What tests are available to see if an unborn child has a neuromuscular disease?
We live in a brave new world when it comes to prenatal diagnosis. It’s now not only possible to tell if your unborn child has muscular dystrophy, but to ensure from the beginning of the pregnancy that he or she doesn’t. A definite “yes or no” diagnosis can be made via chorionic villus sampling (CVS) at 11 to 12 weeks gestation, or amniocentesis at 15 to 19 weeks. In CVS, cells from the developing placenta are examined; in amniocentesis some of the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby is drawn out and tested. Both tests very slightly increase the risk of miscarriage. If the fetus is affected, a couple can decide whether to continue the pregnancy, knowing better how to prepare emotionally, financially and domestically for the new child. With preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), parents can know for sure that their baby doesn’t have a particular genetic disease before pregnancy begins. PGD combines the fertility technology of in vitro fertilization with genetic testing. Eggs are collec
