Saturday, May 3, 2008

Before you say I do.....WAIT !


As the big day comes closer, your heart races with excitement each time you think of it and the married life that awaits you.Who has the time to spare serious thoughts for any PRE-MARITAL MEDICAL TESTS and Counselling ?

Well, don't take them lightly.


If you really want to do everything you can to ensure your happily -ever after, doctors recommend that your partner and you go in for some pre-marital health tests or even counselling.

By and large, pre-marital medical tests are easily categorised into three types:-


  1. TESTS FOR SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS,
  2. GENETIC CONDITIONS and
  3. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FERTILITY.


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SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS-

Bringing up these tests with your partner may be a delicate issue.However, it would be foolish to assume that neither of you have been sexually active and hence carry no risk of any sexually transmitted infection. 


An HIV-AIDS test is a MUST, though it's a delicate topic to broach for young couples.

I've been apprised many of our women patients [ thanks to my parents - Doctors, they are :-) ] suffering after marriage when they contacted the HIV virus from their husbands. The vice-versa is also true.


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GENETIC TRAITS AND HEREDITY

Knowing about your genetic condition is very important as see hereditary traits that can affect the health of your child.

Example - 


Both your partner and you may suffer from a genetically passed-on condition. 
While you may not suffer from it yourself, if both of you are carriers of the condition, there is a large risk that it may be passed on to the child.

Some tests may include - Polycystic kidney disease, haemophilia, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anaemia.



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REPRODUCTIVE CAPABILITY AND FERTILITY

These tests ascertain the reproductive capabilities of both partners.

The need for these depends on how keen you two are to have a child once you are married.

Some tests may include - Hormone function tests and Analysis


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PRE - MARITAL COUNSELLING

Finally, if as a couple, there are issues that you still need to sort, you should also opt for a few pre-marital counselling sessions that will help you gear up for the life ahead.

In India match-making is still done on basis of horoscopes(somebody says something.....) and the religious and financial backgrounds of the two families.


It is high -time that we start ascertaining the compatibility of the couple on more practical and realistic grounds with the help of pre-marriage counselling and medical tests.

Ultimately, anything that helps the couples tie the knot with more confidence and start their relationship on a sounder footing, should be looked upon favorably.


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This post/article got featured in a variety of journals. Happy to have your thoughts.

Credits:

(With inputs from - our medical team and my friends who are now top Doctors from MAMC and King Grant's Medical College and my fav. doctor :-) )

After all , HUM NAHEIN BOLENGE TOH KAUN BOLEGA !!



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You can connect with me @karansayz across all my social media handles.


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Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.


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Yes. I wrote this way back in 2008.  A decade ago. 

Aloha on the Ganges

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