Should I go for preconception checks?

Is it advisable to go for preconception checks?

Singapore’s low birth rate has been an issue for a long time now and like most people, we pointed the cause of this to reasons such as couples marrying later and more women choosing career over starting a family, or couples just not wanting to have kids. But did you know that it is estimated that 1 in 5 couples in Singapore have problems conceiving?

Are preconception checks a must?

To help raise awareness about infertility, a voluntary welfare organisation has launched a Do-It-Yourself Fertility Index to help couples find out if they are at risk. According to a recent survey, 9 in 10 Singaporean women do not go for preconception checks and doctors said this is a cause for concern.

Dr Peter Chew, senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, Gleneagles Hospital, said: “People tend to take things for granted. These preconception checks are very important for couples who want to have a baby because this will have an impact on the birth, the pregnancy, as well as after birth.”

Preconception screening can pick up any health problems a woman may have as well as risk factors that could complicate her pregnancy. And as more couples delay having kids well into their 30s and 40s, experts said the risk of infertility goes up.

So if you are planning to get pregnant, do yourself a favour and schedule preconception checks to ensure that you will have a smooth pregnancy.