Chorionic villus sampling, also known as CVS, is a test that can diagnose chromosome abnormalities in addition to other inherited illnesses. Your physician may advise you to have this test if either you or your spouse comes from a family with a medical history that indicates a higher risk. The primary benefit of CVS is the fact that you obtain accurate results so early in your pregnancy. In this article I am going to give you important information about the Chorionic villus sampling or CVS. Are the benefits greater than the risks? Let’s find out.
Chorionic villus sampling or CVS. Benefits and Risks.
How exactly is the Chorionic villus sampling performed?
During pregnancy, the placenta is responsible for removing waste products from the blood of the developing baby while also supplying the growing infant with oxygen and nutrition. Chorionic villi are delicate projections of placental tissue that have the same genetic information as the developing baby. CVS is a diagnostic process that involves extracting some chorionic villi cells from the placenta at the site where it joins to the uterine wall. This test can be done as soon as 10 weeks.
Chorionic villus sampling is able to determine not only whether or not a child has a chromosomal problem like Down syndrome, but also whether or not they have other genetic diseases like cystic fibrosis. Even though chorionic villus sampling can provide helpful information about your baby’s health, it is essential to be aware of the dangers involved and to be ready for the outcomes of the test.
There are two methods that can be used to gather samples:
- During a transcervical procedure, an ultrasound is used to guide a thin catheter all the way to the placenta via the cervix. The cells of the chorionic villi are taken in with a gentle suction using the catheter. This is by far the most typical approach.
- An ultrasound helps direct a long, thin needle to your placenta when it is inserted transabdominally through the abdomen. After taking a tissue sample with the needle, the needle is subsequently removed from the patient. This procedure is quite comparable to the amniocentesis process.
Before beginning the test, the physician will perform an ultrasound in order to determine how to perform the CVS. The most direct path to the placenta is typically the one that is the safest for both the mother and the child. In most cases, the doctor will only need to make one attempt to acquire the sample. However, in the event that the patient has twins, the doctor may need to perform separate procedures on each of the infants. It may be necessary to make a second attempt for a single baby to collect sufficient placental cells in some circumstances. In extremely rare cases, it may be impossible to collect sufficient placental cells for the tests, or it may be impossible to access the placenta in order to collect a sample.
In comparison to amniocentesis, the CVS method takes less time to do, collects more data, and delivers its findings. It could take anywhere from one to seven days to receive the results.
When is chorionic villus sampling, often known as CVS, done?
A CVS is typically performed between the 10th and 13th week of pregnancy. Because it can be carried out at an earlier stage in the pregnancy, CVS is sometimes preferred over amniocentesis.
Which women will highly benefit from a Chorionic villus sampling:
- Women who have a prenatal screening test that was positive. If the results of a screening test, such as the first trimester screen or the prenatal cell-free DNA screening, are positive or cause concern, you may choose to have chorionic villus sampling so that a diagnosis can be confirmed or ruled out.
- In one of your previous pregnancies, you suffered from a chromosomal disorder. If a prior pregnancy was complicated by Down syndrome or another chromosomal issue, there is a possibility that current pregnancy will also be at a slightly increased risk for such conditions.
- You’re 35 or older. Babies born to mothers who are 35 years old or older have an increased chance of having chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome.
- You or your partner is a known carrier of a genetic condition, or there is a history of a certain genetic condition in your family, and you are considering having children. Chorionic villus sampling can be used to diagnose a wide variety of genetic illnesses, including single gene disorders such as Tay-Sachs and cystic fibrosis. This is in addition to its usage in determining whether or not a person has Down syndrome.
What exactly does the Chorionic villus sampling check for?
Chorionic villus sampling examines the chromosomes of an unborn child by examining the cells of the placenta to detect for chromosome abnormalities. Because the baby and the placenta share the same genetic code, a laboratory can cultivate the placental cells and then examine them in order to gain knowledge about the baby. Chromosomes are little packages of DNA that store all of our genes. These genes serve as the instructions for human development, and chromosomes are the containers that hold them. The majority of people have a total of 46 chromosomes in each cell of their bodies. The CVS test can determine whether the infant has an additional chromosome, a missing chromosome, or significant changes to the structure of their chromosomes. Alterations to chromosomes have the potential to cause severe birth abnormalities as well as mental impairment in newborns.
Diseases that are diagnosed through Chorionic villus sampling.
- Tissue from a CVS donor can be analyzed to look for specific inherited genetic disorders. It is possible to screen the pregnancy for a genetic illness such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Tay-Sachs disease using CVS. This testing is only available to couples who have a known increased chance of having a child affected by one of these conditions.
- Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is the chromosome disorder that is diagnosed the most frequently. It results from their being a total of 47 chromosomes in each cell due to the presence of an additional 21st chromosome in each cell. People who have Down syndrome have a mental disability ranging from mild to moderate, and they may also have specific birth abnormalities.
- Trisomy 18, often known as Edward syndrome, is a condition that occurs much less frequently than Down syndrome. It is caused by an additional 18th chromosome rather than an extra 21st chromosome, as is the case with Down syndrome. Only a small percentage of kids born with trisomy 18 make it to delivery. Mental impairment, cardiac issues, very poor growth, and more complications are all caused by having trisomy 18.
