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Original poster

Has anybody have the CVS test?

34 replies

TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 08:26

I found out yesterday that I'll likely need to have a CVS test at 10-12 weeks due to a genetic disorder I have which is fatal to boys. So they'll need to test if I have passed it on.

I'm just wondering if anybody has had one? I've been researching it all night and I'm worried about the risk of miscarriage!

There's also the option of the amnio, but the CVS can be done sooner.

Given my condition is gender linked, is it possible through CVS or amnio to determine gender, too? Or would I then be left until 15-16 weeks, if it does have the condition, to find out whether the poor little mite is a boy?

OP posts:
Waggily · 16/10/2018 09:06

I had a CVS last year as it was suspected my baby had Edwards Syndrome. They will be able to test for the sex of the baby as well as your genetic condition, as they told us our baby was a little boy, even though we didn’t reallly need to know that for the diagnosis.

There is a risk of miscarriage but often it’s below the 1% that is generally quoted. It depends on the expertise of the consultant and your hospital should be able to tell you your actual stats.

It’s uncomfortable but not awful. I had a big bruise on my stomach afterwards that was more sore than the procedure. I found everyone to be very kind and understanding and they tried to make it as calm and stress free as possible.

The waiting for results is the hardest part so if it were me, i’d Have the CVS rather than wait for an amino. I don’t think there’s much difference in The actual procedure or the risk (but I could be wrong about that).

It’s such an awful thing to be going through, i’m Really sorry you’re having to deal with this.

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 10:06

Thank you, @Waggily. I really appreciate the response. How is your little boy now?

I'll definitely opt for the CVS if I am given the choice. Looking at the website that specialises in my condition, it says CVS is the only one that can test for it anyway so I suspect that'll be the only option available.

Thank you ❤️

OP posts:
Waggily · 16/10/2018 11:05

Sadly my litttle boy did have Edwards and we had to end the pregnancy at 15 weeks. I probably should have said that. I miss him everyday but i’n 8 months pregnant with my third child and this one seems to be doing ok.

I’ll cross my fingers that everything turns out well with your baby and that you go on to have a healthy straight forward pregnancy.

brodiee · 16/10/2018 11:12

Hi @TokenGinger

I had a CVS with my son as I had v high risk of Down's syndrome. It is an unpleasant experience but I have to say it was nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. They anaesthetise you and then insert a needle to collect cells from your placenta. There's some mild discomfort during and afterwards u may feel like you have period cramps.

I had to have the anti D injection After as I'm negative blood type and that hurt more than the CVS procedure!

My results came back clear for Down's syndrome a few days later and they were also able to tell me the sex. So they will be able to tell you this also.

Make sure you rest afterwards and don't overdo it. Lots of paracetamol and cake. Hope all goes well xxx

brodiee · 16/10/2018 11:13

When I say anaesthetise you I mean they inject your tummy with anaesthetic to numb everything - you are awake during procedure

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 12:16

@Waggily I'm so sorry for your loss, but happy for you that you have been blessed again ❤️

@brodiee Thank you, that's helpful to know and I'm negative too, and DP is positive so I suspect I'll need to have that.

It's a huge relief knowing they can tell the gender, too. My biggest worry was finding out I've passed on the condition, then having to wait until 15 weeks for a gender scan to see if it's a boy and then facing a TMFR.

Thank you for your lovely well wishes. I'm keeping everything crossed that my little peanut will be okay xx

OP posts:
Dhalandchips · 16/10/2018 12:27

I had one with DD (now 9) as was high risk for Down's. I'll be brutally honest, it was horrible. I'm sorry to warn you that it can be excruciatingly painful. It's probably just me but I wasn't expecting it to be so awful.
I wasn't in a good place in my head, as I'd had to wait a week for it, and already decided to have a termination (messed up thinking, I'd already diagnosed a chromosomal abnormality- totally unfounded!) That may have had an impact on my physical reaction to the procedure.

I would recommend asking for some counselling/psychological input before/during/after. I wasn't offered any and of course didn't think to ask.
Then I got a letter saying she was a 46XX which messed with my head even more!

She is a fabulous DD, absolutely adored.

Good luck Flowers

Dhalandchips · 16/10/2018 12:27

There was no mention of anaesthesia....

Bloodylegoeverywhere · 16/10/2018 12:41

I had one with my ds who's now 4, I was at high risk for downs etc. It did hurt and felt pain after. My results took nearly 3 weeks for them to be done, was a very long wait. All came back clear. Good luck with what ever you decide.

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 12:54

@Dhalandchips That sounds awful, you poor thing. I'm glad your DD is here ❤️

OP posts:
Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 12:54

@Bloodylegoeverywhere That's such a long wait! You must have been going out of your mind!

