A new study from Oslo University Hospital reveals that 76% of women under 35 believe all pregnant people should receive free access to NIPT testing regardless of age. The non-invasive prenatal test screens for chromosomal abnormalities through a simple blood draw.
Currently, Norwegian hospitals offer free NIPT testing only to women over 35 or those with specific medical indications. Women under 35 must pay out-of-pocket at select public hospitals, though plans exist to expand this paid option nationwide.
Anna Maria Israelsson, who had her first child at 31, understands why many seek this testing. She says people envision having healthy children and want that reassurance, even while acknowledging no test provides absolute certainty.
The comprehensive study surveyed 1,260 pregnant women across Norway about their attitudes toward prenatal screening. Most younger women participating expressed strong support for universal access without financial barriers.
Dr. Cecilie Bryn Nordklev, the lead researcher and senior physician at the fetal medicine center, emphasizes this issue centers on self-determination. Many women want the choice to accept or decline testing based on their personal circumstances and values.
The research found 63% of those wanting NIPT testing would consider terminating a pregnancy if abnormalities were detected. Another 45% sought testing primarily for preparation purposes should their child have special needs.
This debate occurs against a backdrop of increasing pregnancy terminations following Down syndrome detection. Medical birth registry data shows termination rates for trisomy 21 pregnancies rose from 36% to 75% over the past 14 years.
Midwife Association leader Lena Henriksen expresses reservations about recommending NIPT for younger women. She cites concerns about false positives given the lower risk profile in this age group. A government report estimated that if all 55,000 annual births included NIPT testing, approximately 230 women would receive false positive results.
Dr. Nordklev acknowledges screening carries more uncertainty for women under 35. False positives necessitate follow-up testing like amniocentesis, which carries a small risk of miscarriage.
Despite these concerns, the study shows many younger women pursue testing anyway. Nearly 20% of surveyed women under 35 reported paying privately for NIPT.
Nora Hansen, a mother under 35, represents another perspective. She chose to forego testing during her pregnancy, feeling additional screening would create unnecessary anxiety. She believes modern society's constant access to information fuels pregnancy testing demand.
The Norwegian system currently screens only for trisomies 13, 18, and 21, unlike Sweden's broader testing permissions. This regulatory difference sometimes drives Norwegian women to seek testing abroad.
This tension between access and caution reflects broader healthcare debates about screening expansion. While many young women demand reproductive autonomy through testing access, medical professionals balance this against the risks of overmedicalization and unnecessary anxiety.