- In addition, sampling of the chorionic villus can enable access to DNA for paternity testing prior to the delivery of the baby. During the chorionic villus sample process, the putative father’s DNA is retrieved and compared to the DNA obtained from the newborn. When it comes to establishing paternity, these results are extremely reliable (99 percent).
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Processing information of a Chorionic villus sampling or CVS.
It usually takes between 10 and 14 days for the doctor to receive the results. In certain circumstances in which information must be obtained more promptly, the preliminary findings of the CVS may be available in 48 hours. If the placental cells do not proliferate in the laboratory at the predicted rate, the time required to obtain the results may occasionally be longer than anticipated.
In extremely rare cases, placental cells will not grow at all, and the results of the CVS as well as the results of any specific tests that were done in conjunction with the CVS will not be reported. In this particular scenario, it’s possible that a second CVS is required.
If the pregnancy is older than 14 weeks, an amniocentesis can be a choice for the doctor to make.
The timeframe of the results of any specialized genetic testing that was performed with the CVS will depend on the ailment that was being tested for and could take more than a month.
Precision of the Chorionic villus sampling or CVS.
This test has an accuracy of roughly 99 percent when it comes to identifying the most prevalent issues. If any specialized genetic testing was done on the sample provided by CVS, the accuracy of the results will be determined both by the condition for which the sample was tested and by the laboratory that carried out the testing.
What do the results of the chorionic villus sampling (CVS) means?
The Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) is a diagnostic test that identifies chromosome abnormalities and genetic issues with a very high degree of precision (98-99 percent). The severity of these illnesses is not determined by this test, despite the fact that there is a significant probability that they will be identified. This test is not useful for identifying problems such as neural tube defects.
Adverse effects of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) on the mother or the baby.
Even while CVS is widely regarded as a risk-free technique, it is widely acknowledged that it is an invasive diagnostic examination that does in fact carry the possibility of adverse outcomes. The most common danger associated with CVS is a miscarriage, which occurs once in every 100 procedures.
Chorionic villus sampling or CVS is not recommended for women who:
- Have an active infection (STD).
- Are carrying twins.
- Have experienced vaginal bleeding during pregnancy.
Transcervical CVS is not recommended for women who:
- Have uterine fibroids or have a posteriorly tilted uterus which may block the catheter to go through the cervix.
As a result of the fact that CVS requires inserting either a needle or a catheter into the uterus, women who undergo the procedure may feel some discomfort, which is typically described as pressure or cramping. It is usual for patients to have cramps for a few hours after the surgery. When the operation is performed with a needle, the patient may experience discomfort, tenderness, or bruising at the place where the needle entered the body. There is a possibility of faint vaginal bleeding after the surgery if it is performed using a catheter.
Make an appointment with your primary care physician if any of these symptoms continue or worsen.
Contact your healthcare provider if these symptoms remain or get worse.
You should also contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Leaking of amniotic fluid.
What are the benefits of getting tested versus not getting tested?
Different individuals and couples have different motivations for testing themselves or deciding not to do so. After completing the tests and establishing the diagnosis, you will be presented with the following opportunities:
- Investigate any possible interventions that could be available.
- Start making preparations now for a child with special requirements.
- Start preparing for the expected changes in your lifestyle.
- Identify support groups and resources.
- Consider your options for carrying the pregnancy to term.
There are a variety of reasons why certain parents or couples can make the decision to not to proceed with further testing such as Chorionic villus sampling or CVS.
- They are content with the results, despite the fact that there is no certainty on the outcome.
- Making a choice regarding whether or not to bring the pregnancy to term is not an option for the mother due to personal, moral, or religious considerations.
- Some parents decide not to subject their developing child to any kind of testing that carries even the slightest possibility of causing harm to the child.
- It is essential to have an in-depth conversation with your healthcare physician about the potential downsides and upsides of testing. Your doctor will assist you in determining if the potential benefits of the outcomes potentially outweigh any dangers that may be associated with the procedure.
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How to Naturally Shrink Uterus after Pregnancy.
Is Covid Vaccine Safe During Pregnancy?
How to Naturally Prevent Pregnancy Depression.
Final thoughts about Chorionic villus sampling or CVS.
Going through screening exams during pregnancy is always stressing. Every mom-to-be who is pregnant has the same goal, to be absolutely certain that their child will be born completely and totally healthy. It is important to keep in mind that early screening tests. Such as the screening for nuchal translucency or chorionic villus sampling do not prove anything beyond a reasonable doubt. They simply suggest that additional tests with a higher level of specificity are necessary before any kind of diagnosis can be established.
Keep in mind that early screening is all about giving you choices, and that having choices gives you the freedom to make the decisions that are best for both you and your baby. I hope this article helps, if you have any further questions, feel free to share your thoughts below.
Zadi, xo
Disclaimer: The medical information on this post is for informational, educational and entertainment use only. Under no circumstances, this information is to replace your doctor’s advice or to treat any disease. For proper care, always visit your doctor. Ultrasoundfeminsider is not liable for any injury caused by reading this article.
