At what maternal age is the risk of having a child with Down syndrome significantly increased to greater than 1:50?

The risk of having a child with Down syndrome is influenced by maternal age, and this risk increases as women get older. Research indicates that by the time a woman reaches 35 years of age, the risk of having a child with Down syndrome does increase, but it does not exceed 1:50 at that point. It becomes more significant after the age of 40.

At age 40, the risk approaches 1:100, but it is at age 45 where the risk surpasses the 1:50 threshold, making it evident that the majority of Down syndrome cases occur in pregnancies in women over this age. Therefore, selecting age 45 accurately reflects the point at which the risk of having a child with Down Syndrome significantly escalates, confirming it as the correct choice in this context. This trend is a vital aspect of prenatal counseling and maternal-fetal medicine as it guides recommendations for screening and diagnostic testing during pregnancy.