Pre-Marriage Screening: What, Why, and How?

Pre-Marriage Screening: What, Why, and How?

Pre-marital screening is a series of health checks carried out by the bride and groom before marriage. The purpose of this screening is to determine the health condition of each partner, both physical and mental, as well as to prevent or overcome the possibility of diseases that can be passed on to offspring or transmitted between partners.

What is included in pre-marital screening?

Pre-marital screening consists of several steps, namely:

• Complete physical examination, including blood pressure, weight, height, pulse, body temperature, etc.
• Screening for hereditary diseases, which are diseases that can be passed on from parents to children, such as thalassemia, hemophilia, Down's syndrome, and others. This examination includes blood tests and genetic tests.
• Screening for infectious diseases, which are diseases that can be transmitted between partners or from mother to fetus, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, etc². This examination includes blood tests and laboratory tests.
• Reproductive organ examination, which is an examination to determine the function and health of the couple's reproductive organs, such as the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, testicles, prostate, and others. This includes physical examination and ultrasonography.

Why is pre-marital screening important?

• Pre-marital screening is important because it has several benefits, including:
• Increase couples' awareness and responsibility for their own and their partner¹s health.
• Prevent or reduce the risk of complications of pregnancy and childbirth due to hereditary or infectious diseases
• Prevent or reduce the risk of congenital defects or genetic disorders in children.
• Prevent or reduce the risk of disease transmission between partners or from mother to fetus¹.
• Help couples to plan their pregnancy and family based on their health condition.

How to do pre-marital screening?

Pre-marital screening can be done in the following ways:

• Contacting the nearest health center that provides pre-marital screening services. Usually, this screening can be done at a community health center, general hospital, special maternal and child hospital, or private clinic.
• Prepare the necessary documents for pre-marital screening. These documents include an identity card (KTP), family card (KK), marriage certificate (if married), cover letter from the village and KUA (if not married), and previous health check results (if any).
• Conduct a health check in accordance with the predetermined stages.
• Receive the results of the health examination and consultation with the doctor. The doctor will provide explanations and advice regarding the couple's health condition, as well as steps that need to be taken if there are health problems or disorders.

 

 Pre-marital screening is an important step that needs to be taken before marriage to ensure the health condition of the couple who will form a new family. By undergoing this screening, couples can prevent the risk of transmitting infectious diseases as well as protect their future children from inheritable genetic disorders. Therefore, it is important for all brides-to-be to be aware of the importance of pre-marital screening and undergo it as part of their wedding preparations.