Unfortunately, the relationship between a man and a woman does not always work out in the best way. Discord, quarrels and lack of understanding in the family, lengthy divorce proceedings and other pitfalls can cause adultery or the presence of several sexual partners. And if an unplanned pregnancy occurs during one of the difficult periods of life, the only way to act honestly and responsibly is to conduct a paternity test.
Genetic examination will allow you to get rid of doubts and worries about which man conceived, and will prevent the need to lie to your spouse or loved one without being completely sure of his relationship with the unborn child. In addition, modern medical technologies make it possible to conduct the necessary research during pregnancy. Reliable results can be obtained from 9-10 weeks after fertilization, which means that, if desired, you can verify genetic paternity even before the very fact of pregnancy is noticeable to others.
Is it possible to conduct a DNA test to confirm paternity during pregnancy?
Relationships between men and women regarding marriage, its dissolution, and the birth of children can develop differently.
There are often cases when a potential father of a baby doubts the fact of conceiving a child, giving weighty arguments and justifying his position. Today, the only accurate confirmation of paternity is a DNA test. The fact is that deoxyribonuclinic acid, being in a woman’s cell, contains the genetic information of real parents.
The point of such a study is to compare the DNA material of the child in the womb and the data of the father, after which it is possible to conclude that paternity is up to 99%.
Method of determination
Human DNA, like any other DNA, is considered a universal carrier of all information about any object of study. DNA code data is purely individual; even two completely identical DNA codes do not exist in nature, which is why genetic examination is the most reliable confirmation or refutation of a family relationship.
The formation of the baby's DNA code occurs on the basis of equal shares of genetic information from both parents, which is why the presence of matches in DNA research proves a family relationship, and their absence refutes blood relationship.
Let's take a closer look at how both methods of studying the DNA code of an unborn baby differ.
Invasive method
In principle, the most accurate analysis, and the research occurs quite quickly. The procedure takes place through the collection of amniotic fluid and its subsequent examination, that is, through a small but surgical intervention.
There are several negative points:
- Only cross-testing of the DNA of the fetus and the alleged father of the baby is possible;
- there is, albeit a small, threat of miscarriage.
Non-invasive method
The advantages of this method of establishing paternity are complete safety for the mother and fetus. At the same time, the accuracy of the analysis is as high as with the invasive method.
Unlike the first method, DNA analysis is possible at later stages of pregnancy than with the first method. The recommended period is 10-16 weeks.
The procedure takes place by collecting and further testing the venous blood of the mother and expected close relatives of the unborn child. If the test result shows a 99.9% match, this means that the fetus has the same genetic markers as the alleged father, that is, paternity is confirmed.
A negative aspect of genetic research using a non-invasive method is the fact that it cannot be used if one of the baby’s parents has undergone a bone marrow transplant, or has undergone a blood transfusion in the last six months before the blood was taken for analysis.
Carrying out the test during pregnancy - reasons
During pregnancy, all activities of healthcare professionals are aimed at preserving the fetus, its development without pathologies, and maintaining a satisfactory state of health of the expectant mother. In the usual practice of observing a gynecologist, this type of research is not required. It can only be implemented on the initiative of the woman or the potential father of the child.
Mother's initiative
In the case when a woman has doubts about the relationship of the alleged candidate for father and expresses a desire to carry out the procedure, this option is considered in consultation with a leading gynecologist, since when penetrating the uterus to collect material for research, there is a risk of infection of the fetus.
Before it is carried out, the pregnant woman must give written consent to the intervention, because such an event could theoretically harm the child and the woman, which would become a real threat to the delivery process.
Father's initiative
There are situations when the husband or partner of a pregnant woman insists on carrying out an examination even before the birth, as he is making plans to establish paternity.
The test will be carried out if the woman agrees and it does not pose a threat to the baby, but if she refuses and her position does not change, DNA material will not be collected, and accordingly the procedure is postponed until the child is born.
Only men who are not in an official marriage registered with the registry office have the right to establish the legal fact of paternity, and circumstances related to objective reasons prevent them from applying to this institution during pregnancy (for example, the future father is on a long business trip, or undergoing treatment in a medical organization). In the case of a registered marriage, paternity is established automatically.
No one can oblige a pregnant woman or a healthcare institution to hold an event, since the matter concerns the preservation of the life and health of the expectant mother and baby.
Establishing paternity by date of conception and gestational age
Today, the most accurate method of determining the father of a child is a laboratory DNA analysis, only it gives almost 100% results. Other calculation methods are not immune to error. One of them, which is used by women who have had several sexual partners since their last menstruation, is the calculation method, that is, with the man with whom they had a relationship during ovulation (days 12-14 of the cycle).
