Doctors in the United States have discovered that getting a blood test within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy may help indicate the risk of numerous birth complications, including premature births.
The findings were presented at the American Association of Reproductive Medicine annual congress in Texas, which is a reproductive health conference.
The team shared that they analysed molecules in the blood that are associated with birth complications.
The blood test analyses the molecules called microRNA. They hope that this blood test will help doctors identify the issues at an earlier stage.
The experts from the San Francisco Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine and Immunology studied the molecules ability to foresee pre-eclampsia, miscarriage and premature birth within the first three months of a pregnancy.
They found that the molecules outcome rates were extremely accurate.
The accuracy rates for miscarriage and premature birth ranged from 90 to 98 percent. The rate for pre-eclampsia was 82 percent.
They hope this research will help avoid early delivery, miscarriage and pre-eclampsia.
160 births were examined throughout the study. The experts studied the blood in the placental bed, which is the lining of the wall of the uterus.
They revealed that the molecules helped identify the risks of miscarriage and other complications.
Despite the latest research, experts have urged people to remember that the information is only a minor step in a major study.
The San Francisco researchers have asked people not to exaggerate the findings as there is a lot more research to do in the future.
Daniel Brison, honorary professor of clinical embryology and stem cell biology at the University of Manchester, spoke to the BBC about the research.
He admitted, “Although the results might seem exciting and cutting edge, there is, unfortunately, a high risk of them being wrong.”
He added that further research is needed to ensure that these results are useful and accurate.
He hopes future studies will help medical professionals find out what the main cause of the placental disease is.
It is understood that pre-eclampsia affects 10 percent of first-time pregnancies in the United Kingdom. According to safepregnancy.org, it is vital to diagnose the condition as early as possible, so doctors can monitor the pregnancy. Women with pre-eclampsia may be advised to have their baby at an earlier date.
The NHS revealed that miscarriages are more common than people realise. It is believed that one in six pregnancies will end in miscarriage. They shared that numerous miscarriages occur before a woman discovers she is pregnant.
