The risk of a miscarriage resulting from an amniocentesis test is greater than the risk of a birth defect when the mother's age is under ____ years.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The risk of a miscarriage resulting from an amniocentesis test is about 0.5% for women under the age of 35. In contrast, the risk of having a baby with a birth defect increases with the mother's age. Therefore, for women under the age of 35, the risk of miscarriage due to amniocentesis is actually higher than the risk of having a baby with a birth defect. However, for women over the age of 35, the risk of having a baby with a birth defect outweighs the risk of miscarriage due to amniocentesis, making the test a more favorable option.

The Risk of a Miscarriage Resulting from an Amniocentesis Test