Considering all the risks to which the baby is exposed, it is worth concluding that paternity determination during pregnancy should be resorted to only in rare and important cases (for example, identifying a genetic pathology). In any other case, it is better to wait until the baby is born.
Is it possible to get DNA done during pregnancy?
How expedient it is to implement the procedure for obtaining DNA test results specifically at the stage of pregnancy is decided by the patient with the consent of the doctor, so it is definitely impossible to talk about harmlessness or predictable consequences for the fetus.
Who conducts
Activities to study genetic material and obtain it from the patient are carried out in specialized clinics that are licensed and have the legal right to conduct such procedures. They are carried out only by highly qualified doctors - obstetricians-gynecologists who have experience in conducting such manipulations in order to eliminate the risks of complications, because incorrect DNA sampling can have certain consequences for the fetus and mother.
Determination procedure
Determination of paternity during pregnancy can occur in two ways:
- invasive (by obtaining DNA by entering the uterus);
- non-invasive (the material is taken without examining the uterine area, through the blood of the potential father and the pregnant woman).
The number of weeks also plays a big role; the test will be more informative at a later date, when the child is already formed. In the period of 10-12 weeks, there is a high risk of inaccuracy of the result; specialists have to compare the baby’s DNA with the mother’s DNA to ensure the proportion of error.
With invasive methods, the contents are obtained using the following methods:
- the chromosome set of the fetus for research is taken using a catheter through the vagina, or with a syringe through the abdomen (chorionic villus biopsy);
- the placenta, which contains the baby's DNA cells, as a material for determining paternity, is received through a puncture of the abdomen with a syringe (placentocentesis);
- obtaining amniotic fluid through a puncture of the abdominal cavity with a syringe (amniocentesis);
- collection of umbilical cord blood during puncture of the anterior abdominal wall (cordocentesis);
- biopsy of the child's skin (using penetration into the uterus under ultrasound guidance).
A non-invasive method of examining a child’s genetics involves donating blood from the mother and potential father; it is used when the parents want to carry out the procedure, but for objective reasons in order to preserve the baby’s health, this cannot be done with medical intervention. This method also reveals paternity with an accuracy of 99.9%.
Deadlines for issuing tests
Future parents, who want to quickly receive an answer to the question of whether a man is the father of a child, ask hospitals and clinics that provide medical services how long after the examination they can expect the result.
In most cases, this period ranges from 5 to 14 days, the longest period is 2 weeks.
During this time, the study is carried out in hospitals that carry out such activities as one of the procedures from the total number of diagnostics. There are specialized clinical laboratories that only accept tests; they provide results faster, within 5 days.
Contraindications
There are many reasons to postpone determining paternity until later in pregnancy or until the moment of birth, because such a procedure poses a significant risk to the health of the mother and the unborn child. The attending physician may prohibit the collection of fetal biomaterial in the following cases:
- threat of miscarriage or premature birth,
- exacerbation of any chronic disease,
- elevated body temperature accompanying an infectious or inflammatory process in the body of a pregnant woman,
- increased or, conversely, decreased uterine tone, uterine bleeding or cervical insufficiency,
- large fibroids,
- adhesive process.
In such cases, the obstetrician-gynecologist warns the patient about the high risk of complications and recommends postponing the test or resorting to a non-invasive alternative.
How to recognize the future dad during early pregnancy
There is an opinion that it is necessary to conduct a test that will show an accurate result after 24 weeks, since in the early stages the indicator may not be informative.
This is due to the fact that the fetus is not sufficiently formed and the genetic material is not ready for research. In fact, the answer about at what stage of pregnancy to collect contents for testing depends on the diagnostic method that will be used specifically for a particular patient (it is selected taking into account her condition and the presence of pathologies in the baby). For example, chorionic villus sampling is performed at 9 weeks until 12 weeks.
If it is proposed to use a non-invasive method, then the gestation period may be shorter - at 4 or 5 weeks.
When can I take the test?
The minimum period for conducting a DNA paternity test before the birth of the child is 9 weeks.
Important! A pregnant woman should coordinate the invasive test with the doctor managing the pregnancy to avoid major risks.
The duration of the analysis depends on the chosen method:
- Chorionic villus biopsy – 9-14 weeks;
- examination of amniotic fluid (amniocentesis) – 14-20 weeks;
- blood test from the umbilical cord (cordocentesis) – 18-24 weeks;
- maternal blood sampling - no earlier than 16 weeks.
