Premarital Checkup: What It Is and Why It Matters
The venue, guest list, and outfits are some of the many decisions that couples must make when planning a wedding. But one important aspect that many people overlook is ensuring that they are clinically healthy. And a health checkup before marriage can do just that.
Premarital checkups, or premarital health screenings, should be an essential part of family planning. However, not all couples understand the importance of getting one before tying the knot. In this Pacific Prime Thailand article, we look at what a premarital checkup is and why it matters.
What is a Premarital Checkup?
A premarital checkup involves similar tests to routine health screenings, along with some additional ones. The additional tests help detect fertility, health complications, and any underlying hereditary defects.
Couples who are looking to get married and conceive within the next few years should go for a premarital checkup to check for fertility and other issues that could affect family planning.
The reason why premarital screenings are so important before starting a family is that some people are not aware of the health complications or genetic disorders they may have, especially if they do not experience the common symptoms.
Getting a health screening before marriage will ensure you are physically ready for the next stage of your life. It will also provide you with enough time to discuss and deal with your issues before you tie the knot.
Benefits of Premarital Checkups
Premarital checkups are an integral part of proper family planning for all couples. While couples often view fertility tests negatively, the results are usually positive. By opting for premarital checkups and fertility tests, couples can start their marriage with peace of mind.
There are several benefits to premarital checkups, including:
- Evaluating the couple’s readiness for children
- Identifying potential problems or health-related conditions that could affect pregnancy and the fetus
- Increasing fertility through a proper treatment plan
- Pre-planning for alternative measures, such as surrogacy or IVF
What Tests are Necessary Before Marriage?
Before a comprehensive premarital checkup starts, an ob-gyn will take both parties’ medical histories and any relevant health information. While the bride and groom typically undergo different tests, screening tests for couples include:
- General health assessment
- Blood tests
- Gynecological exam
General health assessment
General health assessments help to evaluate the couple’s overall health status. Assessment typically includes:
- Weight
- Height
- Blood pressure
- Respiratory functions
- Cardiovascular functions
- Breast examination
- Abdominal examination
Blood tests
Blood tests can help detect any signs that could result in abnormal conditions. When it comes to premarital checkups, these tests include:
- Blood test group
- Serological test
- Underlying diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes
- Inherited diseases, such as thalassemia
Gynecological exam
Gynecological examinations assess the health of a woman’s reproductive system. The general exam typically uses a speculum to look at the cervix and vagina. These exams help detect gynecological conditions and abnormalities that could impact the chances of pregnancy, including cervical cancer.
Premarital Checkups for Women
Vaginal ultrasounds are often recommended to check a woman’s reproductive system before getting pregnant. The imaging scan provides a clear look at the reproductive organs, making it easier to detect abnormalities and causes for concern.
Women are most fertile between the ages of 18 and 35. After that window, their fertility begins to decline. Premarital checkups can detect fertility issues and improve pregnancy rates. This is why vagina ultrasounds are vital.
The Risks of Ignoring Premarital Checkup
Various avoidable health-related issues may occur if a couple skips a premarital checkup, including:
- Wasted time and money on treating fertility issues that could have been detected and treated earlier
- Lack of proper pregnancy planning
- Extreme stress and anxiety during pregnancy due to lack of preparation and planning
- Increased risk of developing serious complications during pregnancy (e.g. anemia, diabetes, and thyroid disorders)
- Fetal complications (e.g. miscarriage and premature labor)
However, problems are not only limited to health, since couples may experience challenges in their personal lives and relationships like:
- Post-marriage problems: Failing to get fertility tests can harm the bond between partners. In some cases, negative results from a premarital test may cause the wedding to be called off. Avoiding the tests entirely, on the other hand, may ruin even the greatest marriage.
- Unnecessary and costly treatments: Couples uncertain about fertility may be misled toward costly treatments. These treatments end up being ineffective and can even result in serious health problems for some.
Even though couples look forward to being married, many may be uncomfortable with the idea of premarital checkups. However, these tests are an important part of overall health. Doing so could lead to a happy married life between two healthy partners—and who does not want that?
How Pacific Prime Thailand Can Help
Since health insurance providers cover different tests according to their policies, you’ll have to check what your options are. It’s best to contact your insurance provider or broker beforehand to inquire about your coverage and next steps.
Looking for health insurance, but don’t know where to start? Pacific Prime Thailand is here to help. Whether you’re looking for pregnancy planning, maternity health insurance, or travel insurance, we compare health insurance plans to ensure you get the best one for your needs and budget.
Contact us today to get impartial insurance advice, browse plans, or compare plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Premarital exams—what exactly are they?
Premarital screening is the process of testing couples who are planning to marry soon for common genetic blood disorders (such as sickle cell anemia and thalassemia) and infectious diseases (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDS).
Why do we need to do premarital exams?
In order to determine the overall health of a future married couple, a premarital health examination is performed. The purpose of this test is to identify any genetic or infectious diseases present in the human body in order to prevent passing them on to your spouse or children later.
What is a good age to do a fertility test?
We advise seeing a fertility specialist to set up fertility tests if you are under the age of 35 and have been trying to conceive for over a year without success. If a woman in her 30s or older is trying to get pregnant, she should wait at least six months before getting fertility tests.
Jantra curates and reports on the results of Pacific Prime’s monthly newsletters, as well as manages Pacific Prime’s Deputy Global CEO’s LinkedIn posts. Complemented by her background in business writing, Jantra’s passion for health, insurance, and employee benefits helps her create engaging content - no matter how complex the subject is.
Growing up as a third-culture kid has given her a multicultural perspective that helps her relate to expats and their families while 8 years of working remotely have given her unique insight into hybrid work arrangements and enthusiasm for employee benefits.
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