Patient's question:
I had a check-up at the hospital three months into my pregnancy. The doctor recommended that I have a second-trimester Down syndrome screening after 15 weeks of pregnancy. I would like to ask the doctor: Is the Down syndrome screening necessary? Besides checking for neural tube defects, can it detect other types of abnormalities? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
The initial screening for Down syndrome is merely a probability issue. The test results are not the final result; there are only high-risk and low-risk categories. A high-risk result does not necessarily mean it is definitely Down syndrome, and a low-risk result does not guarantee there are no issues. Currently, if the initial screening indicates high risk, further amniocentesis can be performed, which is the definitive test. However, opinions on amniocentesis vary, with some stating it has a 1% risk of causing miscarriage. Nevertheless, the Down syndrome screening is currently an optional test, meaning you can choose not to undergo it if you believe it is unnecessary.