Prenatal diagnosis in the adolescent patient

Despite a 21% reduction in the birth rate for adolescents aged 15-19 years between 1991 and 2000, there are still over 470,000 births to adolescents nationwide. The primary purpose of prenatal screening is to determine the risk of a disease or condition affecting either the patient or her fetus. A determination of risk is possible only after an accurate assessment of all information unique to each pregnancy. This assessment includes a medical, obstetrical, social, and family history. Ethnicity-based screening tests should be offered to patients at risk for specific disorders unique to their ancestry, whereas population-based screening tests, such as maternal serum screening and ultrasound screening, should be offered to all pregnant women. Invasive diagnostic testing should be reserved for patients whose pregnancy has been determined to be at risk for a particular disease or condition.