Patients' choices and opinions on chorionic villous sampling and non-invasive alternatives for prenatal testing following preimplantation genetic testing for hereditary disorders: A cross-sectional questionnaire study

Prenat Diagn. 2022 Feb;42(2):212-225. doi: 10.1002/pd.6088. Epub 2022 Jan 17.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate choices of and reasoning behind chorionic villous sampling and opinions on non-invasive prenatal testing among women and men achieving pregnancy following preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for hereditary disorders.

Methods: A questionnaire was electronically submitted to patients who had achieved a clinical pregnancy following PGT at the Center for Preimplantation Genetic Testing, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, between 2017 and 2020.

Results: Chorionic villous sampling was declined by approximately half of the patients. The primary reason for declining was the perceived risk of miscarriage due to the procedure. Nine out of 10 patients responded that they would have opted for a non-invasive prenatal test if it had been offered. Some patients were not aware that the nuchal translucency scan offered to all pregnant women in the early second trimester only rarely provides information on the hereditary disorder for which PGT was performed.

Conclusion: Improved counseling on the array of prenatal tests and screenings available might be required to assist patients in making better informed decisions regarding prenatal testing. Non-invasive prenatal testing is welcomed by the patients and will likely increase the number of patients opting for confirmatory prenatal testing following PGT for hereditary disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Chorionic Villi Sampling / psychology*
  • Chorionic Villi Sampling / statistics & numerical data
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Directive Counseling
  • Female
  • Genetic Counseling / psychology
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / diagnosis*
  • Genetic Testing*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Noninvasive Prenatal Testing* / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / psychology*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Patient Preference / psychology*
  • Patient Preference / statistics & numerical data
  • Pregnancy
  • Preimplantation Diagnosis / psychology*