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Last updated: 11/24/2009

Risks

Most of the risks and short-term side effects associated with amniocentesis relate to the sampling procedure. A successful amnio sampling results in no long-term side effects. Risks include:

  • Maternal/fetal hemorrhaging. While spotting in...

    pregnancy is fairly common, bleeding following amnio should always be investigated.
  • Infection. Infection, although rare, can occur after amniocentesis. An unchecked infection can lead to severe complications.
  • Fetal injury. A very slight risk of injury to the fetus resulting from contact with the amnio needle does exist.
  • Miscarriage. The rate of miscarriage occurring during standard, second trimester amnio is approximately 0.5%. This compares to a miscarriage rate of 1% for CVS. Many fetuses with severe genetic defects miscarry naturally during the first trimester.
  • The trauma of difficult family-planning decisions. The threat posed to parental and family mental health from the trauma accompanying an abnormal test result can not be underestimated.

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Animated, narrated slide show that describes how amniotic fluid is sampled during amniocentesis. An ultrasound probe is used to help guide the needle during the procedure.

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Other Information

Amniocentesis (also referred to as amniotic fluid test or AFT), is a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections , in which a small amount of amniotic fluid, which contains fetal tissues, is extracted from the amnion or amniotic sac surrounding a developing fetus, and the fetal DNA is examined for genetic abnormalities.


From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniocentesis

Other Information

An obstetrician/gynecologist, commonly abbreviated as OB/GYN, can serve as a primary physician and often serve as consultants to other physicians.


From: womenshealthchannel.com

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