or the mother’s anatomy
- Infection of the cervix or vagina
- Inadequate test samples or samples that may contain maternal tissue
How long after a CVS can you miscarry?
Miscarriage, or the loss of a pregnancy in the first 23 weeks, can be brought on by CVS. There is a 1 in 100 chance of miscarriage after CVS.
According to this statistic, one in every 100 pregnancies will end in miscarriage. However, it can be challenging to distinguish between miscarriages that would have occurred regardless of the CVS procedure and those that did.
Only a very small portion of miscarriages that happen after CVS, according to some recent research, may be caused directly by the procedure.
There is no proof that there is anything you can do at this time to lessen your risk of miscarriage.
It is believed that the risk of miscarriage following CVS is comparable to that of the alternative test known as amniocentesis, which is performed slightly later in pregnancy, that’s between weeks 15 and 18.
Can CVS cause birth defects?
Amniocentesis and CVS have about the same miscarriage risk. With CVS, the risk of miscarriage is one in 300 to 500.
Another risk is infection. Additionally, an infant’s limb deformity caused by CVS testing may occasionally occur. However, before the 10th week of pregnancy, CVS was performed in the majority of cases of limb deformity.
Which is safer CVS or amniocentesis?
Similar to amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can identify minor chromosome abnormalities, such as copy number variants, as well as significant chromosome issues, like Down syndrome.
In at-risk fetuses, both tests can detect genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, and sickle cell disease.
The inability to detect neural tube defects like spina bifida is a drawback. Later in the pregnancy, a blood test for the mother called alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening and an ultrasound can be done to check for neural tube defects.
Having performed a huge number of chorionic villus sampling procedures over the years now, our fetal medicine expert at the Jammi Scans team brings a wealth of expertise and experience in diagnosing you with great care and support.
Winding thoughts
Make an appointment with me at Jammi scans so that I can guide you in choosing what will be best for you and your unborn child.
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