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Poster Session 1

Category: Genetics

Poster Session 1

(267) Prenatal genetic diagnosis post-Dobbs in an abortion-banned state: an 18-month retrospective cohort study

Wednesday, February 11, 2026

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Presenting Author(s)

Kristina M. Carter, MD (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Coauthor(s)

William L. Riley, MD (he/him/his)

Maternal Fetal Medicine Physician
Georgia Perinatal Consultants
Milton, Georgia, United States
AH

Alix Hunzicker, MD

University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
AM

Alicia Mastronardi, MPH

University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
AP

Alissa Paudel, MD

Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellow
University of Tennessee Medical Center
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Rebecca Purvis, MD (she/her/hers)

Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellow
University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine- Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Kimberly B. Fortner, MD (she/her/hers)

Professor
University of Tennessee College of Medicine- Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Submitting Author(s)

Jordan E. Lewis, MPH

Researcher
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Coauthor(s)

NZ

Nikki B. Zite, MD, MPH

Professor, Vice Chair of Education and Advocacy
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States
Jill M. Maples, PhD

Associate Professor
University of Tennessee Health Science Center COM Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee, United States

Objective:
Abortion was banned with few exceptions in Tennessee following the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) in 2022. Impacts of abortion restrictions or bans on rates of prenatal diagnostic genetic testing (PDGT) is uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the rate of PGDT in a period prior to and post the Dobbs decision to further assess whether the changing abortion laws had an impact on rates of PDGT.

Study Design:
This retrospective cohort study was performed evaluating women undergoing PDGT via chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis at a single tertiary referral center. The comparison groups included procedures performed pre-Dobbs (July 2018 – Dec 2019) and post-Dobbs (July 2022-Dec 2023). The primary outcomes were rates of CVS and amniocentesis during these periods. Demographic information, ultrasound findings, prior screening results, and details of the procedure were collected. All pregnancies electing PDGT were included, however, procedures performed due to fetal demise or purposes other than genetic testing (fetal lung maturity, amnioreduction, fetal therapy, or amnio dye testing) were excluded.

Results:
During the study period, 240 women underwent PDGT, and after exclusions, 219 procedures remained for analysis (92 pre-Dobbs vs.127 post-Dobbs). Pre-Dobbs, CVS accounted for 18.5% of procedures, compared to 26.0% post-Dobbs, which corresponded to a significant increase in the rate of CVS procedures (p=0.03) (Figure). A higher proportion of PDGT were performed in women without abnormal ultrasound findings or abnormal screening results post-Dobbs (30% vs 17%, p=0.02) (Table).

Conclusion:
Rates of prenatal diagnostic genetic testing were higher following the Dobbs decision. In addition, a larger proportion of women underwent first-trimester genetic testing (CVS), allowing earlier information and increased time for decision-making. While our study cannot determine the reasons for this shift, further research aimed at understanding the reasons behind the desire for genetic testing may further inform about the impact of abortion bans on patient decision making.