Amniocentesis: Do I Need It?

Amniocentesis is not recommended for all women—mainly due to the fact that the test is invasive and carries a small risk of miscarriage—but it is generally administered to those who are at increased risk for genetic and chromosomal problems. This prenatal screening enables your health care professional to examine fetal cells in the amniotic fluid for any chromosomal abnormalities.

If you are 35 or older when you're due to have your baby, your health care professional will likely discuss the risks of chromosomal abnormalities based on your age and recommend this test. That's because women over 35 have a higher risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome.

An amniocentesis is also recommended if you've already had a child with certain birth defects, or if you have a family or personal history that puts you at risk for certain inherited diseases. You might choose to have this test if you had abnormal blood tests that suggest there might be a problem.

Amniocentesis can diagnose numerous conditions, but only if the lab evaluating the amniotic fluid knows which tests to conduct. These tests are very expensive, so talk with your health care professional about which ones are necessary based on your history and risk factors. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get the results.