Second-Trimester Amniocentesis Is Even Safer Than We Thought

Prenatal genetic testing is an important diagnostic tool; however, both clinicians and parents rightfully worry about the possibility of fetal loss when such procedures are invasive. Investigators at Washington University School of Medicine conducted a retrospective cohort study based on 16 years of practice history at their prenatal diagnosis clinic. Pregnancy outcomes in 12,000 women who underwent amniocentesis at 15 to 22 weeks’ gestation were compared with those in 40,000 women who did not undergo invasive procedures. Women with multiple gestations and those who had chorionic villus sampling before 15 weeks were excluded.

Overall, 0.97% of women who underwent amniocentesis suffered spontaneous fetal loss before 24 weeks’ gestation, compa…