Age requirements for pregnant women for Down syndrome screening

Physical examinations are required for pregnant women, the elderly and children, and the requirements are different. Not everyone needs to do this examination, but it depends on personal physical problems. For example, Down syndrome screening is mainly to check for genetic diseases. However, many people are worried that there may be some age restrictions on this examination. Because of Gao Lin, they cannot do the examination. Are there any requirements for Down syndrome screening for pregnant women?

Is there an age limit for Down syndrome screening?

It is generally believed that the incidence is higher in fetuses carried by older mothers. But now, with the improvement of my country's urbanization level, the aggravation of various pollutions, the widespread use of contraceptives and the increase in maternal age, the incidence of Down syndrome in my country has a tendency to increase year by year. Since the cause of Down syndrome is still unclear and cannot be effectively prevented or treated, the birth of newborns with Down syndrome can only be prevented through prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion.

In the past, we recommended that older pregnant women over the age of 35 undergo Down syndrome screening because the older the pregnant woman is, the higher the chance of the fetus having Down syndrome. However, since this chance increases gradually, the chance for pregnant women of normal age should not be underestimated. Therefore, regardless of whether you are over 35 years old, you should be screened for Down syndrome.

Is Down syndrome screening necessary?

Down syndrome screening is a special examination method. It is aimed at pregnant women. By checking serum markers, it can screen out high-risk groups whose fetuses are more likely to have Down syndrome for subsequent diagnostic examinations.

Down syndrome is a congenital defect that leads to intellectual disability, with an incidence rate of about 0.5‰. Affected people have distinctive facial features, physical retardation and intellectual disabilities. Down syndrome screening can identify pregnant women whose fetuses are at higher risk of having three diseases, including congenital idiocy and tongue-throwing dementia. If the fetus is eventually confirmed to have these congenital diseases, the pregnant woman can decide whether to continue the pregnancy.

Every expectant mother must be responsible for herself and her family, and not lose the big picture for the sake of saving a little. Therefore, Down syndrome screening is still necessary.