Non-invasive prenatal test - effectiveness and risks
A non-invasive method for diagnosing the contents of the test is considered gentle and practically does not entail significant complications, since there is no invasion of the amniotic fluid or the woman’s uterus; specialists only take the venous blood of the expectant parents for analysis. Usually its volume does not exceed 18 milliliters. It is placed in a specialized apparatus and is cooled to the required optimal temperature.
After which, the specialist separates the mother’s DNA from the child’s DNA, and then calculates the data using a computer program, which gives the final result as a percentage.
The effectiveness of this method is determined by the safety for the health of the patient and fetus and the accuracy of the analyzed data. The risks of pathological processes and miscarriage are minimized. The only difficulty for mom and dad may be financial support for the procedure.
Testing to establish paternity is important both after childbirth and during pregnancy. It has certain risks for the child and the woman in labor, especially if the procedure is carried out using invasive methods (sampling of material through penetration through the abdominal cavity or uterus). These methods are agreed with the doctor and are carried out only in the absence of pathologies and problems with the woman’s health.
Features of prenatal research
To determine kinship during pregnancy, as well as after birth, a DNA analysis is performed - a unique deoxyribonucleic acid that encodes genetic data obtained from both parents. However, the prenatal test differs in that, in addition to the biomaterial of the alleged father (or fathers) and the child, a sample obtained from the mother is also required.
Modern technologies make it possible to conduct a study in which the probability of an erroneous result, even during pregnancy, does not exceed 0.1%. DNA testing is carried out in an accredited genetic laboratory, whose staff can expertly analyze the match of sequential combinations of genes of the putative biological parents. The mismatch of two or more sites eliminates the possibility of genetic paternity.
Analysis results
The result of the DNA analysis is prepared within 3 to 14 days. The accuracy of the study is 99.9%.
Possible difficulties during analysis:
- If the potential fathers are relatives. Testing must be carried out at one time. Otherwise, the result may be positive in both cases.
- If a woman is pregnant with twins. Analysis is prohibited. Since the fathers of the children can be different men, the exact result is not guaranteed.
Essential father's genetic material
The standard material for research is scraping from the inner wall of the cheek. But there are cases when a woman has already stopped communicating with a man, but she still has his personal belongings, or she does not want to tell him about the analysis being carried out.
In such cases, the following may be presented to the clinic:
- sperm;
- hair with follicles;
- dry blood on fabric or any object;
- cigarette butts;
- chewing gum;
- nails;
- Toothbrush;
- earwax.
Material for analysis (gallery)
dry blood on tissue
Hair with follicles
Chewing gum
Toothbrush
Cigarette butt
Risks
With a non-invasive technique, there is no risk to the fetus and mother.
There is little risk with the invasive method. Before collecting material, consultation and permission from the attending physician is required.
- The threat of miscarriage when accessed through the anterior abdominal wall is 0.88-2%, through the cervix - 2-14.3%.
- Retroplacental hematoma. Detected in 0.4% of cases. Does not affect the vital activity of the fetus and pregnancy.
- Painful sensations.
- Chorioamnionitis is an infectious inflammation after an invasive procedure. Occurs in 3% of cases. To reduce the risk of infection, the expectant mother is prescribed a course of antibiotics.
- Bradycardia - the child’s heart rate (HR) decreases to 100 beats per minute. Occurs in 12% of cases, in rare cases it leads to fetal cardiac arrest. The risk increases with gestational age. Usually the heart rate normalizes on its own.
- Bleeding at the puncture site occurs in 50% of patients, but only in 19% of cases does the puncture bleed for more than 1 minute. To avoid this complication, doctors puncture the venous vessel of the umbilical cord, not the arterial one, and also use the thinnest needles.
Principle of DNA research
Today, not a single clinic is able to issue a conclusion stating a 100% result, since the theory states that there are at least 2 men on earth with the same gene cells. However, in practice this theory has not yet been confirmed. But nevertheless, the conclusion indicates 99.9%.
A DNA test during pregnancy is carried out for about 10 days, and sometimes the studies take a longer period of time.
Modern technologies have reached a new level, so now it is possible to confirm or refute paternity using a non-invasive method. To conduct a test of this nature, there are several stages:
- taking blood from a vein from the mother and father;
- extraction of child DNA fragments from the mother’s blood;
- DNA comparison between father and child
A DNA test during pregnancy allows you to establish paternity with fairly high accuracy, but it is best to carry out this study after the birth of the baby. In this case, the father has almost a 100% chance of the results being reliable.
