Amniocentesis

Amniocentesis, commonly known as an amniotic fluid test, is a medical procedure used to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections during pregnancy, as well as to determine sex. A little quantity of amniotic fluid containing fetal tissues is collected from the amniotic sac surrounding a growing fetus during this operation. Following that, the fetal DNA is analyzed for genetic abnormalities.

The most frequent cause for an amniocentesis is to see if a fetus has specific genetic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. Amniocentesis or another procedure known as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) can be used to diagnose certain issues during pregnancy. These prenatal screenings can be beneficial to expectant parents since they allow them to assess the fetal health status and the feasibility of therapy.

When a woman is between 15 and 20 weeks pregnant, she undergoes an amniocentesis. Women who decide to have this test are generally those who are at greater risk for genetic and chromosomal disorders, in part because the procedure is invasive and entails a slight risk of miscarriage. Because this procedure can be used for prenatal sex determination, it is illegal in several countries.