Patient's question:
I'm 13 weeks pregnant and went to the hospital today. The doctor ordered a Down syndrome screening, but the price is a bit high, so I'm considering whether I can skip the Down syndrome screening?Doctor's answer:
Down syndrome screening is not a mandatory test, but it is important for all pregnant women to understand it. Although Down syndrome screening cannot accurately predict how a fetus may develop Down syndrome, it is an economical, simple, and non-invasive method for estimating the likelihood of the fetus having a chromosomal abnormality. The optimal time for Down syndrome screening is between 15 and 19 weeks of pregnancy. Wishing the patient a speedy recovery and good health!