It has been known for a long time that the risk of having a baby born with an extra chromosome increases with the mother's age, especially after 35 years of age. The following table gives approximate risks of chromosomal abnormalities associated with maternal age. Any concerns you have about your particular risk should be fully discussed with your doctor.
Mother's age at delivery |
Chance of a live-born baby with Down Syndrome * |
Chance of having a live-born child with any chromosomal abnormality * |
|
20 |
1 in 1923 |
1 in 526 |
|
21 |
1 in 1695 |
1 in 526 |
|
22 |
1 in 1538 |
1 in 500 |
|
23 |
1 in 1408 |
1 in 500 |
|
24 |
1 in 1299 |
1 in 476 |
|
25 |
1 in 1205 |
1 in 476 |
|
26 |
1 in 1124 |
1 in 476 |
|
27 |
1 in 1053 |
1 in 455 |
|
28 |
1 in 990 |
1 in 435 |
|
29 |
1 in 935 |
1 in 417 |
|
30 |
1 in 885 |
1 in 384 |
|
31 |
1 in 826 |
1 in 384 |
|
32 |
1 in 725 |
1 in 322 |
|
33 |
1 in 592 |
1 in 285 |
|
34 |
1 in 465 |
1 in 243 |
|
35 |
1 in 365 |
1 in 178 |
|
36 |
1 in 287 |
1 in 149 |
|
37 |
1 in 225 |
1 in 123 |
|
38 |
1 in 177 |
1 in 105 |
|
39 |
1 in 139 |
1 in 80 |
|
40 |
1 in 109 |
1 in 63 |
|
41 |
1 in 85 |
1 in 48 |
|
42 |
1 in 67 |
1 in 39 |
|
43 |
1 in 53 |
1 in 31 |
|
44 |
1 in 41 |
1 in 24 |
|
45 |
1 in 32 |
1 in 18 |
|
46 |
1 in 25 |
1 in 15 |
|
47 |
1 in 20 |
1 in 11 |
|
48 |
1 in 16 |
1 in 8 |
|
49 |
1 in 12 |
1 in 7 | |