Gentic Testing of Down Syndrome
Today screening for Down Syndrome is offered as a routine part of parental care. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends offering various screening tests for Down syndrome to all pregnant women, regardless of age. Genetic testing however, is not completely accurate but it can help to determine if further tested should be administered or if there should be concern. Testing for Down Syndome can be conducted at different times of the pregnancy. Most women chose the first trimester choice which is done in two parts at the 11th and 13th week of prenancy. These tests include an ultrasound to measure a certain area on the back of the baby's neck. If there is a problem with the baby than there will be an access of fluid in this area. The second part of the test is a blood test which looks for abnormal levels of PAPP-A and HCG which may indicate a problem with the baby. Of all women who test for Down Syndrome only 5 percent are identified as being at risk. Of those 5 percent far fewer are actually carrying children with Down Syndrome. Screening tests are actually better for testing what women are at risk compared to how many women are actually carrying children with Down Syndrome.
Statistics today conclude that 90 percent of fetus' that are diganosed with Down Syndrome are aborted. That statistic is false however. Only 2-3 percent of women actually agree to genetic testing. Most women select out of genetic testing because they would not abort a baby based on a genetic abnormality or their age makes the risk of their baby having a genetic disorder low. Only 2-3 percent women chose to CVS or amniocentesis, the current tests for chromosomal abnormalities. We can conclude that by evaluating the mother's at risk of fetus' born with Down Syndrome with the amount of children born with Down Syndrome, 50 percent of Down Syndrome babies are aborted. Of the 2-3% of women who receive a definitive diagnosis that their baby has Down syndrome, approximately 90% of those women chose abortion. Those numbers usually come from single studies that indeed demonstrate an abortion rate around 90%.
Read more about this topic: Genetics And Abortion
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