Pre-marital health checkups to improve the quality of the population.

Before entering married life, a general health check-up and assessment is essential for preventing, detecting, and treating dangerous diseases early, contributing to improving the gene pool and enhancing the quality of the population.

A thematic talk on adolescent reproductive health care for 9th grade students at Xuan Truong Secondary School (Tho Xuan).

After dating for over three years, Ms. NTM, 26, from Xuan Truong commune (Tho Xuan district), planned to get married. Following advice from acquaintances to get pre-marital health checkups, Ms. M. persuaded her boyfriend to go to the hospital for a checkup. At the hospital, after examination and tests, Ms. M. discovered she had ovarian cysts. This could affect her ability to conceive naturally, but because it was detected early, she received timely treatment. She and her boyfriend are now married and preparing to welcome their first child.

In just over two months, Ms. L.Th.Ng. and Mr. Ng.VH., from Tam Van commune (Lang Chanh district), will be holding their wedding. At this time, they are quite busy preparing for this momentous event in their lives.

Ms. Ng. shared: “Before the wedding, we arranged for a general health check-up and also consulted with a doctor about reproductive health. For me, this is very important; it will greatly determine our family's happiness. The results of the health check-up helped my husband and me feel reassured and confident as we embark on our married life.”

According to a specialist at Thanh Hoa Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, the hospital frequently receives many cases of ovarian cysts. However, not every case is as fortunate as Ms. M., as many couples come for examination after years of marriage without having children. As people age, treating reproductive health issues becomes increasingly difficult.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Tham, Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, pre-marital health checkups for women often reveal ovarian-related conditions such as ovarian failure, ovarian cysts, and fallopian tube blockage; while for men, weak sperm is a common issue. Notably, this rate is increasing. Therefore, pre-marital health checkups help couples protect their health before marriage, screen for, prevent, and detect sexually transmitted infections; hepatitis B and C; syphilis; genetic diseases; weak sperm, ovarian cysts, etc., so that they can receive timely treatment and ensure a safe pregnancy and healthy children after marriage.

It can be affirmed that pre-marital counseling and health check-ups not only benefit couples in their married life but also have significant importance in improving the quality of the population. In Thanh Hoa, this activity is integrated into the Project "Expanding screening, diagnosis, and treatment of certain diseases and disabilities before and after birth".

According to Ms. Tran Thi Lam, Director of the Tho Xuan District Health Center, in 2022, the project was implemented in 17 communes and towns in the district. It organized 20 counseling sessions providing knowledge on pre-marital reproductive health, safe contraception methods, prevention and treatment of gynecological diseases, infertility prevention and treatment, safe motherhood, parental responsibilities, raising healthy children, and teaching children well... for 1,000 young men and women preparing for marriage and newly married. In addition, health check-ups and counseling on the risks of having children with birth defects were provided to 440 men and women preparing for marriage (including support for Hepatitis B testing)... This helped couples preparing for marriage detect reproductive health issues.

In Lang Chanh district, the project was implemented in 5 communes: Lam Phu, Tam Van, Tri Nang, Giao Thien, and Dong Luong. In these communes, 5 pre-marital health club meetings were organized, with 250 participants; 5 pre-marital health check-up consultations were held, and 110 hepatitis B tests were conducted, of which 17 were found to be positive.

Premarital health checkups are the period from when a person becomes fertile until before marriage. During this time, couples lack experience in married life and knowledge about reproductive health. Therefore, premarital health checkups offer many benefits to couples. First, it helps reduce the incidence of congenital defects inherited from parents, such as thalassemia. In addition, premarital health checkups can detect and treat sexually transmitted infections (if any); and allow doctors to assess fertility and provide timely treatment for reproductive-related diseases. However, currently, the implementation of pre-marital health check regulations is mainly driven by advocacy; there are no mandatory regulations requiring pre-marital health checks. As a result, a segment of the population does not recognize the importance of this issue, often ignoring or disregarding it, and therefore, the number of people who voluntarily seek pre-marital health checkups at medical facilities remains very low.

Pre-marital health checkups involve tests to detect any adverse health signs, allowing for timely consultation and treatment. These checkups not only reduce anxiety about illness but also create a more relaxed mindset for married life after the wedding and provide a clear understanding of one's health, enabling better planning for future family life. According to medical experts, couples should plan for a checkup 3-6 months before marriage. This is especially important for those planning to have children soon after marriage, as pre-marital health checkups are crucial for ensuring the health of their future children.

Text and photos: To Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/y-te-suc-khoe/kham-suc-khoe-tien-hon-nhan-de-nang-cao-chat-luong-dan-so/188139.htm