Why Premarital Health Checks Are Important

Arif is not the only child who has thalassemia due to this genetic factor. This condition can be prevented if both parents are tested before getting married. If they carry the thalassemia gene, their child is likely to suffer from this disease.

Unfortunately, many couples only find out about their health condition after getting married. This is often surprising and can upset home harmony.

This is why premarital health screening is so important. Knowing each other’s health status allows couples to communicate openly and honestly about their hopes, concerns, and plans. With complete information, couples can make wise decisions together for the health and well-being of their family.

Benefits of premarital health screening

Premarital health screening helps identify potential future health problems, including hereditary traits and infectious diseases. For example

• preventing the inheritance of thalassemia, hemophilia, and sickle cell anemia disorders, and preventing the transmission of diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, or other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Identifying genetic changes to assess the risk of becoming a carrier that can be passed on to offspring.
• Increase awareness and understanding of the couple’s health before committing to a long-term relationship.
• Prepare family members mentally and physically for the baby.
• Reduce the risk of unnecessary and preventable medical costs in the future.
• Help reduce stress and other psychological strains for family members if treatment is needed.

Premarital check-up stages

Premarital check-ups may include the following:

• Blood test
• Blood type and rhesus test
• Hepatitis B detection
• TORCH test
• HIV/AIDS test
• Blood glucose test
• Urine test

By undergoing a detailed assessment of their health status, couples gain valuable health insights such as:

1. Genetic compatibility

Understanding genetic compatibility can help couples identify potential inherited diseases or genetic disorders they may not know and assess how they may impact their future family.

Genetic conditions often arise from inherited mutations, leading to various health complications. For example, couples may be at risk of passing on conditions such as cystic fibrosis, thalassemia, or sickle cell anemia to their children.

If one or both couples have a genetic mutation related to the condition, the risk of their children inheriting it increases. This genetic mutation can have severe consequences for their health and well-being. Couples who detect this risk early can seek medical advice and take preventive actions to avoid passing the problem on to their children.

2. Detecting infectious diseases

Premarital health checks also play an essential role in detecting infectious diseases affecting the couple's well-being. These checks include screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), hepatitis B and C, HIV/AIDS, and other infectious diseases. Some diseases often do not show obvious symptoms, making early detection crucial.

By knowing the results of these tests, couples can ensure transparency, prevent the spread of diseases, and maintain a healthy relationship. In addition, early diagnosis allows access to available treatments, which can help reduce the severity of the disease.

3. Understanding the impact of chronic illness

Chronic illnesses are long-term health issues that often develop slowly but can have a significant impact on many parts of life, including the reproductive health of men and women.

A premarital health screening can help detect health issues that may affect a couple’s ability to conceive or have a healthy pregnancy. For example, some chronic conditions can cause hormonal changes that disrupt normal reproductive function, making it difficult to conceive.

By knowing and addressing these health issues early, couples can make wiser decisions about their reproductive health and increase their chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

GWS Medika Clinic

If you want a pre-wedding health check, visit GWS Medika Clinic, a health clinic in Jakarta. GWS Medika Clinic, a health clinic in Jakarta, provides blood sampling services as material for examination.

You can also get a check-up package, including:

• Physical examination.
• General health examinations include complete blood count (anemia test), blood type and rhesus, and diabetes risk (fasting blood glucose).
• Infection examinations include hepatitis B, HIV, rubella infection, examination for toxoplasma infection, examination for cytomegalovirus/CMV infection, and syphilis.
• Urine analysis.

The test results in follow-up include a doctor's consultation, a nutrition/meal plan for pregnancy preparation (prenatal supplements), infection treatment, and vaccination planning for the couple.