The article was consulted professionally by Specialist I Pham Thi Yen – Obstetrician and Gynecologist – Share99 Hai Phong International Health Hub.
Pregnancy is a very important but also worrying period for the woman. Most babies are born healthy, but pre-maternity tests (including pre-birth screening tests and pre-birth diagnostic tests) can provide valuable information about the baby's condition while still a fetus. Understanding the benefits and risks of these tests helps pregnant women make the right choices for themselves.
1. Classification of pre-production tests
Pre-production testing is classified into two main categories: pre-birth screening and pre-birth diagnostic tests:
- Pre-birth screening test: a pre-birth screening test can help identify the likelihood of a fetus suffering from certain birth defects (most of which are due to genetic disorders). These tests include blood tests, specialized ultrasounds,and pre-birth cellless DNA screening. Pre-birth screening tests are usually performed in the first tri tri month or the middle tri tri month of pregnancy. Pre-birth screening tests cannot be a basis for a definitive diagnosis, in case the results in which a high risk of genetic disorders appear, the specialist will be responsible for advising and discussing the implementation of diagnostic tests so that an accurate conclusion can be reached.
- Pre-birth diagnostic tests:if pre-birth screening test results show a problem, or a pregnant woman has risk factors (older pregnancy, medical history,…) that leads to an increased likelihood of a fetus with a genetic disorder, then the pregnant woman may consider using an invasive pre-birth diagnostic test. To get an accurate conclusion there is only the only way to perform a pre-birth diagnostic test. However, some pre-birth diagnostic tests are at small risk of miscarriage (such as a spike biopedethy and amniotic fluid puncture).
2. Classification of pre-birth screening tests
Pre-birth screening tests include:
- Screening test in the first tri tri tri monthof pregnancy : in the first tri tri tri month of pregnancy, the specialist will prescribe a blood test and an ultrasound that measures the size of the gap in the back of the neck of the fetus. In Down Syndrome and some other fetal malformations (such as heart, abdominal wall and bone), the size of the gap in the back of the neck of the fetus is abnormally large. These tests are usually conducted between the 10th and 13th weeks of pregnancy.
- Screening test for three months between pregnancy: in the three months between pregnancy, the specialist may prescribe a blood test called the quad screen. Such a name because this test measures the concentrations of four substances present in the blood, and is usually carried out between the 15th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. The results of the test point to the risk of the fetus suffering from certain genetic disorders, such as Down's Syndrome. Screening also helps detect neurological malformations, which are serious abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. In addition, between the 18th and 20th weeks of pregnancy, the doctor may prescribe ultrasounds to detect the majority of birth defects in the brain and spinal cord, facial, abdominal, heart and dystreous.
- DNA screening into pre-birthcells : Cellless DNA is a small amount of placenta-derived DNA that enters the fetal bloodstream, and this blood test (usually done at the 10th week of pregnancy) will examine the cellless DNA in the blood of the pregnant woman to detect an increased risk of certain genetic problems, such as Down's Syndrome. This screening may also provide information about the sex and blood type rhesus (Rh) of the fetus. Cellless DNA screening is best for pregnant women at high risk of pregnancy with chroma disorder, but not for multi-pregnancy women.
3. What does the results of the pre-birth screening test mean?
The results of the pre-birth screening test are shown as a level of risk at which genetic disorders may occur:
- A positive result means that the fetus is at higher risk for genetic disorders than the population average, not the fetus is definitely sick.
- A negative result means that the fetus is at a lower risk of suffering from genetic disorders than the population average, which does not mean that the fetus is not sick.
4. Considerations before performing pre-birth screening tests
Pregnant women have the option of performing pre-birth screening tests to detect fetal abnormalities. The pregnant woman will be explained by a specialist, carefully advising on pre-maternity tests to consider and make decisions, especially when the pregnant woman is screening to detect i can not treat abnormalities in the fetus. Pregnancy issues to consider include:
- What will a pregnant woman do after receiving the results?
Normal results will certainly relieve any anxiety. But if pre-maternity test results show that there is a possibility that the fetus has birth defects, the pregnant woman will face many troublesome and difficult options, such as whether to continue the pregnancy or not. If you look at another aspect, the pregnant woman will have the opportunity to more thoroughly prepare for the birth and growing of the baby later.
- What is the pre-production impact of the test?
Some pre-maternity tests help detect treatable problems during pregnancy, and others will help specialists understand the problem and plan to treat it immediately after the baby is born.
- How accurate is the result?
Pre-birth screening is not perfect. The accuracy of tests (false positives, false negatives) is very different depending on each test.
- What are the risks of testing?
Pregnant women should consider between the benefits and risks of pre-maternity tests , such as anxiety, pain or even the risk of miscarriage, compared to the value of the information from the test results.
Pregnant women should consider before making a decision. The specialist will advise and explain carefully about the tests so that the pregnant woman knows and chooses.
Share99 International Health Hub offers a full maternity care program for women from the very beginning of pregnancy from the first months with a full range of pregnancy examinations, 3D ultrasounds, 4D routines and routine tests to ensure the mother is always healthy and the fetus develops comprehensively. Maternity will no longer be alone when entering labor because having a companion helps the process of childbirth always bring peace of mind and happiness.
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Article reference source: mayoclinic.org
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Nơi sinh sống
Hà Nội
Hanoi
Hồ Chí Minh
Ho Chi Minh City
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Nha Trang
Hạ Long
Ha Long
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