Should I still consider having NIPS if I don’t have a family history of Down syndrome?

Yes. In over 95% of cases of Down syndrome there is no family history of this condition. The same can be said for trisomy 13, trisomy 18, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome. Therefore, not having a family history of one of these conditions does not decrease your risk for these conditions below your age related risk in pregnancy.

Similarly, having just one affected relative with one of these conditions does not significantly increase your risk, since that condition was likely new to that person in your family and not inherited. However, having two or more relatives with same chromosome condition may imply an increased risk for that condition.