Pre-pregnancy health checkups are important because the health of the parents affects the baby in the womb as well. We can prevent genetic diseases from parents by “getting a health checkup before having a child”
Healthy parents mean healthy children
It cannot be denied that health checkups are important because the health of the parents can directly affect the child. If the parents are healthy, the child is usually healthy as well. However, many couples find out the woman is pregnant without knowing that either she or her husband carries a hidden disease or is a carrier of a genetic disorder, which means they do not prevent this risk. The child born may have physical defects, disabilities, or some genetic diseases. Planning for pregnancy and pre-pregnancy health checkups can help reduce these risks.
Why is pre-pregnancy health screening important? Why should it be done?
Pre-pregnancy health screening is done to detect genetic diseases that may be passed on to the child or diseases that pose risks during pregnancy, such as thalassemia, diabetes, high blood pressure. It also checks the readiness of the parents for pregnancy, such as infertility, sperm health, whether menstruation is regular, and in cases where the mother is over 35 years old, the risk of the baby having Down syndrome. Additionally, it screens for risks of diseases or complications that may occur during pregnancy.
What tests are included in pre-pregnancy health screening?
1. Initially, the doctor will take the medical history of both prospective father and mother as follows:
- History of contraception: what type was used, whether still using it, and if menstruation is regular
- History of illnesses, surgeries, or other medical treatments
- History of previous pregnancies, such as whether there have been any pregnancies before, or any history of miscarriage
- Family history to identify possible genetic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thalassemia
- Vaccination history, such as rubella vaccine, hepatitis virus, chickenpox
- History of medication use, including treatment for chronic diseases and any drug allergies
- Personal history, such as dental care, alcohol consumption or smoking, exercise, sleep, home environment, and pet ownership
2. General physical examination to assess overall health, such as measuring height, weighing, blood pressure measurement, respiratory system check, heart system check, breast examination, abdominal examination, X-rays, and cervical cancer screening. If any abnormalities are found, close medical care from specialists and obstetricians is necessary to determine whether pregnancy is advisable.
- Blood tests, urine tests, and chest X-rays. These tests generally check blood concentration, blood diseases, sexually transmitted infections, genetic diseases, and immunity to certain diseases, such as blood cell concentration, rubella immunity, blood sugar levels, hidden genetic diseases, and HIV (AIDS). If both parents carry hidden genetic diseases, there is a 1 in 4 chance of passing it on to the child.
- Internal examination for the mother to check if the uterus and ovaries are normal, including pelvic and vaginal examination, as these directly affect pregnancy and delivery. Conditions such as inflammation, uterine or ovarian tumors, adhesions, or ovarian cysts may be detected. This internal exam is also a good opportunity to screen for cervical cancer.
- Special tests before pregnancy. These additional tests are done if abnormalities are found during the general physical exam, such as abdominal ultrasound or pelvic endoscopy.
Besides health screening, regular exercise, eating nutritious food, avoiding alcohol, and quitting smoking are recommended to prepare for a healthy baby.