Important Tests during pregnancy help check the baby's growth and health, as well as the mother's well-being.
Chorionic Villus Sampling Test (CSV): You are having a baby!! When you hear this word anything will be a small thing to a woman, right? Even the tests that you go through during pregnancy.
A pregnant woman needs to carry their baby for 38-40 weeks and many questions will be running through her mind. If you are reading this article, means that you may have completed your first trimester and running in the second.
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Knowing the information will help you keep calm and peace. As there are many tests, that will be done during pregnancy, this Chorionic Villus Sampling Test is also one among them.
If your healthcare provider suggests this test, dont neglect it. After reading this article, you might not skip this test even if your doctor did not suggest you.
Anyway, without any late we will look into the article, to know about the CVS prenatal test, why, when, and who should take this test. Even the advantages and the risks involved in this test are explained clearly.
- What is Chorionic Villus Sampling(CVS) & Why it is needed?
- Chorionic Villus Sampling Procedure
- Results of Your CVS Test (Chorionic Villus Sampling )
- Risks or Side Effects of Chorionic Villus Sampling Test
- Benefits of These Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Alternative Test For Chorionic Villus Sampling
- Chorionic Villus Sampling vs Aminiocentesis
- Can I bring my partner for this CVS Test?
- How much does Chorionic Villus Sampling Cost?
- What are diseases or disorders that the CVS test identifies?
- Will I need to take more than one CVS test?
What is Chorionic Villus Sampling(CVS) & Why it is Needed?
The Chorionic Villus Sampling Test is a prenatal diagnostic test that is used mainly to detect genetic diseases like Down syndrome or birth defects in your baby.
Even in the Double Marker Test, and Triple Marker Test, they can be able to find there is any chromosomal disabilities, so doctors will prescribe this test, only to people who have a history of genetic disorders, or if they find any disorder in the test that had done before.
This test will be done in the second trimester after 11 weeks only. This test will be done by taking a small piece of tissue from the placenta. Most doctors will not suggest this to any of the pregnant women unless it is important as there will be a chance of miscarriage after the test.
Not only for the babies that got the abnormality in the previous tests but also for the women who got pregnant after 35 or older also suggest this test. Even if you are having a second baby and your first baby is with a genetic disorder, then also your healthcare providers may suggest this test.
Confirm with your Health Care Provider by asking the reason why they are suggesting this CVS test and ask them clearly if you have any doubts.
Chorionic Villus Sampling Procedure
When you are going to know about the procedure of this CVS test, you should know that this test can be done in two ways.
One is the Transabdominal Approach which is a traditional method and tests through the belly, and the other is the Transcervical Approach which is a test through the cervix.
Usually, this test will take upto 40 minutes max. Your healthcare provider will take the piece of tissue from the placenta. Before going into the procedure, know about Placenta in a few words.
The placenta is the one that grows along with your baby and it gives food and oxygen to your baby from the umbilical cord.
The procedure of the CVS test:
- Firstly, they use an ultrasound scan to find the placenta.
- And then they clean your abdomen or vagina with an antiseptic.
- You will be given an anesthetic to numb your skin and avoid pain.
- After that, your health care provider uses any of the procedures that were discussed above, if they are going with the transabdominal approach then they will insert a needle into your tummy or if they are going with a transcervical approach they insert a tube into your cervix.
- By any of this approach, they take a tissue that was attached to your placenta which we call chorionic villi, and send it to the lab for analysis.
- You will be given an Anti-D injection in case your blood group is negative.
- Finally, the Baby’s heart rate and vital signs will be checked.
And this procedure will make you feel uncomfortable rather than pain. It will have a bearable pain and sometimes we can say this procedure is painless too. The reports of this test will be given within 7-14 days.
By this test, you may feel abdominal pain like period pain or bleeding, high fever, unusual discharge from the vagina, and also you may feel discomfort for 3-4 days after this test.
Anyhow, even though your healthcare provider suggests you this test, at the end of the day it is the decision that you and your partner should take.
With this test, you may know about chromosomal defects but you cannot find neural tube defects.
Results of Your CVS Test (Chorionic Villus Sampling )
As we already discussed the results will be given within 7 to 14 days and in some cases will be given in 3 days which we call a rapid CVS test result.
And after seeing the results from your healthcare provider, they will discuss the conditions, of your baby.
In the results, if you are baby has a high risk of abnormalities or defects, your obstetrician or gynecologist will suggest you to genetic counseling services.
This testing might force you to make an informed decision by discussing it with your family. You should decide to end your pregnancy have extra monitoring about your pregnancy, or plan on how to take care of your baby.
