What is amniocentesis How useful this technique Why it used for identification of the sex unborn ed child banned in India?

Amniocentesis is a prenatal diagnostic test that involves the collection of a small amount of amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus. This fluid contains fetal cells, which can be analyzed to provide information about the fetus's health, including:

- Genetic disorders: Amniocentesis can detect genetic abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis, by analyzing the chromosomes in the fetal cells.

- Neural tube defects: Amniocentesis can detect neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, by measuring the levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the amniotic fluid. Elevated levels of AFP may indicate a neural tube defect.

- Sex determination: Amniocentesis can be used to determine the sex of the unborn child by analyzing the fetal cells for the presence or absence of the Y chromosome.

Amniocentesis is a relatively safe procedure, but there is a small risk of miscarriage (less than 1%). It is typically performed between 15 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Amniocentesis is used for identification of the sex of unborn child in some countries, but it is banned in India. The ban was imposed in 1994 under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to prevent female feticide. Female feticide is the practice of aborting a female fetus due to a preference for male children. The PCPNDT Act was enacted to protect women from sex-selective abortions and to promote gender equality.