Should I have chorionic villus sampling (CVS)?
Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is a type of prenatal testing-a test done while a woman is pregnant to look for problems with the fetus. You may want to have CVS if the information it provides might change your plans. Consider the following when making your decision: • CVS is done in the first trimester. If the test shows a serious problem, you have more time to prepare for the birth or a chance to end the pregnancy when it is safest and easiest. If the news is good, you have less time to worry. • CVS can find hundreds of diseases and defects, including Down syndrome. Finding out that your baby does not have one of these problems can be reassuring. But no test can rule out all problems or guarantee that your baby will be healthy. • CVS cannot detect a neural tube defect, such as spina bifida. If you are most concerned about neural tube defects, you may want to choose amniocentesis instead. Or you can have CVS and then a blood test later to find these problems. • CVS is not a routine te
