Preparatory exams for pregnancy evaluate the history and general health status of both women and men, with the aim of planning a healthy pregnancy, helping the future baby to be born as healthy as possible.
These tests must be carried out at least 3 months before the attempts begin, so that if there is any illness that could interfere with the pregnancy, there is time for it to be resolved before the woman becomes pregnant.
Main exams to get pregnant
Both men and women need to undergo a series of tests before pregnancy, as this makes it possible to identify the presence of infectious diseases that can be transmitted sexually, during pregnancy or even during childbirth. Thus, the main exams recommended are:
1. Blood tests
The doctor usually requests a complete blood count for both women and men to evaluate blood components and identify any changes that could pose a risk to future pregnancy.
In the case of women, it is also recommended to measure fasting blood glucose to check the concentration of glucose in the blood and, thus, see if there is a risk of developing gestational diabetes, which can result in premature birth and the birth of a baby that is too large for the child. gestational age, for example. See what the complications of gestational diabetes are.
In addition, the blood type of the mother and father is normally checked to check for any risk to the baby at the time of birth, such as fetal erythroblastosis, which happens when the mother has Rh- and Rh+ blood and has already had a previous pregnancy. Understand what fetal erythroblastosis is and how it happens.
2. Detection of immunity against infectious diseases
It is important that not only women but also men undergo serological and immunological tests to check whether there is immunity against diseases that can be serious for both mother and baby, such as rubella, toxoplasmosis, and hepatitis B, for example.
In addition, tests are carried out to check whether the future parents carry infectious diseases, such as syphilis, AIDS or cytomegalovirus, for example.
3. Urine and fecal examination
These tests are requested with the aim of checking whether there are changes in the urinary and digestive system so that treatment can be started before pregnancy.
4. Hormone dosage
Hormone measurement is done in women to see if there are significant changes in the production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone that could interfere with pregnancy.
5. Other exams
In the case of women, the gynecologist also performs a Pap smear to test for HPV, while the urologist analyzes the man’s genital region to check for signs of sexually transmitted diseases.
During the pre-conception consultation, the doctor must also check the vaccination card to see if the woman has all her vaccinations up to date and prescribe folic acid tablets that must be taken before becoming pregnant to avoid possible defects in the baby’s nervous system. Find out what folic acid supplementation should be like during pregnancy.
Tests to get pregnant after age 40
The tests to get pregnant after the age of 40 must be the same as those indicated above. However, at this age the chances of getting pregnant are lower and the couple has difficulty getting pregnant. In this case, the doctor may recommend that the woman undergo several imaging tests of the uterus, such as:
- Histerossonografia which is an ultrasound of the uterus that serves to evaluate the uterus cavity;
- MRI in case of suspected tumor and to evaluate cases of endometriosis;
- Video hysteroscopy in which the doctor views the uterine cavity using a small video camera, vaginally to evaluate the uterus and help diagnose fibroids, polyps or inflammation of the uterus;
- Videolaparoscopy which is a surgical technique in which the abdominal region, uterus and tubes are visualized through a camera;
- Histerossalpingografia which is an x-ray with contrast that is used to evaluate the uterine cavity and whether there is obstruction in the tubes.
Pregnancy tests make it possible to plan your pregnancy before you start trying, to ensure the health of the baby that will be born. See what to do before getting pregnant.
