Pregnant woman are offered two prenatal examinations:
Nuchal Fold scan to make an assessment of the risk of Down Syndrome
Scan to determine exact birth date and look for specific congenital anomalies
Examinations are free of charge.
Contact information
Booking an examination or getting counselling
Telephone +45 35 45 42 07
Open monday-thursday kl. 9.00 -11.00.
Booking nuchal fold scan:
Download the app MinSP or go to minsundhedsplatform.dk
Log in with MitID
Press 'Menu' and choose 'Book an appointment'
Be aware, that if you are under 15, over 55 or have a male CPR-number, you can not book a nuchal fold scan in MinSP. Instead, call us on tel. +45 35 45 42 07.
Read more
Here is additional information in Danish. The folder is free of charge and is available from your doctor, or can be read on the National Board of Health's website.
Nuchal Fold Scann to make an assessment of the risk of Down Syndrome
All pregnant women are offered an assessment of the risk of giving birth to at child with Down Syndrome. The assessment is based on their family history (e.g. hereditary diseases or birth defects in the family), the age of the pregnant woman, a blood test and an nuchal fold scan.
Blood test
The blood test is performed at an early stage, from the 8th to 13th week of pregnancy. Combined with the nuchal scanning it will increase the accuracy of the assessment.
Nuchal fold scan
The nuchal fold i scanned during the 11th to 13 th weeks of pregnancy to determine the size of a small accumulation of fluid under the skin at the back of the child's head.
In a very few instances a large nuchal thickening is found, indicating that the child might have Down Syndrome. The scanning is done with ultrasonics during either the abdominal wall ord the vagina. The examination normally takes 10-30 minutes, depending on how easy it is to get a picture of the nape of the child's neck.
Assesment of the risk of Down Syndrome
For most woman, the risk is low. If this is the case you will not be offered further fetal examinations, as the likelihood of giving birth to at child with Down Syndrome is very small. In rare cases the tests indicate a high risk. In this situation the woman will be offered a placenta test or a test of the amniotic fluid.
Scan to determine the exact date of birth and scanning for specific congenital anomalies
This scanning of the child is offered to all pregnant woman during the 18th to the 20th week of pregnancy. By scanning it is possible to determine how far along the pregnancy is, whether there is more than one child, the position of the placenta, the heart rhythm and whether there are severe visible deformities of the heart, the abdominal wall or spinal marrow. Some of these can be treated with good results, if detected during pregnancy.
There is no guarantee!
If the results of all the examinations are normal, there is a good reason to feel more secure. But there is no guarantee. It is not possible to test for everything, and not everything that is being tested for is detected. The test results give greater, but not absolute, assurance that the child is healthy.
Pregnant women at high risk will also be offered:
A placenta test or a test of the amniotic fluid
The woman will be offered a placenta test or a test of the amniotic fluid only if there is a heightened risk of severe illness for the child. In 1 out of 100 cases the tests are succeeded by an involuntary abortion – thus the examination is not without risk. It is the woman, herself, who decides whether she wishes to accept the offer of an examination or not.
Placenta test (CVS)
The examination is carried out on an outpatient basis in the 9th -13th week of pregnancy. A tissue sample is taken from the placenta, accompanied by ultrasonic scanning. The tissue sample is removed with a thin needle. Insertion is made through the abdominal wall.
You must rest for the remainder of the day, following the examination.
Test of the amniotic fluid (Amniocentesis)
Test of the amniotic fluid is done on an outpatient basis during the 14th-18th week of pregnancy. The examination is made in the same manner as the placenta test.
You must rest for the remainder of the day, following the examination.
Result
The result of the examination regarding the most common chromosomal defects, a.o. Down syndrome, will be available after one week or less.
Very rare chromosomal defects take longer time to detect and in such cases information will first be available after 2-3 weeks.
Counselling in cases where something is amiss with the child
If the examinations indicate that something is amiss with the child, the woman will be offered counselling.
The woman will receive information regarding possibilities for treatment within the healthcare system, as well as regarding support and help measures for the child and for the family. The woman will receive information about opportunities for additional information via handicap organizations, patient societies and support groups for parents of children with handicaps similar to those found in the yet unborn child.
It is the woman who decides whether she will continue the pregnancy or whether she wishes to terminate it. Until the end of the 12th week of pregnancy there is still access to free abortion. If the pregnancy is more advanced, she can apply for an abortion. The doctor at the hospital or the private doctor can inform about this. The woman's wishes to carry through or to terminate the pregnancy will be respected, regardless of what she wishes.