Amniocentesis Process Essay Example

Amniocentesis Process Essay Example Amniocentesis Process Paper Amniocentesis Process Paper Amniocentesis is a procedure in medicine that involves the extraction of amniotic fluid which is found around the uterus fetus when a woman is pregnant. This fluid can be found around the uterine wall. Generally, amniocentesis is used to identify disorders caused by genetics, chromosomal defects and other disease and problems associated with pregnancy. Apart from this, this procedure is used to determine how developed the unborn child’s lungs are and this is done in third trimester of the pregnancy. This procedure is usually carried out between the 15th and 20th week into the pregnancies of people who are liable to genetic disorders and in women who are close to their menopause. There are some people who have prior history of genetic problems. When pregnant, the baby stands the risk of suffering genetic defect and so this must be carried out to ascertain. Although amniocentesis has its advantages, there is the risk that after this procedure is carried out, there would be a miscarriage. Amniocentesis helps to identify several pregnancy disorders. This could be through the process or use of an ultrasound to guide a hollow-shaped needle into the amniotic sac. This ultrasound could be useful at diagnosing open neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly which affect several babies in America today. In America, statistics have proven that about 4,000 babies suffer from this defect. Apart from this, there are other pregnancy related disorders that amniocentesis aims to detect. A good is example is the Bilirubin Alpha fetoprotein. Alpha fetoprotein is measured in pregnant women with the use of amniotic fluid or their menstrual blood. This is done in order to identify hepatocellular carcinoma and endodermal sinus tumors. Summarily, amniocentesis has proved beneficial to doctors in the field of gynecology and obstetrics. This is because it helps them to know the disorders that occur during pregnancy. Although it has its side effects, when it is carried out properly and at the right time, it is a medical procedure that saves the life of the mother and makes us prepared for latter eventualities.