I know this is a bit morbid - but what are the risks and what sort of factors affect it? My friends are starting families and a few of them are worried sick about it.
2006-11-02 02:40:02 · 17 answers · asked by disco_stoo_1 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 to 1 per 1000 births. In 2006, the Center for Disease Control estimated the rate as 1 per 733 live births in the United States (5429 new cases per year). Approximately 95% of these are trisomy 21, making it the most common human aneuploidy. Down syndrome occurs in all ethnic groups and among all economic classes.
Maternal age influences the risk of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome. At maternal age 20 to 24, the risk is 1/1490, while at age 40 the risk is 1/106, and at age 49 the risk is 1/11. Although the risk increases with maternal age, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under the age of 35, reflecting the overall fertility of that age group. Other than maternal age, no other risk factors are known. However, in up to 12% of trisomy 21 cases, the extra chromosome comes from the paternal gamete. There does not appear to be a paternal age effect.
Many standard prenatal screens can discover Down syndrome. Genetic counseling along with genetic testing, such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), or percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS) are usually offered to families who may have an increased chance of having a child with Down syndrome, or where normal prenatal exams indicate possible problems. Genetic screens are often performed on pregnant women older than 30 or 35.
2006-11-02 02:42:50 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like other people said, the older you are when you start having children, the higher the risk of having a child with Down Syndrome. Doctors do have tests for this but they told my pregnant step-sister that she probably was going to have a child with DS (after performing the test) and she decided to keep the baby....she's 9 years old and never had a problem so you just never know.
2006-11-03 02:20:26 · answer #2 · answered by kimmer 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
at 35 the risks are 1 in 90
2006-11-02 02:41:24 · answer #3 · answered by cereal killer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the age of the Mom. Once she hits 40 it's 1 in a hundred. At 43 it goes to 1 in 60. Prior to 40 the odds are much less.
2006-11-02 02:48:31 · answer #4 · answered by Ruth E 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Much of this depends on their family's history (if they have it in the family they have a much higher risk) and on the age of the potential parents. Older (>35 or 40 year old) people have a larger chance. If they are worried, they should talk to a genetic counselor, often associated with 'high risk' maternity departments or fertility clinics.
2006-11-02 02:42:41 · answer #5 · answered by Cobalt 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The older a woman is when she conceives, the greater the chance of downs syndrom. The best child bearing years are 20's to early 30's.
2006-11-02 02:48:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Downs Syndrome usually occurs in pregnancies of older woman. So, the longer you wait to have a baby, the greater your chances increase. Usually 40 years of age or older.
2006-11-02 02:44:17 · answer #7 · answered by jim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The older the mom is the more chance to get that problem. But they do a test now to determine if the child is affected or not, while the mom is still pregnant. So, you'd have a choice then to have or not to have that baby.
2006-11-02 02:42:06 · answer #8 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's nowhere near that high, it's somthing like one in 160,000 for women in their 20's.
The risk increases with the womans age, but as above, the 12 week scan tests for this, and if suspected, other tests (involving sampling of amniotic fluid) can be taken.
2006-11-02 02:45:13 · answer #9 · answered by le_coupe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1 in a 1000. Age is a major factor.
2006-11-02 02:44:38 · answer #10 · answered by Polo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