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Risks or Side Effects of Chorionic Villus Sampling Test
Even though the CVS is not a painful test, dont go for it quickly without thinking. The doctor might suggest based on your pregnancy journey, that you and your husband should make the final decision.
Before taking that test, just go down and know the risks and side effects that you will get by doing this Chorionic Villus Sampling test.
Once after complete the test, you may feel a little cramping and spotting, go home immediately after completion of the test and take a rest.
In this CVS test, the main risk that you can have is miscarriage, in 100 % for 1% of people have miscarriages after this test. And this chance will be high in twin pregnancies.
The next one might be RH Sensitization which is nothing but the blood mixed with the baby's blood and the need to take the injection for it.
Sometimes, the test needs to be taken again. Even if you get an infection after this CVS test, it is rare.
Among all these, if you find, fluid leakage from Vagina, severe belly pain, over-bleeding, fever, or contractions, then contact your healthcare provider immediately.
Benefits of These Chorionic Villus Sampling
Till now we have seen the risks and disadvantages of the CVS test, but now we will look into the benefits or advantages of taking this test.
- The main benefit of this CVS test is be it tells you about the defects of the baby very early.
- You and your partner will get clarity on your baby if you have any past genetic defects.
- By taking this test you can be peaceful if there is no risk.
- And even if you need to decide on termination, that procedure will be safer and easier than identifying in the 15th week.
- Even if you want to continue, you can make healthy decisions about how you need to take care of your baby.
Alternative Test For Chorionic Villus Sampling
When your doctor asks you about this CVS test based on the history that you have your age or any genetic defect that was found.
Ask your doctor if you can wait by not taking this test by asking her that this test is compulsory and ask reason too.
Then your doctor may suggest you wait until 15 to 18th week as you can take the Amniocentesis test.
Even in the CVS test, you can know about chromosomal defects but you cannot find the defects in the neural tube. So, the doctor may suggest you if there is a doubt even in 15 to 18 weeks.
Even after taking this CVS test, your doctor may go for an alternative Amniocentesis test to confirm the defects of your baby.
But remember, no doctor will suggest that easily rather than it is most needed.
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Chorionic Villus Sampling vs Aminiocentesis
In prenatal diagnosis tests, some of the women are recommended to take the tests of chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis.
And many of you have a question whether is both the same or different. But, these both are different. In the US, these tests will be mainly recommended for women whose age is more than 35 and giving birth to infants.
| Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) | Amniocentesis |
| The test will be done between 10-13 weeks | Normally, the test will be done between 15-18 weeks, Nowadays this test is also done at 11-14 weeks. |
| In this test, we will find genetic diseases and chromosome defects. | In this test, we can find neural tube defects, genetic defects, and chromosome defects. |
| Forceps or Needles are used to take biopsy placental cells. | The needle is used to remove the amniotic fluid from the sac which is surrounding the fetus. |
| The risk of Miscarriage after the test is low | The risk of Miscarriage after the test is high. |
Note: Take both tests only if it is needed or urgent. Doctors' advice is a must and dont take risks.
FAQs on CVS (Chorionic Villus Sampling) Test
1. Can I bring my partner for this CVS Test?
It is the best idea to bring your or any person that you are close to for these prenatal test appointments so that you will have some support and can take the decision clearly as you both will listen to it.
2. How much does Chorionic Villus Sampling Cost?
When it comes to the cost of this CVS procedure, it will be based on many factors like location, insurance, based on your hospital, doctor, and more.
So as it varies from place to place and doctor to doctor, better to consult a doctor about the fee of this CVS test.
3. What are diseases or disorders that the CVS test identifies?
CVS test will help you to identify the genetic diseases and the problems that the baby has with chromosomes.
If you want to know clearly, this test can clarify diseases and disorders like Down syndrome or trisomy 21, Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, trisomy 18 or Edward syndrome, and Tay-Sachs disease.
4. Will I need to take more than one CVS test?
Most of the time, there is no need for a CVS test again, but in case, the provider has not taken the required amount of cells or if you are having a twin pregnancy, then there might be chances of taking the procedure again.
Conclusion
We are happy, that we have provided you with the information that the true to our knowledge and given an idea on this Chorionic Villus Sampling Test. Do think twice, when you need to decide to take this test and ask your doctor for advice and the questions that you get in your mind.
Even after the test, when you are making teh decision, discuss it with the genetic counselors and then decide.
If you feel, happy about this info, share it with your friends who are going through this stage. Also, check for other pregnancy tests at our Sowmya Hospitals.com website.
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