5 Important Medical Tests You And Your Partner Should Take Before Marriage
- Ayo AL
- November 5, 2020
- Health, Marriage
- fertility test, medical test for couples, Medical Tests Every Couple Should Take, rhesus factor test, Tests To Do Before Marriage, the types of medical tests couples should do before marriage
- 0 Comments
You have found the one you want to spend the rest of your life with, Congratulations.
However, there are some medical tests you and your partner need to take before saying ‘I Do’.
The goal of a pre-wedding check is to ensure that couples become aware of their health status, make informed decisions, prevent avoidable stress and burden during the marriage, and prepare adequately for future implications.
Here are some of the medical tests that a prospective couple should take:
1. Genotype Test
This test is one of the most important on this list. In fact, some churches now make it mandatory for would-be couples to have their genotypes done. This test will tell whether one or both partners are sicklers (SS), carriers of the sickle cell trait (AS), or whether their genotype is normal (AA).
You may not be a sickler but be a carrier of the trait (AS)- and you only need another partner carrying the AS trait to give birth to children who are sicklers.
The pain that comes with being a sickler or having a sickler child is too grave for any couple to ignore.
2. Fertility Test
This is a test done to ascertain the fertility of a couple. More often than not, a couple is unaware that they have fertility problems until about 2 or more years after marriage and unsuccessful trials at conceiving.
The test profiles the reproductive hormones in both partners while semen analysis is tested in the man and ovulation is tested in the woman. Except a couple is not willing to have children before or after marriage, this is one important test to get done.
3. HIV/STDs test
It is extremely important that all couples contemplating marriage know their HIV status before walking down the aisle since HIV is primarily transmitted through sex.
You and your partner should also test for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) like Hepatitis B and C, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Syphilis, etc.
This would help you take the right steps directed by your doctor and also reduce the risk of infertility and miscarriages.
4. Blood Group and Rhesus Factor Test
It’s important to ascertain the blood group of a potential spouse to avoid issues relating to blood group or rhesus incompatibility. Your blood group can either be A, B, O, or AB but there’s another component referred to as the Rhesus factor.
The Rhesus factor is either positive or negative. If a Rhesus-negative woman marries a Rhesus Positive husband, there is a 50% chance the baby will be rhesus positive. In this case, if precautions are not taken during pregnancy, this could lead to hemolytic disease in the newborn.
An understanding of both your blood groups will help your doctor prevent Rhesus incompatibility issues during pregnancy.
5. Chronic medical conditions
Having a chronic medical condition isn’t the end of the world. Knowledge will only help both of you be better prepared to look out for each other.
Early testing for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, kidney disease, mental issues, etc. will enable couples to seek medical assistance early enough and also make the necessary lifestyle changes.
When it comes to your health, it is always good to know as this sets you on a path to making healthy life choices.
