Definition

Noun A medical procedure or set of procedures performed during pregnancy to assess the health and development of a fetus, specifically to detect the presence of genetic disorders, chromosomal abnormalities, or certain birth defects before birth.

Usage

This term is used exclusively in medical and healthcare contexts to refer to the testing and evaluation of a fetus during pregnancy. It is a formal, technical term.

Examples

• The couple opted for prenatal diagnosis to screen for potential genetic conditions.
• Advances in prenatal diagnosis have made it possible to detect many abnormalities early in pregnancy.
• A common method of prenatal diagnosis is amniocentesis.

Advanced Usage

• As a field or concept: The term can refer to the broader medical specialty or practice of fetal assessment.
  • Her research focuses on improving the accuracy and safety of prenatal diagnosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Prenatal testing: A closely related, often more general term for any test done during pregnancy, which may include screening and diagnostic procedures.
• Antenatal diagnosis: A synonym used primarily in British English.
• Fetal diagnosis: A less common synonym emphasizing the subject (the fetus).

Synonyms

• Antenatal diagnosis
• Fetal diagnosis

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Diagnostic procedure: A specific test (e.g., chorionic villus sampling, amniocentesis) that is a component of prenatal diagnosis.
• Genetic screening: Often a preliminary, less invasive step that may lead to a definitive prenatal diagnosis.

Noun

1. any of the diagnostic procedures used to determine whether a fetus has a genetic abnormality