OP posts:
Bloodylegoeverywhere · 16/10/2018 12:58

It was, I cried everyday Confused

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 13:43

@Bloodylegoeverywhere You poor thing 😢

OP posts:
costacoffeecup · 16/10/2018 19:23

Just a thought, can you have the harmony test first to find out the gender and only have cvs if it's a boy? Or would the timings be out?

Treaclepie19 · 16/10/2018 21:37

I have nothing further to add because I'm due an amnio on Monday (high NT, 1 In 5 risk of downs) but I wish you all the best Flowers

Snugasabuginrugs · 16/10/2018 21:57

I was thinking the same thing as costacoffeecup

I'm not a medical professional but my understanding is that NIPT is pretty accurate for sex; it looks at placental DNA rather than the baby's but then so does CVS (amnio is baby DNA). I don't know if that's relevant when it comes to sex (but can be with other genetic conditions because of placental mosaicism)

www.rapid.nhs.uk/guides-to-nipd-nipt/nipd-for-fetal-sex-determination/

I would definitely suggest some research or asking your doctor to see if it can help avoid invasive testing if you want to

That said, I had the Harmony privately and also CVS. We were given a high risk of two trisomies at our 12 week scan; we'd already had blood taken for Harmony privately at that point because we were doing it just in case, we never dreamed we'd be told we were high risk (or would probably have gone straight to CVS to check all the chromosomes as high NT)

The CVS was painful but quick, they looked at baby on ultrasound before and after which was reassuring. I took a couple of days off and didn't do much just to be safe (it was quite nice actually) and everything was fine (I was just a bit bruised for a while l)

Happily, the results were normal and my wonderful DD is here now. I will have everything crossed that your's are too OP, and @Treaclepie19

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 22:14

Good luck @Treaclepie19. Keep us updated 

@costacoffeecup I hadn't heard of the Harmony Test. Thank you, that sounds like a great option. I'll research it to see if that can be done earlier on in pregnancy than a CVS.

OP posts:
le42 · 16/10/2018 22:16

Hi there, I had cvs about 10 weeks ago as we were high risk following the 12 week scan.

Honestly I found it totally fine, barely any pain, just some small discomfort, it took about 5 mins and I just took it easy the following day to be on safe side. The next day I felt I had done a lot of sit ups but not very painful. I had no bleeding or any side effects.

Results came back all clear and happy news we are expecting a little boy.

Worst bit was waiting for the results.

Wishing you good luck!! Xxxx

Treaclepie19 · 16/10/2018 22:16

Thank you ❤
I think the NIPT/harmony can be done from 10w? We had ours done after getting a bad result at the dating scan so I'm not sure.

crumpet · 16/10/2018 22:17

I had 2, one for each of my pregnancies. Bit uncomfortable, but both were fine.

crumpet · 16/10/2018 22:17

The worst part was the wait for the results, rather than the actual procedure

Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 22:17

Good luck @Treaclepie19. Keep us updated 

@costacoffeecup I hadn't heard of the Harmony Test. Thank you, that sounds like a great option. I'll research it to see if that can be done earlier on in pregnancy than a CVS.

OP posts:
Original poster
TokenGinger · 16/10/2018 22:19

@Snugasabuginrugs Thank you so much for that link. That sounds like exactly what I need and can be performed from 7 weeks. That would save weeks of anxiety if I know it's a girl.

It's good to hear how they monitored you after the CVS. I am worried that if everything is fine with baby, I've heightened the risk of miscarriage with all of these procedures.

I have my scan on Friday so I will find out how far I am and can then figure out which tests can be done and when.

I'm so grateful for all of the support on this thread ❤️

OP posts:
Hobbes8 · 16/10/2018 22:26

I had a CVS when I was pregnant with my first, who is 7 now. I didn’t find it painful - I had a few mild period type pains the next day. It was mostly just stressful and upsetting knowing what the procedure was for, and then waiting and calling up for the results, so I feel for you.

He was fine though - all negative. We didn’t want to know the sex but they can definitely tell from the CVS. It was quite weird knowing other people knew and I didn’t!

mamamedic · 16/10/2018 22:52

Ask the consultant what his miscarriage rates are following CVS. You can do this via his dept prior to the procedure. 1% has been the general rule since I had CVS with twins 16 yrs ago! My consultant did a CVS on both my twins who were in separate sacs using just one needle for twin #1 and somehow swopping to a clean needle for twin #2 all whilst still inside my uterus! No pain at all. I absolutely promise. It's all in the dexterity and kindness of the consultant. Good Luck

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