Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is done to:

• Find chromosomal birth defects (such as Down syndrome), especially if you are over age 35.
• Find family genetic problems (such as Tay-Sachs disease, hemophilia, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, or thalassemia) of your baby during pregnancy, especially if either you or the father has a family history of a genetic problem.
• Find out the sex of your baby if you know you might have a sex-linked genetic disorder. For example, hemophilia can be passed from a mother (who does not have the disease) only to her male children. Her female children may be carriers of the disease but will not have the disease.
• Find the blood type of your baby when Rh sensitization has occurred.