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Pre-Marriage Medical Tests: Regular medical tests are essential for couples to maintain optimal health, detect potential health problems early, and receive timely medical care. They play a crucial role in preventive healthcare, managing chronic conditions, optimising fertility, and promoting overall well-being.

Couples need to discuss their healthcare needs with a healthcare provider and establish a schedule for routine check-ups and screenings based on their age, medical history, and risk factors. Shivani Bajwa - Functional medicine coach enlists important pre and post-wedding medical tests that a couple must go for and their benefits. 

Pre-Marriage Medical Tests

Homa IR panel for a couple

Family history of diabetes: If either partner has a family history of type 2 diabetes, then getting tested can help identify potential risks early and make lifestyle changes to prevent the development of the disease.

Overall health and well-being: Insulin resistance is a precursor to several health conditions, not just diabetes. Early detection allows for taking steps to improve overall health and reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.

Planning for pregnancy: Insulin resistance can impact both fertility and pregnancy outcomes. For women with PCOS, a condition often linked to insulin resistance, it can be helpful to know their HOMA IR levels before trying to conceive.

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Why CRP tests might be relevant for couples:

Individual Health Risks: CRP is a marker of inflammation in the body. High CRP can be associated with various conditions like heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and infections. If one partner has a risk of such conditions, a doctor might order a CRP test to assess their risk.

Thyroid Panel Testing

Symptoms of Thyroid Dysfunction: Symptoms such as unexplained weight changes, fatigue, hair loss, irregular periods, erectile dysfunction, and mood changes can indicate thyroid dysfunction. Getting tested can help identify whether these symptoms are related to thyroid issues and guide appropriate treatment.

Impact on Overall Health: Thyroid hormones play a significant role in regulating metabolism, energy levels, and overall health. Imbalances can affect not just reproductive health but also cardiovascular health, mental health, and other bodily functions.

Impact on Fertility: Thyroid hormones play a role in ovulation and sperm production. An imbalance can affect fertility in both men and women.

Pre-Marriage Medical Tests (Image Credits: Canva)

Pregnancy Health: A mother's thyroid health is important for the developing baby's brain and nervous system. Untreated hypothyroidism can increase the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

Routine Health Screening: Including thyroid function tests as part of routine health screenings can help detect thyroid disorders early, even before symptoms become severe. Early detection and treatment can prevent complications and improve overall health outcomes.

Understanding Sexual Problems

Low Libido: Both men and women can experience decreased sex drive due to hormonal imbalances. Testing can reveal if testosterone (men) or estrogen/progesterone (women) levels are outside the normal range, potentially explaining the issue.

Other Sexual Dysfunction: Hormone levels can affect arousal, lubrication, and erectile function. Testing can help identify hormonal causes behind these problems

Irregular Periods: In women, irregular periods can be a sign of hormonal imbalances that might hinder ovulation or conception. Testing can pinpoint the specific imbalance.

Unexplained Infertility: Hormone testing is often included in a fertility workup for both partners. It can help identify issues like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) that affect ovulation.

There are several reasons why a couple might consider getting tested for Vitamin D (D3) and Vitamin B12 levels:

General well-being: Both deficiencies can cause fatigue, weakness, and mood changes. Testing can help identify if these symptoms are due to vitamin deficiencies and allow for treatment to improve overall health and energy levels.

Bone health: Vitamin D is crucial for calcium absorption, which is essential for strong bones. Deficiency can lead to bone softening and an increased risk of fractures. This can be a concern especially as we age.

Lipid panel testing, also known as a cholesterol panel, is a blood test that measures different types of fats in your blood. It's an important tool for assessing cardiovascular health, which is why it can be beneficial for couples to get tested. 

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Benefits Of Medical Tests For Couples

Early Detection of Risk Factors: High cholesterol often has no symptoms, so a lipid panel can identify potential problems early on before they develop into serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Early detection allows for early intervention through lifestyle changes or medications, significantly reducing the risk of future complications.

Risk Assessment for Both Partners: A couple's risk factors can be interconnected. If one partner has high cholesterol, it can increase the risk for the other as well. Testing allows doctors to assess the risk for both individuals and develop a personalised plan to manage their cholesterol levels.