Genetic Testing / Gender Tests

violetmarie61516 · November 2015

How is everyone getting all these different tests done? I know if you are over 35 or 40, you qualify for additional testing but it seems like many of you are getting others done even if you are not older than 35. Am I missing something? May we be eligible to have something other than just the standard NT test done? TIA!

huskypuppy14 · November 2015

I think it depends on your doctor, insurance co, or whether you want to pay out of pocket. I'm 33 and my doctor will have me do the NT test first then depending on the results I could do the DNA test. I'm only 9 weeks and due at the end of June so some ladies are a who,e month ahead and might have already done the NT.

huskypuppy14 · November 2015

I just want to add that the purpose of the DNA test is not to find out the sex, but it's to test for chromosomal abnormalities. Finding out the sex is a bonus of the test but not the purpose.

goldie987 · November 2015

For the most part, insurance won't cover NIPTs unless you are over 35 or are high risk (generally you have a child with a chromosomal issue already). I believe Verifi has a $99 peace of mind program where they'll only charge $99 if insurance doesn't cover it regardless of age. Otherwise, I know the lab my Dr uses has a $350 up front charge if you're under 35 or not high risk because insurance is almost guarenteed to cover it.

You can always opt for getting it done and pay out of pocket, that's a totally legitimate option but the tests can run pretty expensive and, personally, I would feel bad doing it if I didn't have a legitimate reason. For every person who does it just for sex determination, its that much longer that someone with an actual medical need has to wait to hear back.

june2016baby · November 2015

OP- I was wondering the same thing as you! I'll turn 35 during this pregnancy (and am getting a test on Monday) but a lot of people who are younger have had it done. But then some other younger people were told they couldn't get the test.

jas060515 · November 2015

Keep in mind that those tests aren't only for women older than 35. They are also for women who are at risk of chromosomal abnormalities (medical history of the mother, history of chromosomal abnormalities in past pregnancies, # of lost pregnancies,etc). I'm 27 and I have to have Genetic testing done at 9 weeks, because I lost a son at 17 weeks due to a tumor in the liver and had a missed miscarriage at 15 weeks due to trisomy 18. Most insurance companies do not cover this tests unless they are medically necessary. Be thankful that you do not need them ☺

huskypuppy14 · November 2015

jas060515 said:

Keep in mind that those tests aren't only for women older than 35. They are also for women who are at risk of chromosomal abnormalities (medical history of the mother, history of chromosomal abnormalities in past pregnancies, # of lost pregnancies,etc). I'm 27 and I have to have DNA testing done at 9 weeks, because I lost a son at 17 weeks due to a tumor in the liver and had a missed miscarriage at 15 weeks due to trisomy 18. Most insurance companies do not cover this tests unless they are medically necessary. Be thankful that you do not need them ☺
</blockquo Yes good point. Since no one in our families has any genetic issues that we know of and I'm under 35 we are low risk. I'm sorry about your previous losses.

HBamama2B · November 2015

@june2016baby if your turning 35 before the birth you likely qualify. I'll be 35 in April. The increased risk is marked by age at birth not conception.

@jas060515 I'm so sorry about your losses and hope for a uneventful pregnancy and a healthy LO for you in June! And excellent point. I am nervous about the outcome of the test and thankful it exists. I'd much rather have to wait 8 weeks to find out the sex to have a lower risk profile for my LO. Such an easy trade for peace of mind.

If you don't have recommended early US or testing, I say rub your belly and thank your lucky stars for your highly likely to be healthy baby.

hokiejenn · November 2015

I am getting CVS because I'm a Fragile X carrier. Even with no family history it's covered since I'm in the carrier range. (Although at 35, I am "advanced" in age lol). I did IVF, so I found out a bunch of stuff before we even started due to my husband and I getter tested for a bunch of genetic stuff. It may be that you were tested early on in your pregnancy and everything checked out great, so your dr didn't bring it up. good luck

NicknShan · November 2015

I asked about these tests. My OB just said she wouldn't do them unless you are over 35. Period. I was a little selfishly sad, but thankful I am not considered high risk. My insurance sucks so I was going to chose this over the NT Scan. ($200 vs $600 for the scan). But my OB said for someone my age, do the NT Scan.

violetmarie61516 · November 2015

I apologize if anyone thought I misunderstood or felt jealous because we are not high risk. I am very aware of that fact and I am forever grateful to our birth mother and the fact that we are only dealing with high blood pressure. I am so sorry that each of you are having to deal with the potential of having something wrong with your LO just by the fact that you have factors that make you at risk. I hope that everyone here has a H&H pregnancy and baby and that all the tests, no matter what they are come back normal. By no means am I wanting to get these just to determine the sex. I would never want to delay someone who really needed it and was "waiting" because of me or anyone else that would do that.

I didn't realize, obviously, what everyone's history was. It's hard to know just based off a siggy that may not even exist. I'm sorry if I offended anyone. Thank you for all of you who have been open. I think I just felt a little left out, we are only 9w1d today and others are in fact father along.

HBamama2B · November 2015

@Love4Labs326 I definitely didn't take it that way! I think it's an honest and solid question for the board. Im really glad you asked, and meant my response to be encouraging rather than discouraging. It's only been two weeks since my last scan and I'm deep in withdrawal, so I feel you! I just keep reminding myself that that means I'm doing well and was trying to share my 'not seeing baby is a good thing' mantra with others.

I'm sorry if it came off as dismissive.

I'm not sure about the 'delay' issue, I've never heard of that or any challenges with test turn around time, the chromosomal things come back very very quickly. So I'd have to disagree with the thought of 'taking away' by opting in. TBH, DH and I had already decided to pay oop for the test if it wasn't covered since we didn't pay for the PGS testing on the embryo ($5000) and I'm borderline. I'm a worrier and the test was only $150 if not covered by insurance due to risk. It was part of our decision to not do the PGS which was very expensive and could possibly damage healthy embryos. I would say never feel bad for requesting care if you're concerned that something might be wrong. Trust your instincts and your GC's.

also- only 3 wks to your NT scan which is 20minutes if you're GC is having it and you get to be in the room! That's when the button nose pictures arrive. It's a test for abnormalities but no shame in enjoying that beautiful baby profile!

goldie987 · November 2015

Everything @HBamama2B said except the delay thing. One person obviously isnt going to make a difference in the grand scheme of things but the tests do take time to run and when you've got one person here and one person there and another person over there all opting for the screen because they want to know the sex early (not saying anyone here is doing that but it is done), that's that many more tests that have to get done before you get to the high risk person. Turn around time is already around a week for most of these tests, a poster yesterday was 9 or 10 days out and still hadn't heard back. If you are dealing with being an older mom or a history of chromosomal anomalies, that one or two extra days can be a lifetime. It's kind of like voting, one person choosing not to vote isn't going to skew the election, but if enough people all have the philosophy of "its just one person", you can get drastic differences.

HBamama2B · November 2015

@Sgoldberg247 thanks. I don't think op or I were suggesting anyone was or should be getting it to find out sex. More if you were/had concerns/ fears and could know for certain baby is healthy and have a positive update to hug tight. I think what I've learned is that the 1st tri is a scary unsure time for a lot of us.

NicknShan · November 2015

@Love4Labs326 I didn't take it that way either. Sorry if my note implied it. I asked my OB about the test...

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