|
|
|
|
|
DOWN SYNDROME RISK FACTORSRisk Factors for a Down Syndrome Pregnancy
CONTENTS: 1... Down syndrome pregnancy risk factor by AGE OF MOTHER (Maternal age) -- 2... Down syndrome pregnancy risk factor by AGE OF FATHER (Paternal Age) -- 3... Number of babies -- 4... Environmental influences that can cause Down Syndrome -- 5... Fertility problems and birth defects increase with both maternal age and paternal age -- 6... Down Syndrome adults becoming biological parents - having their own kids -- 7... Contact us if you need to.1... Down Syndrome Risk Factors by Age of Mother (Maternal Age):Mother's age 15 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1663 Maternal age 16 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1659 Mother's age 17 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1654 Maternal age 18 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1647 Mother's age 19 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1638 Maternal age 20 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1627 Mother's age 21 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1611 Maternal age 22 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1591 Mother's age 23 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1564 Maternal age 24 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1531 Mother's age 25 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1487 Maternal age 26 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1433 Mother's age 27 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1367 Maternal age 28 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1288 Mother's age 29 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1195 Maternal age 30 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 1089 Mother's age 31 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 975 Maternal age 32 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 855 Mother's age 33 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 733 Maternal age 34 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 617 Mother's age 35 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 509 Maternal age of 36 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 412 Mother's age of 37 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 329 Maternal age of 38 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 259 Mother's age of 39 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 202 Maternal age of 40 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 156 Mother's age 41 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 119 Maternal age 42 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 91 Mother's age 43 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 69 Maternal age 44 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 52 Mother's age 45 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 40 Maternal age 46 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 20 Mother's age 48 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 16 Maternal age 49 years, Down Syndrome risk factor is 1 pregnancy in 12 Total risk of chromosomal damage in baby from all sources including Down Syndrome risk, is approximately double the probability of Down Syndrome - For example, 1 in 40 becomes 1 in 20. [If you already have a kid with Down Syndrome or other chromosomal damage, the risk of the next having chromosomal damage is often increased substantially, depending on the nature of the damage.] The above information was provided to us by an obstetrician. The statistics mostly came from "Update 12, Prenatal Scrreening for Down Syndrome, Age Specific Performance...".
2... Father's Age (Paternal Age), and Down Syndrome Risk Factor of kid Being Born with Down Syndrome:
Harry Fisch and others, over the period 1983 to 1997, investigated 3,429 cases of Down Syndrome in relation to father's age. The researchers found that fathers over 40 years of age, when having kids to women aged over 35 years, had twice the Down syndrome risk factor, when compared with men 24 years of age and younger also having kids to women aged over 35 years. If the women were under 35 years of age, the father's age had no effect on whether it would be a Down Syndrome pregnancy. For mothers over 40 years of age, the researchers discovered that an increase of 50% in Down syndrome risk factor was caused by the advanced age of the father. So, the biggest cause of Down Syndrome pregnancy is the advanced age of either or both the mother and father. 3... Number of babies a woman has can increase the risk of Down Syndrome, other trisomy disorders and other chromosomal disordersYes, if this is the fifth or more baby, the risk of Down Syndrome (Trisomy 21) is slightly increased. Also, Edward syndrome (Trisomy 18) and Patau syndrome (Trisomy 13) risk are also apparently increased slightly. 4... Environmental influences that can increase the risk of Down Syndrome:Females, under the age of 35 years, who smoke have an increased risk of Down Syndrome in their babies. Cigarettes + oral contraceptives made it even worse. Genetics in Medicine 1999;1:80-88 5... Special Note On Fertility for both men and women:The older a women becomes, the less fertile she is likely to become. By the time she reaches 40, assuming she has been able to give birth before, the probability of getting pregnant and having a pregnancy run to full term is quite low, around one in a hundred, according to one specilist. Contrary to popular belief, fertility clinics are normally unable to help older women. For men, R. Glaser, et al, 2002, found in their research on Apert syndrome, that men, between the ages of 33 and 35 begin to experience a dramatic increase in fertility problems; this is also the age when women begin to experience fertility problems more markedly. While Apert syndrome occurs only once in 160,000 births, the researchers think their findings may apply to 20 or so other genetic conditions [does not appear to include Down Syndrome at this time] that appear to be related to fathers above age 33 years. In a nut shell, fertility problems increase markedly for both men and women, once they hit their mid 30's. Also, age and Down Syndrome pregnancy risk is the simplistic way of looking at the cause of Down Syndrome. Based on our current understanding, the real cause of Down Syndrome is starting to be understood. If you are interested, then visit our web page on the Cause of Down Syndrome. 6... Adults with Down Syndrome, Can they be Biological Parents?The answer is yes, but we are not sure how fertile they are. Fatherhood is very rarely expected. Motherhood is much more common. Of mother's with Down Syndrome, about 50% of their offspring will have Down Syndrome or another genetic condition causing developmental disability aka mental retardation. Fifty percent of their kids will be normal. In stating these statistics for women, it should be borne in mind that the research which gives rise to them is very questionable, but it is the best we have at the moment that I am aware of. 7... Email us if you need to with any question about a Down Syndrome pregnancy risk.I think I have covered everything on Down Syndrome pregnancy risk factors, but if you have any questions, please contact me.
Copyright © 2000-2005 Donald Urquhart. All Rights Reserved. Designated trademarks and brands are the property of their respective owners. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our legal disclaimer.
|
