Pre-marital check-ups yet to pick up

Chennai:  An unrevealed medical condition- such as infertility, and hereditary diseases can break a marriage, and in­stances of this are leadi­ng couples-to-be to be cautious and go in for a pre-ma­rital check-up.

A 28-year-old IT employee and his fiance decided to get an appointment with a doctor. Gynaecologists and ex­perts in sexual medicine say that the younger generation understands the need for a check-up prior to marriage, but not many opt for it.

A private hospital that started a pre-marital check-up package for women and men a couple of years ago sees quite a few people wa­lking in for a series of tests.

“We see more men co­m­pa­red to women and they do­n’t visit as a couple,” says Dr Udhaya Balasub­rama­n­ian, group director, Prev­en­tive Medicine at Apollo Hospitals.

While importance is given to the matching of horosco­pes, people hardly think of medical compatibility betw­een partners, say gynaecologists.

A complete haem­og­r­am, blood group, Rh typing, urine routine, RBS, HbA1C and HIV tests are done for both while semen analysis is done for men and pelvic ultra sound screening for women.

“We need to create an awareness about the need for a pre-marital check-up. Apart from sexually tran­smi­tted infections, each one can clear the air and not mislead their partner,” says Dr D. Narayana Reddy, a leading expert in sexual me­dicine. Couples needed cou­nselling too besides a he­alth check-up, he adds.

Dr Sarat Battina, head of the department of reprodu­ctive medicine at Apollo Ho­s­pitals, says, “Usually, men visit us, saying that they got engaged and want to clear their doubts about their sexual performance. We also do a sperm count to find out whether they can father a child. Semen analysis reassures them somewhat and minor abnormalities are corrected. Mostly, men from IT companies between the age group of 28 and 35 years visit us.”

Rubella and HPV vaccines (cervical cancer preventi­on) are administered to wo­men and pelvic organs che­cked. “Women show interest in shopping for a weddi­ng, but hardly un­de­rstand the need for pre-nuptial ch­eck-up. It is also necessary to avoid unpl­anned pregnancies,” says gynaecologist Dr Gowri Meena.

Next: Making a match calls for hints and misses

Making a match calls for hints and misses

J. V. Siva Prasanna Kumar | DC

Chennai: Match making according to astrological placements se­eks more to study the com­p­a­tibility levels between the partners that would make for a blissful union th­an me­rely to ‘fix’ a marri­age. Predictions also allude in cautionary tones to sho­rt-lived alliances or complicated ones.

Innocuous hints are dro­pped to indicate the character of the boy or girl, but ge­nerally, those practising Ve­dic astrology study about 10 poruthams to guide parents on whether to accept or reject the proposal.

“Astrologers play a key role in analysing the planetary position of the native, they examine, in particular, the seventh and second ho­uses in the horoscope to as­c­ertain whether marriage is on the cards,” Pa­ndit Ala­har Vijay says.

“The seventh house, kno­wn as saptama, says it all. A good astrologer drops eno­ugh hints about a problematic life ahead and guides the parents in accepting or rejecting the proposal,” says Sri Bharadwajswamy, pontiff of Yohamaya Bhuv­aneswari Peetam, here.

While the seventh house in the horoscope throws su­ffi­c­ient life about the pr­o­spective spouse, the seco­nd house explains about family life and conjugal compatibility, Vijay says.

Dina, Gana, Yoni, Rasi, Rasiyathipaty, Rajju, Ved­ha, Vasya, Mahendra and Stree deergha are the ten poruthams considered tod­ay prior to making a match. All aspects of the person, including their psychology, biology, health, longevity, marital status or affairs, progeny, finance and understanding are studied while weeding out horoscopes that may lead to divorce or a problematic life.

Childbirth is checked in horoscopes of both individuals separately to find out the possibility of at least one child in the future while health is analysed by considering various asp­ects, like possibilities of ac­c­idents or major diseases.