Pregnancy tests are an important part of pre-pregnancy care as an apparently healthy-looking woman may carry diseases that do not cause symptoms, but can pose risks to her and her future baby if left untreated.
Common Pre-Pregnancy Tests
It is also safer to identify and treat any existing conditions while a woman is not yet pregnant; for example, certain vaccinations can be dangerous to a growing fetus if administered during pregnancy. For this reason, all women planning to have a baby must undergo a health screen. Don't Miss These Pre-Pregnancy Tests:
Blood Group
A woman who does not know her blood type (A, B, AB, or O) needs to have her blood screened. A doctor also determines her Rh factor (positive or negative), along with determining the partner's blood type in case the woman is Rh-.
This information is important as an Rh- woman is at risk of getting exposed to the Rh+ blood of the fetus, and would then produce antibodies that might reject the fetal Rh+ blood. Such fetuses conceived by Rh- women may develop a hemolytic disease in the newborn, causing brain damage and death.
Antibody Testing
An antibody screen is performed to check a woman's vaccination status against common conditions like measles, mumps, rubella, etc. A booster dose may be required if she has not been vaccinated over a long period.
Antibody levels can vary over time and a woman planning to conceive must undergo a test to determine if she still has sufficient antibodies.
For example, vaccination against Rubella or German measles is given during childhood, but immunity may decline over time. Rubella vaccine screen must be carried out before conceiving, as the vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy.
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that is often asymptomatic. This means that a woman may carry the infection but may not show any signs of it and would not know she is infected. The disease can adversely affect a pregnancy later. A blood test can help in diagnosis and it is treatable through antibiotics.
HIV
Test for HIV infection is performed during the first antenatal visit and in the 28th week of pregnancy. HIV infection can be transmitted from a mother to her baby at the time of delivery and breastfeeding. Preventive measures during pregnancy, birth and feeding can reduce the chances of transmission. This is one of the important pre-pregnancy tests that must be done to avoid the risk of such infection in the baby.
Hepatitis B & C
Hepatitis B is highly infectious and can be transmitted to a newborn baby and hospital staff. Hepatitis C also carries a risk of getting transmitted to the baby during childbirth and staff through exposure to body fluids. Knowing if a woman is infected allows doctors to devise a strategy to reduce the risk of transmission.
Chickenpox (Varicella)
The Varicella vaccine is administered to women who never contracted chickenpox earlier or were vaccinated for the disease. The vaccine is unsafe to be given during pregnancy.
Pap Smear
A Pap smear is recommended every three years for women of childbearing age. It checks the cells of the cervix for any abnormality and is a screening test for cervical cancer.
Conclusion
In the above post, we have explained some common pre-pregnancy tests that should be done before pregnancy. These tests will assure you that you are ready for the baby with no medical obstacles. If the tests show some complications, then your doctor can take preventive measures for the safety of the fetusand mother. So whenever you decide to have a baby, get these tests done or consult your doctor about the same.Best Gynaecologists in Delhi NCR, Kolkata, Mumbai Region, Hyderabad, Chennai
Sources:
"About Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy," NHS Screening Programmes, https://infectiousdiseases.screening.nhs.uk/infectiousdiseases
"Prepare yourself now for a healthy pregnancy," WebMD.com, Brenda Conaway, https://www.webmd.com/baby/features/your-pre-pregnancy-checkup
Image courtesy of [Stuart Miles] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Also, read about: First Trimester Of PregnancyFor more information and personalized guidance, speak to Credihealth medical experts at +918010994994 or contact the best Gynaecologist in India now.
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