Marriage is a wonderful thing that not only changes your life but provide the chance to new lives and individuals. Before considering marriage, the couple is sure that they are compatible in many ways; Couples check for religious, moral, ethnic, and tolerance compatibilities but usually fail to include the medical compatibilites.
They hate to get disappointed but not every one is made for every person. Just as all human blood is red, they are not all the same and neither are they all compatible with each other. These medical steps should not only be taken for the sake of compatibility, but also to know how to take care of oneself and prevent casualties; example is knowing one's rhesus factor in preventing Erythroblastosis Fetalis(explained below).
Below is a list of medical considerations couples should give high importance before marriage:
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs): Having this tests done help combat unnecessary infertility problem in your marriage. It might be embarrassing to have this test done but its necessary, you can go along with your spouse so you can both get tested even if you are getting married to a virgin. Some of these diseases have been associated with toilet diseases. Getting to know your partner's HIV status is important in considering if you guys will continue with the marriage or break it up. If you insist on the continuation of the marriage, you have to know the care and stress involved in taking care of your spouse and your child. Often times, parent don't infect children with HIV unless during breast feeding. Other lifelong diseases you should consider testing for are Hepatitis B and C.
- Blood Group and Rhesus Factor: Knowledge of ones blood group is very important and vital in the relationship. You should do a new blood group test together in the same hospital, even if you've had it done severally before; this is not because it changes but so as to get advised as a coupe doing the test. Knowledge of one's blood is necessary in case of Emergencies. Rhesus factor is a blood grouping system that has to do with the presence of an antigen called D-Antigen. People are either positive or negative when associated with Rhesus group. In case of childbirth, this factor is necessary in preventing Erythroblastosis fetalis. Eryhroblastosis fetatlis is a disease that often causes miscarriage and death of fetus due to difference in rhesus group of both child and mother(Mother being Negative and Child being Positive). This is not a problem is the partners are both positive, both negative or if mother is positive.
- Fertility Test: This is important in preventing unnecessary waste of time after marriage for conception. Africans typically love to avoid this test, especially the men who believe every fertility problem has to do with women. This test is not meant for women alone but men as well, it doesn't emasculate you and it has nothing to do with your virginity or cleanliness.
- Sickle Cell Trait Test: Sickle cell Anemia is very rampart both in America and Africa. The stress in taking care of children with sickle cell is much and this could have been prevented by doing a simple test before marriage. If the partner still want to be together after a test confirm they are both carriers of the gene, they should prepare themselves emotionally, intellectually and physically. You can read my article on Sickle Cell.
- Mental Test: You wouldn't want to marry a Psycho who would one day break your head. Not everyone who can hold a normal conversation is fit psychologically. Countries like China have mandated the test for marriage intending couples. It’s a necessary test you should consider for yourself and spouse.
- Thassalemia: This is similar to Sickle Cell Disease, with the aid of technology and knowledge of the disease, offspring can be prevented from getting the disease.
- Diabetes and Hypertension: These are vital so as to know the care of their own self .
Other Medical Considerations before Marriage Include:
- Age (Early and Late Marriages are very bad since children with deformities could be born. Age of the women is the most crucial)
- Number of children to have
- Spacing between children
- Having Health Insurance
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