Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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CVS - Chorionic Villus Sampling
Overview & Description
Chorionic villus sampling, or CVS, is a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is taken from the chorionic villi early in pregnancy. The chorionic villi are lacy fibrils that attach the sac holding the fetus to the uterine wall. These fibrils have the same genetic and biochemical makeup as the fetus.
Who is a candidate for the procedure?
A woman may wish to have CVS done if one of the following conditions applies:
Chorionic villi sampling can detect many disorders in a fetus, including the following:
CVS is usually performed 10 to 12 weeks after the woman has missed a period. An amniocentesis is a similar procedure that involves taking a sample of the fluid in the sac surrounding the fetus. It is done several weeks later. If there is a possibility that the couple wants to terminate the pregnancy, CVS gives results earlier. The abortion can then be done earlier, when it is safer for the woman. For many people, this is a key reason to have CVS.
However, a CVS does not detect spina bifida or other neural tube defects. A blood test known as alpha-fetoprotein can be done to screen for these disorders.
How is the procedure performed?
Shortly before the procedure, the woman will be asked to fill her bladder. The full bladder helps the healthcare provider see the pelvic organs with an ultrasound. The provider uses the ultrasound to guide the insertion of a thin needle. Depending on the position of the placenta and the uterus, CVS may be done through the vagina or through the abdominal wall.
If the route is through the vagina, that area is cleaned with an antiseptic. A tube is put through the cervix, or opening to the uterus. A sample of the fibrils is suctioned out. If CVS is done through the abdomen, a local anesthetic helps to numb the skin. Then, a needle is put through the wall of uterus and a sample of the fibrils is drawn up into the needle. The tissue sample is sent to a lab for testing.